DeSoto County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to DeSoto County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 2.29 Voter Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer.[2] The County is located in the Southwest area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
De Soto County Courthouse
115 Oak Street
Arcadia, FL 33821
Phone: 863-993-4644
De Soto County Website
County Judge has probate records from 1887.
Clerk Ciruit Court has divorce, court and land records from 1887. [4]
DeSoto County, Florida 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 |
| 1899 | 1887 | 1899 | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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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]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| 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]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web sites may have additional information on DeSoto County cemeteries.
- Interment.net Florida cemetery records
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1890 | 4,944 | — |
| 1900 | 8,047 | 62.8% |
| 1910 | 14,200 | 76.5% |
| 1920 | 25,434 | 79.1% |
| 1930 | 7,745 | −69.5% |
| 1940 | 7,792 | 0.6% |
| 1950 | 9,242 | 18.6% |
| 1960 | 11,683 | 26.4% |
| 1970 | 13,060 | 11.8% |
| 1980 | 19,039 | 45.8% |
| 1990 | 23,865 | 25.3% |
| 2000 | 32,209 | 35.0% |
| 2010 | 34,862 | 8.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- Desoto County Federal Census Index- -- website FLGenWeb Project,Inc.
- 1783 Spanish Census-USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1821 Census/Tax List Index-USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1823 Census/Tax List Index-USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1880 Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos-USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
- Federal Census Information from National Archives-USGenWeb Archives Project
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives-USGenWeb Archives Project
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service-USGenWeb Archives Project
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Churches of Desoto County, Florida -- FLGenWeb Index
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- African American Griots Project-USGenWeb
- Afrigeneas - African Genealogy
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Florida Territorial Land Records
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Florida (1821-1997)
- 1870 Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of State -USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1882 Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of State-USGenWeb Archives Project
- Exploring Florida, FCIT Maps, University of South Florida
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- DeSoto County Military Files (USGenWeb Project)
- Florida State Military Files -USGenWeb Archives Project
- Pension Transcriptions-Florida state pension records from various wars-USGenWeb Pension Project
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1885-1955 - Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War I
- 1917-1918 - De Soto County, Florida Civilian Draft Registration (A-L) (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1917-1918 - De Soto County, Florida Civilian Draft Registration (M-Z) (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1917-1920 - Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- 1940-1945 - Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Desoto County Army Enlistees, Names Albritton - Lastinger (USGenWeb Archives)
- Desoto County Army Enlistees, Names Lattimore - Zetrouer (USGenWeb Archives)
Korean War
- DeSoto County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
- Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict (Distant Cousin)
Vietnam War
- DeSoto County Vietnam War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
- US military Fatal Casualties of the Vietname War for Home-State-of-Record: Florida (Archives.gov)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers Florida State Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- FLGenWeb Project Desoto County Florida, Obituary Index
- USGenWeb Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties Obituaries Project
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Indexes and Records
- 1784 – 1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1810 – 1974 Florida Wills and Probate Records 1810-1974 Ancestry ($)
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1880-1935 - Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-1998 - Florida, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927 - 2001 - Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1957 - Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 - Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 - Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Florida State Archives
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1939 - Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 - Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 - Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1927-2001 - Ancestry.com $ Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Voter Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in DeSoto County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
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
Arcadia Florida Family History Center
630 Hanchey Road
Wauchula Florida
Phone: 863-990-4357
Email: FL_Arcadia@familyhistorymail.org
website
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in DeSoto County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in DeSoto County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
DeSoto County Historical Society, Inc.
PO Box 1824
Arcadia, FL 34265
(863) 266-5774
Website
Facebook
Genealogical Society of Sarasota, Inc.
PO Box 1917
Sarasota, FL 34230-1917
Email: [mailto: gss@gssfl.org gss@gssfl.org]
Website
Facebook
Hernando de Soto Historical Society
605 17th Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 747-1998
Email: info@desotoHQ.com
Website
Lemon Bay Historical Society
PO Box 1245
Englewood, FL 34293-1245
305-504-7220
E-mail
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- DeSoto County FLGenWeb
- State of Florida
- DeSoto County, USGenWeb Archives
- De Soto County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Desoto County, FLGenWeb Project, Inc.
- DeSoto County, Florida Genealogy Trails
- DeSoto County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- 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), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “DeSoto County, Florida Genealogy and History”, Genealogytrails accessed 04/24/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "DeSoto County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/24/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "DeSoto County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 10 December 2018.
