Saginaw County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong (English: Sauk land), as the Sauk (French: Sac) tribe is believed by some to have once lived there. A more likely possibility is that it comes from Ojibwe words meaning "place of the outlet". The County has Saginaw as its seat and the County was created February 9, 1835. The County is located in the centre area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and marriage records from 1867, death records from 1868, divorce records from 1886 and court records from 1843. Probate Court has probate records; Equalization Department has land records.

Parent County
1822--Saginaw County was created 10 September 1822 from St. Clair County and unorganized territory. It was attached to Oakland County prior to organization 9 February 1855. County seat: Saginaw

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

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:

Neighboring Counties
Bay •  Clinton  •  Genesee  •  Gratiot  •  Midland  •  Shiawassee  •  Tuscola County

Census
State Census


 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Ward and Branch Records


 * Saginaw

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

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

Civil War

 * at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1800s-Current - Public Library of Saginaw Obituary Index at Public Library of Saginaw — index

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1784 – 1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1797 – 1973 at FamilySearch — images

Vital Records

 * How to order Michigan Vital Records

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1902 - Michigan Birth Registrations, 1867-1902-- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of child, birthdate and place, if still-born, illegitimate or twin, gender, race and record number.

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1868-1925 - Michigan Marriage Registrations, 1868-1925 -- Free name indexes at FamilySearch. 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.

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 - Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. 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
Castle Museum of Saginaw County Historical Society

500 Fede​ral Avenue

Saginaw, MI 48607

Phone: 989-752-2861

Website

Public Libraries of Saginaw

Local History & Genealogy

Hoyt Library

505 Janes Avenue

Saginaw, MI 48607

Phone: 989-755-9827

Website

Saginaw Genealogical Society 505 Janes Ave. Saginaw 48607 Website

Saginaw Genealogical Society PO Box 3767 Saginaw, MI 48605-3767 E-mail: [mailto:saggensoc@gmail.com saggensoc@gmail.com] Website

Chesaning Genealogical Society c/o Chesaning Public Library 227 East Broad Street Chesaning, Michigan 48616-1501

Website

Cass River Genealogical Society c/o James E. Wickson Memorial Library 359 South Franklin Street Frankenmuth, Michigan 48734-1529

St. Charles Historical Society and Museum PO Box 45 249 Saginaw St. St. Charles, Michigan 48655


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Saginaw Michigan Family History Center 1415 N Center Rd, Saginaw, MI 48603

Websites

 * Saginaw County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Saginaw County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * Saginaw County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)