Washtenaw County, Michigan Genealogy

United States Michigan  Washtenaw County'

Guide to Washtenaw County, Michigan ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth, marriage and death records from 1867, divorce, court and land records, naturalization records and supervisors records from 1835.

A Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County volunteer is at Vital Records Office every Thursday (except holidays) between 10a.m.-2p.m. to assist people using death and marriage records.

History
Washtenaw County is directly west of Detroit, and is situated on the old 'Chicago Road' which today is US Highway 12. One of the first things that took place after the town of Ann Arbor was formed was to start the University of Michigan, which is today one of the largest in the United States. It contains a significant collection of historical documents in its library given the nearly 200 years it has been in existence, having been formed in the 1820s.

Parent County
1822--Washtenaw County was created 10 September 1822 from Wayne and Oakland Counties. It was attached to Wayne County prior to organization 31 December 1826. County seat: Ann Arbor

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Michigan county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Michigan County Boundary Maps" (1790-1897) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
For a list of record loss in Michigan counties see: Michigan Counties with Burned Courthouses

Neighboring Counties
Ingham •  Jackson  •  Lenawee  •  Livingston  •  Monroe  •  Oakland  •  Wayne

Cemeteries
Dolph Funeral Home Records: Courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. this funeral home is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Coverage: June, 1937-September, 1952.

Genealogical Society of Washtneaw County Research Section: Cemetery Records

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Ann Arbor

American Indian
The Indians of Washtenaw County, Michigan. By Wilbert B. Hinsdale. FHL| 45162 | FHL book 970.1 H596i WorldCat

Maps



 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Washtenaw County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Washtenaw County.


 * -1st Regiment, Michigan Cavalry, Company E

- 14th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Company H


 * - 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Companies B and E
 * - 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Companies B and E

Newspapers

 * Ann Arbor Argus - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1889-1896
 * Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat - Google News Archive; covers 1902-1906
 * Ann Arbor Journal - Google News Archive; covers 1855-1863
 * Ann Arbor Record - Google News Archive; covers 1902-1903
 * Ann Arbor Register - Google News Archive; 1875-1897

Probate
Older probate records are located at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing.

Vital Records

 * How to order Michigan Vital Records
 * Michigan Birth Registrations, 1867-1902-- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch Record Search. Records include such information as name of child, birthdate and place, if still-born, illegitimate or twin, gender, race and record number.
 * Michigan Marriage Registrations, 1868-1925 -- Free name indexes at FamilySearch Record Search. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom.
 * Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897-- Free name indexes and images& at FamilySearch Record Search. Records include such information as name of deceased, date and place of death, gender, color, marital status, age in years, months and days, disease or apparent cause of death, birthplace, names and occupations of parents, and the date the record was made.

Societies and Libraries

 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies
 * Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County website
 * FamilySearch Wiki: Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County
 * Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County Library.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers


 * Ann Arbor Michigan Family History Center 525 E Woodland Dr, Rear Entrance, Saline ,MI 48176 United States

Web Sites

 * Washtenaw County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb Michigan: May have maps, name indexes, history or other information
 * Washtenaw County Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy): Links to online records
 * Finding Your Washtenaw County Ancestors(on the Website of the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County)