Centre County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Centre County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Centre County Courthouse
102 South Allegheny Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: 814-355-6727 Fax: 814-355-6707
Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts: 814-355-6796
Recorder of Deeds: 814-355-6801
Register of Wills/Orphan's Court: 814-355-6724 Fax: 814-355-8685
Centre County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records 1893-1905 and marriage records from 1885
Prothonotary Office has divorce records from 1890, court and naturalization records from 1800
Register of Wills has probate records from 1800
Recorder Deeds has land records from 1801[3]
Centre County, Pennsylvania Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1893 | 1885 | 1893 | 1800 | 1801 | 1800 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps" (1673-1878) may be viewed at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Boroughs | ||
| Hamlets | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- 1803-1820 Slave Records 1803-1820 at the Centre County Government website. Index and scanned images.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Additional Cemetery Resources
- 1700-1950 Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Cemetery Abstracts at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)
- Pennsylvania Genealogy
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Federal Census
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1810 | 10,681 | — |
| 1820 | 13,796 | 29.2% |
| 1830 | 18,879 | 36.8% |
| 1840 | 20,492 | 8.5% |
| 1850 | 23,355 | 14.0% |
| 1860 | 27,000 | 15.6% |
| 1870 | 34,418 | 27.5% |
| 1880 | 37,922 | 10.2% |
| 1890 | 43,269 | 14.1% |
| 1900 | 42,894 | −0.9% |
| 1910 | 43,424 | 1.2% |
| 1920 | 44,304 | 2.0% |
| 1930 | 46,294 | 4.5% |
| 1940 | 52,608 | 13.6% |
| 1950 | 65,922 | 25.3% |
| 1960 | 78,580 | 19.2% |
| 1970 | 99,267 | 26.3% |
| 1980 | 112,760 | 13.6% |
| 1990 | 123,786 | 9.8% |
| 2000 | 135,760 | 9.7% |
| 2010 | 153,990 | 13.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. For members, they may contain: age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage date and maiden name; death/burial date. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania Church Records.
- 1620-1991 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Congregational Records, 1620-1991(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
- 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania ($) , free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $
- Contains church records of:
- Bellefonte: Faith United Methodist Church; St. John's Lutheran Church; Trinity United Methodist Church
- Boalsburg: St. John's United Church of Christ
- Houserville: United Methodist Church
- Madisonburg: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Milesburg: United Methodist Church
- Philipsburg: Trinity United Methodist Church
- Pleasant Gap: United Methodist Church
- Rebersburg: Sinking Creek Presbyterian Church; United Methodist Church
- Runville: United Brethren Church Runville Charge
- State College: St. Paul Methodist Church
- Zion: Zion Lutheran Church
Centre County PAGenWeb is finding and making available church records of Centre County. They are beginning with four topics to try to understand the religious inclinations of Centre countians:
- 1877 History of Religious Affiliation
- 1906 Census of Religious Adherence
- 1990 Census of Religious Adherence
- Current Listing of Religious Organizations
Presbyterian
- 1810-1866 Presbyterian Church, Bellefonte, Marriage Index 1810-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M523921 [8]
Quaker
- 1800s-1900s Pennsylvania Quaker Records at Ancestry $
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
For information about records kept in the Orphan's court, Prothonotary Court, Court of Common Pleas, and other courts in counties of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Court Records Wiki page.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.
- 1798-1828 Pennsylvania Landing Reports of Aliens, 1798-1828 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
- 1900-1923 Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Case Files of Chinese Immigrants, 1900-1923 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
- 1952-1957 Pennsylvania, Crew Lists arriving at Erie, 1952-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
African Americans
- 1780-1846 United States, Slave Birth Records, 1780-1846 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1803-1820 Slave Records 1803-1820 at the Centre County Government website. Index and scanned images.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.[9]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a specific location and reveal family relationships. Records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, maps and more. For more information, see Pennsylvania Land and Property.
Land records in Centre County began in 1843. These records are filed with the Centre County Recorder of Deeds office in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Maps
- Centre County Land Records & Deeds online at: PA USGenWeb Series 3, Volume 25, pp. 785-809
- Warrant Map of Centre County State College, Pennsylvania: Centre County Genealogical Society, 2011. FHL book 2974.853 E7cc
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- History and Topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton Counties, Pa. 1847. By I. Daniel Rupp. Lancaster, Pennsylvania : G. Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat). Note: Centre County portion only - FamilySearch Digital Library.
- History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania. 1883. By John Blair Linn. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : L.H. Everts. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Industries and Institutions of Centre County : with Historical Sketches of Principal Villages. 1877. Compiled by D.S. Maynard. Bellefonte, Pa. : Richie & Maynard, Publishers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted downloadable images from the 1861 Topographical Map of Centre Co. Pennsylvania from Actual Surveys under the Direction of H. F. Walling, published by S.D. Tilden. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing . While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
- Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Service, 1840
- Revolutionary War Declarations 1820-1835 at Centre County Government website. Index and scanned images.
Civil War
- Centre County Civil War Soldiers
- 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1865-1936 Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1865-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
World War II
- 1933-1947 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, World War II Casualty Cards, 1933-1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. For more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1795-1931 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1795-1952 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Indexes, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1802-1929 Centre County Naturalization Records 1802-1929 on Centre County Government website, includes digitized images of originals
- 1901-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901-1906 on Fold3 ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records.
- 1901-1930 Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 located in U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project) database on Ancestry $
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Newspapers may contain obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings. Newspapers are often found in local or university libraries, historical or genealogical societies, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published. See Pennsylvania Newspapers for more information.
Newspapers of Centre County
Online Newspapers
To learn if there are newspapers online for a specific town or city in Pennsylvania, see news.google.com/newspapers and search for the town or the name of a newspaper.
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
- Gantdaily.com
- Pennsylvania Civil War Era Newspaper Collection available through the Penn State University Library, dating from February 23, 1831 to February 1877.
- Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- The Centre County Gazette
- The Centre Daily Times began in 1898 as the Weekly Times and later as the State College Times. In 1934 it became a daily newspaper and is called The Centre County Daily.
- The Daily Collegian Historical Digital Collegian Archive.
- The Daily Collegian The Daily Collegian is the newspaper for PennState University. It originally started ast The Freelance in 1887.
- Free Lance (monthly) - April 1887-April 1904
- State Collegian (weekly) September 28, 1904-June 10, 1911
- Penn State Collegian (weekly) September 28, 1911 to August 2, 1940
- The Daily Collegian (daily) September 5, 1940 to present.
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Centre County.
- The Centre County Daily Newspaper has an Archive Search for the years 1995 - current.
Archived Historical Newspapers
- Centre Daily Times is available at the Centre County Library and at Penn State's News and Microforms Library.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died or where family members lived. Local libraries or societies may have indexes or other sources.
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1977-2010 Pennsylvania Obituaries, 1977-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Online Obituary Abstracts
- Centre Daily Times Past Obituaries
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Centre County.
- USGenWeb Obituaries for Centre County.
Obituaries and Indexes
- The Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte has obituary indexes from 1821 located in The Pennsylvania Room The email address for the Pennsylvania room is paroom@centrecountylibrary.org for more information on how to obtain an obituary.
- The Centre Daily Times Obituary Index at Penn State University Library, 1920-2017.
Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts
- Compiled by John H. Wion , Deaths in Central Pennsylvania; an Index to the Obituaries Appearing in the Democratic Watchman, Bellefonte, Pa (S.I.:s.n., 1969) FHL book 974.8 V4w Volume 2
- A scrapbook kept by martha M. (Hoy) Vonada; index prepared by R. Fred Houts, Martha Vonada Scrapbook (Minneapolis, Minnesota:R.F. Houts, 1995) FHL book 974.853 V3v Martha Vonada saved funeral cards and obituaries from Centre County, Pennsylvania.
- Compiled by Nancy Lee Stover, Centre County, Pennsylvania Newspaper Death Notices, 1821-1869 (S.I.:N.L. Stover, 1999) FHL book 974.853 V4s
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Centre County are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created.
In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates; appointments of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills; inheritance tax appeals, and various petitions and motions.
The county's probate and court records begin with the founding of the county, the land records in 1801.
Online Probate Index and Records
- 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
- 1683-1994 Pennsylvania Probate Records 1683-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
- 1800-1853 Wills of Centre County, Pa., 1800-1853 on Ancestry ($). Taken from Fravel, Ira,. Wills of Centre County, Pa., 1800-1853. Milton, Pa.: unknown, 1967.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. For the most complete set of records, contact the County Orphans' Court.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1520-1999 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1709-1950 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1893-1906 Bellefonte, Centre County, Birth Index 1893-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[10]
- 1941-1976 Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976 at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Centre County Courthouse
- 1512-1989 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1677–1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 1682-1976 Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
- 1709-1940 Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1947-2021 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Death[edit | edit source]
Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1720-1999 Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
- 1856-1971 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1856-1971 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1893-1906 Bellefonte, Centre County, Death Index 1893-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[11]
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary, Centre County Courthouse.
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Greene County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Phone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
Website
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Altoona Pennsylvania Family History Center
- State College Pennsylvania Family History Center
- Apollo Memorial Library - an affiliate library.
- Cameron County Historical Society - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Centre County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Roller-Hojeth Memorial Library
431 Scotch Valley Rd.
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: 814-696-3492
Website
Collection covers Blair and surrounding counties, particularly Huntingdon, Cambria, and Bedford Counties.
The Centre County Library and Historical Museum: Pennsylvania Room
203 North Allegheny St.
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: 814-355-1516, ext. 214
Email: paroom@centrecountylibrary.org
Website
Specializes in genealogy collections, obituary and marriage indexes, Pennsylvania county histories, church and cemetery records, original Centre County records, newspapers (1821 - present), and abundant historical and genealogical periodicals. The Spangler Collection is an unique indexed collection of 18th- and 19th-century records about many central Pennsylvania families.[12]
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Centre County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
Centre County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1135
State College, PA 16804-1135
Website
Centre County Historical Society
1001 East College Ave
State College, PA 16801
Phone: 814-234-4779
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Centre County Historical Society
- Centre County PA Genealogy
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/1/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Centre County, Pennsylvania, p.589
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Centre County, Pennsylvania. Page 588-593 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 579-581.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Centre County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 17 January 2020.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Room at Center County Library and Historical Museum (accessed 3 October 2012).