Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States

Pennsylvania

Armstrong County

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

Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Kittanning Organized: March 12, 1800 Parent County(s): Allegheny, Lycoming, Westmoreland Neighboring Counties Clarion  • Butler  • Indiana  • Jefferson  • Westmoreland Courthouse Location Map Adoption Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: PA Roots and its members who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

County Information

Description

It is named for John Armstrong, who represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress and served as a major general during the Revolutionary War. It is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Armstrong County Courthouse
450 Market St.
Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: 724-543-2500
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts , Phone: 724-548-3252
Armstrong County Courthouse Orphan's Court, Phone: 724-548-3220

Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Record Dates

County Register and Recorder has birth, death and burial records 1893-1905, marriage records from 1895, and probate and land records from 1805

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.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1893	1895	1893	1805	1805	1805	1790
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1906. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Formed from Allegheny, Lycoming and Westmoreland Counties 12 March 1800. County seat: Kittanning 1771-1772 The future southern 1/3 of today's Armstrong County became part of Bedford County; the rest remained unsettled. 1773: The future southern 1/3 of Armstrong was incorporated into Westmoreland County when Westmoreland was formed 26 February 1773. 1785: For the first time, the future northern 2/3 of Armstrong became part Northumberland County; the future southern 1/3 remains in Westmoreland County. 1796: The future northern 2/3 was subdivided, with most becoming part of Lycoming County and the rest part of Allegheny County; lower 1/3 remains in Westmoreland County. 11 March 1839: Clarion County was set off, resulting inArmstrong County's current boundaries. 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

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:

Cities
Parker
Boroughs
Apollo Applewold Atwood Dayton Elderton Ford City	Ford Cliff Freeport Kittanning Leechburg Manorville	North Apollo Rural Valley South Bethlehem West Kittanning Worthington
Unincorporated communities
Adrian Belknap Chickasaw Climax Clinton Cowansville Craigsville Deanville Dee Distant Echo Eddyville Frogtown Goheenville Gosford Greendale	Hooks Idaho Kellersburg Mahoning Furnace Maysville McCrea Furnace McGrann McGregor McVille McWilliams Milton Mosgrove Mount Tabor Muff New Salem Nu Mine	Oak Ridge Oscar Pine Furnace Putneyville Rimer Sagamore Schenley Seminole Shady Plain Slabtown Spring Church Tidal West Valley Widnoon Yatesboro
Census-designated places
Kiskimere Lenape Heights North Vandergrift	Orchard Hills Pleasant View	Templeton West Hills
Townships
Bethel Boggs Bradys Bend Burrell Cadogan Cowanshannock East Franklin Gilpin Hovey Kiskiminetas	Kittanning Madison Mahoning Manor North Buffalo Parks Perry Pine Plumcreek	Rayburn Redbank South Bend South Buffalo Sugarcreek Valley Washington Wayne West Franklin
Historic communities
Barnard	Johnetta

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com PA Cemeteries PAGenWeb Archives Tombstone Photos PA-Roots BillionGraves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com BillionGraves Linkpendium PAGravestones FamilySearch Places
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• ca.1700-ca.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 LDS Genealogy
• Names in Stone
• Ancestry($)

Census Records

Federal Census

• 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	2,399	—
1810	6,143	156.1%
1820	10,324	68.1%
1830	17,701	71.5%
1840	28,365	60.2%
1850	29,560	4.2%
1860	35,797	21.1%
1870	43,382	21.2%
1880	47,641	9.8%
1890	46,747	−1.9%
1900	52,551	12.4%
1910	67,880	29.2%
1920	75,568	11.3%
1930	79,298	4.9%
1940	81,087	2.3%
1950	80,842	−0.3%
1960	79,524	−1.6%
1970	75,590	−4.9%
1980	77,768	2.9%
1990	73,478	−5.5%
2000	72,392	−1.5%
2010	68,941	−4.8%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

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 – $, to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $

Contains church records of:

• Apollo: Apollo United Methodist Church
• Chicora: St. Paul's United Church of Christ
• Elderton: Elderton United Presbyterian Church
• Gilpin: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Kiskiminetas: Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church
• Kittanning: St. Paul's Episcopal Church
• Leechburg: Greystone United Presbyterian Church
• Manorville: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Redbank: St. Mary's Episcopal Church

• Armstrong County Church Records is sponsored by the Armstrong County Genealogical Project. There are records of a few churches represented in this website, and the information varies greatly from a history of the church to lists of members or baptisms.

Catholic

• "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronolgy, map, county-by-county information.

Lutheran

• 1838-1883 Baptismal records for Forks-Zion Lutheran Church with additional information on individuals listed.
• 1840-1889 Church Book of the Reformed and Lutheran Churches: Plum Creek Township, Armstrong Co., PA at USGenWeb. The books from which these records were taken were in the old Church at Gastown, Pennsylvania. The records are not consistent from minister to minister.

Presbyterian
In 1802 two Presbyterian churches were organizes about eight miles apart on the west side of the Allegheny River in Buffalo Township. From those two churches sprang all the Presbyterian churches in the county.

Calvin United Presbyterian Church, Apollo

• 1863-1880 Calvin United Presbyterian Church, Apollo, Baptism Index 1863-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C541001

First Presbyterian Church, Apollo

• 1848-1885 First Presbyterian Church, Apollo, Baptism Index 1848-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C530211
• 1858-1904 First Presbyterian Church, Apollo, Marriage Index 1858-1904 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M530211

First Presbyterian Church, Kittanning

• 1830-1875 First Presbyterian Church, Kittanning, Baptism Index 1830-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C524591
• 1842-1880 First Presbyterian Church, Kittanning, Marriage Index 1842-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M524591

Presbyterian Church, Brady's Bend

• 1851-1859 Presbyterian Church, Brady's Bend, Baptism Index 1851-1859 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C516171
• 1856-1866 Presbyterian Church, Brady's Bend, Baptism Index 1856-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M516171

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

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.

Emigration and Immigration

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

For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.

Guardianship

The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.

Land and Property Records

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 Armstrong County began in 1805. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Records

• 1805–present Armstrong County offers online access to indexes and images. Fees apply.
• 1805–1941 Deeds, 1805-1891; Index, 1805-1941. FHL film 857226 (first of 52 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images

Maps

• 1793–1906 Land Surveys. FHL film 861241

Local Histories

• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; her People, Past and Present. 2 volumes. 1914. Chicago, Illinois : J.H. Beers & Co. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. 1891. Ed. by Samuel T. Wiley. Philadelphia [J.M. Gresham & co.] Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
• History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. 1883. By Robert Walter Smith. Waterman, Watkins & Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Maps

• Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
• Ancestor Tracks has posted Map of Armstrong Co., Pennsylvania which was published in 1861 and is referred to in histories of the county as "Pomeroy's Map." 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 to commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records

Revolutionary War
Men living in what is now Armstrong County (then Westmoreland County) served in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War

• 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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

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

Naturalization Records available for Armstrong County, Pennsylvania include the following:

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
• 1807-1906 Naturalization Docket FHL film 1318161 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 1820-1906 Index to Declarations and Petitions in the Western District of Pennsylvania, US Circuit and District Courts located in US Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 database on Ancestry $
• 1820-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Fold3.com($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537, incomplete for all counties

Newspapers

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 Armstrong County

• Pennsylvania Newspapers
• Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

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.

Online Newspaper Abstracts

• PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Armstrong County.
• USGenWeb Armstrong County Newspaper Extracts
• 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts

• Shirley, Carmella Corcetti (collected and arranged), Marriages and anniversaries: taken from the Leader Times newspapers, 1922-1962-1997-1998-1999-200 the Vandergrift News, 1997-1998-1999-2001 (Chicora, Pennsylvania:Mechling Bookbindery, c2002) FHL book 974.88 V2sc

Obituaries

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.

Online Obituary Abstracts

• PAGenWeb Armstrong County Obituaries
• PA-Roots Obituaries for Armstrong County.
• Armstrong County Obituaries at Armstrong County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts

• Shirley, Carmella Corcetti, Obituary Abstracts from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Newspapers (Butler, Pennsylvania, Mechling Bookbindery, c1997,c2002) FHL book 974.888 V48s v. 1,2

Probate Records

Probate matters in Armstrong 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.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1683-1994 Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
• 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $ - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 1805-1918 Will Books FHL film 1317300 (first of 5 films)-Index included: 1797-1961 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 1805-1881 Probate Records FHL film 861252-861254-index included: 1805-1935 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• Armstrong County Wills and Estate Records at Armstrong County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives - Includes Will Book Index, Books 1- 3 and many abstracts of wills and estate records.

Social Security Records

• 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.

Vital Records

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

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
• 1726-1930 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
• 1897-1971 Armstrong County Birth Index, Volumes 5-23, 1897-1971 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
• 1941-1976 Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976 - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Armstrong County Courthouse

• 1512-1989 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
• 1677–1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1682-1976 Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976 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
• Armstrong Marriages - PAGenWeb.
• 1947-2021 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

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

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary located at the county courthouse.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Armstrong 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

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.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Indiana Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Armstrong County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

• The Armstrong County Library system do not appear to have a central library. There are currently six libraries in the system:Apollo, Ford City, Freeport, Kittanning, Leechburg, and Worthington Libraries.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Armstrong County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.

• Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society
  300 N Mckean St
  Kittaning, PA 16201-1373
  Phone: (724) 548-5707
  The Society has collected historical and genealogical records including family and church histories.
• Website

Websites

• Armstrong County Genealogy Project
• Armstrong County PAGenWeb
• Armstrong County USGenWeb Archives
• Linkpendium - Armstrong County
• Armstrong County Old Photos
• Armstrong 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.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.