Columbia County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
Columbia County was named for Columbia, a poetic name for the United States that alludes to Christopher Columbus. It is located in the east-central section of the state.

County Courthouse
Columbia County Courthouse 35 West Main Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Phone: 570-389-5600 Register and Recorder's Office: 570-389-5632 Office of the Prothonotary: 570-389-5614 Columbia County Website County Clerk has birth and death records 1893-1905, marriage records from 1888, court records from 1814 and divorce records

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:

Biographies

 * Columbia County Biographies at USGenWeb Archives; scroll down to Biographies

Cemeteries

 * ca.1700-ca.1950 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)

Census Records
Federal Census
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * 1620-1991  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images



The Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society maintains files on over 300 area churches. The files are comprised of church histories, membership rolls, marriage records, and more. An index to the files can be accessed by going to the "Resources" tab on the home page and then clicking on the "Churches and Cemeteries (Files)" link. Society volunteers will search the files for others. Those interested are encouraged to contact the society by telephone (570-784-1600).

County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
 * 1708-1985 - Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $


 * Contains church records of:
 * Berwick: First United Methodist Church; St. Paul Methodist Church; United Methodist Church
 * Bloomsburg: First Presbyterian Church; Lutheran Church; Trinity Reformed Church (United Church of Christ); Wesley United Methodist Church
 * Catawissa: First United Methodist Church
 * Espy: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
 * Fowlerville: Lutheran Church
 * Millville: United Methodist Church
 * Philadelphia: Columbia Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church; Covenant United Presbyterian Church

Lutheran

St. John's Lutheran Church, Catawissa


 * 1789-1864 - St. John's Lutheran Church, Catawissa, Baptism Index 1789-1864 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch, Batch.
 * 1840-1873 - St. John's Lutheran Church, Catawissa, Marriage Index 1840-1873 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Court of Common Pleas The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Columbia County shares its judicial district with Montour. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.

1814-1861 Common Pleas dockets. Includes naturalizations, divorce petitions, deeds, insolvency, contracts, and lunacy.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1798-1828  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
 * 1900-1923  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
 * 1952-1957   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Land and Property Records
Land records in Columbia County began in 1800. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder's office in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

Online Land Records


 * 1974–present Columbia County offers free online access to indexes. Fees apply to view images.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1813-1973 Deeds, 1813-1866; Index, 1813-1973. ; images
 * 1813-1973 Mortgages, 1813-1830; Index, 1813-1973. ; images

Local Histories

 * Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania. 2 volumes. 1915. 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, Ancestry ($);.
 * History and Topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton Counties, PA. 1847.  Compiled by I. D. Rupp. Lancaster, Pennsylvania : G. Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($);.
 * History of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania. 3 volumes in 1. 1887. Edited by J. H. Battle.  Chicago, Illinois : A. Warner.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive ; . Vol. 2 is Columbia County history.
 * History of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. c1958. By Edwin M. Barton. N.p: E.M. Barton. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * A History of Columbia County, Pennsylvania, From the Earliest Times. 1883. By John G. Freeze. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania : Elwell & Bittenbender. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * 1876 Atlas of Columbia & Montour Counties, Pennsylvania at Ancestor Tracks. This atlas located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. 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 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
Civil War
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1865-1936  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1933-1947  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1795-1931  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1795-1952  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization records available for Columbia County, Pennsylvania include the following:

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1901-1930 – Naturalizations - PA Middle on Fold3.com $. indexed, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records
 * 1901-1930 - Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 at Ancestry $

Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm


 * 1814-1861 Common Pleas Dockets
 * 1814-1847 Naturalization Papers

Newspapers
Newspapers of Columbia County

Online Newspapers


 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
 * Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive

Online Newspaper Abstracts

Newspaper clippings collected by the Old Buncombe County, North Carolina Genealogical Society.
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Columbia County.
 * The Columbia Democrat Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1837-1850.
 * The Columbian Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1866-1910.
 * The Campaign Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1866-1866.
 * Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg General Advertiser Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1850-1866.
 * Columbia County Marriages at USGenWeb; extracted from the "Columbia Democrat" by WPA Project 5175.

Obituaries

 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1977-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Columbia

Online Obituary Abstracts

PA-Roots Obituaries for Columbia County.

Other Records
Orphans
 * 1814-1868  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index and images

Probate Records

 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $; Index
 * 1683-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
 * 1773-1833 Indexes to mortgages, wills and administrations, and miscellaneous records, 1773-1833 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index

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.

Tax Records

 * 1778-1787 - Columbia County, Pennsylvania Tax Lists 1778-1780, 1781, 1783 &amp; 1784, 1785, 1787 at PAGenWeb

Vital Records

 * 1893-1905 Columbia County Birth and Death Records at indexes PAGenWeb

Birth

 * 1520-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1709-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Births, 1852-1854 at Ancestry $
 * 1852-1856 - Columbia County Birth Index 1852-1928 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1941-1976 at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1512-1989  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1677-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1682-1976  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania, Compiled Marriage Records, 1700-1821 at Ancestry $
 * 1709-1940  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages to 1810 at Ancestry $
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1852-1854 at Ancestry $
 * 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895-1907 Columbia County Marriages at PAGenWeb
 * Marriage Records of Columbia and Montour Counties at Ancestry $
 * 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

 * 1720-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1852-1873, 1893-1905 - Columbia County Death Index 1852-1873 and 1893-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854 at Ancestry $
 * 1856-1971  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Archives
National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 Website

Family History Centers

 * Berwick Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries
Thomas Beaver Free Library 317 Ferry Street Danville, PA 17821 Phone: (570) 275-4180 Fax: 570-275-8480 Website

Societies

 * Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society 225 Market Street P.O. Box 360 Bloomsburg, PA 17815-0360 Phone: 570–784-1600 Website
 * Montour County Genealogical Society 205 Ferry Street Danville PA 17821 Phone: 570-275-6177 Website
 * Genealogy Room: Thomas Beaver Free Library, 2nd Floor The Room collection includes records for Columbia, Montour and Northumberland Counties.

Websites

 * Columbia County PA Genealogy
 * PA GenWeb Columbia County
 * PA USGenWeb Archives, Columbia County
 * – 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.