Mecosta County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Mecosta. The County is located in the center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Mecosta County Courthouse 400 Elm St. Big Rapids, MI 49307 Phone: 616-592-0783 Mecosta County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage, divorce and court records from 1859. Probate Court has probate records from 1864. Register of Deeds has land records from 1859.

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:

Census Records
 State Census


 * 1850-1880 - 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

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

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929-1966 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Local Histories

 * Mecosta County Local History page index

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
 * 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
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1784-1980 - Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry $
 * 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
 * 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
 * 1897-1952 - Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index and images, organized by county and then last name.

Divorce

 * 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Big Rapids Michigan Family History Center
 * Cadillac Michigan Family History Center
 * Mount Pleasant Michigan Family History Center


 * Gladwin County District Library - an affiliate library

Museums
Mecosta County Historical Museum 129 South Stewart Avenue / PO Box 613 Big Rapids, MI 49307 Phone: 231-592-5091 Facebook

Societies

 * Mecosta County Genealogical Society 424 N. Fourth Ave. PO Box 1068 Big Rapids, MI 49307-0968 231-250-5555 Website


 * Mecosta County Historical Society 129 S. Sterwart St. Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 592-5091 Email: [mailto:mecostacountymuseum@gmail.com mecostacountymuseum@gmail.com] Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Mecosta County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – 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.