Allegan County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The county name was coined by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to sound like a Native American word. The county is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Allegan County Courthouse 113 Chestnut St. Allegan, MI 49010-1362 Phone: 616-673-0450 Allegan County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from from 1867, marriage records from 1835, divorce, court and land records from 1836 and military discharge records. Probate Court has probate records from 1836.

Populated Places
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:

Cemeteries

 * 1799-1999 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Census Records
 State Census


 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
 * 1898- 1898 South Haven Directory
 * This directory includes Casco Township residents and lists the township section number, whether owned or rented, and number of acres.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War


 * - 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Company E

Online Indexes and Records
 * at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library

World War I
 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index and images

Obituaries

 * Southwest Michigan Obituary Index at Ancestry($) from the earliest date to 2000.
 * 1820-2006 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Probate Records
Online Indexes and Records


 * 1784–1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1797-1973 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 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.

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1902 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1868-1925 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1897 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1897-1952 Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index and images, organized by county and then last name.

Family History Centers

 * South Haven Michigan Family History Center
 * Alpena Michigan Family History Center

Museums
Allegan County Old Jail Museum 113 Walnut Street Allegan MI 49010 Phone: 269-673-8292 website

Societies

 * Allegan County Historical Society 113 Walnut Street Allegan, MI 49010 Phone: 269-673-8292 Facebook Website
 * Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society 130 West Center Street/PO Box 619 Douglas, MI 49406 Phone: 269-857-5751 Facebook Website
 * Then and Now Historical and Genealogical Society of Allegan County 532 N. Main Wayland, MI 49348 Phone: 616-681-0333 Facebook
 * Wayland Area Tree Tracers 129 W. Cedar Street Wayland, MI 49348
 * Western Michigan Genealogical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library Street  NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3268 Website

Websites

 * AlleganCounty, MI-Roots Michigan Roots is a member of the PA-Roots family of websites.
 * The Allegan County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Allegan County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * – 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.