Monroe County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Monroe 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 James Monroe. The County has Monroe as its seat and the County was created July 14, 1817. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth records from 1874, marriage records from 1818, death records from 1867, divorce and court records to 1945. Probate Court has probate records. Register of Deeds has land records.

Parent County
1817--Monroe County was created 14 July 1817 from Wayne County. County seat: Monroe

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.

Neighboring Counties
Lenawee •  Lucas County, Ohio  •  Washtenaw  •  Wayne

Cemeteries
Listing of Cemeteries by Township, City or Village

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church
The Monroe County Library System has microfilm of county church records running back to the 18th century. They are housed at the Ellis Library &amp; Reference Center.

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index
 * The Monroe County Library System has microfilm of county church records running back to the 18th century. They are housed at the Ellis Library &amp; Reference Center.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * Monroe County Historical Museum
 * Monroe in History - A collection of Civil War letters and historical photographs
 * River Raisin Battlefield Visitors Center

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Monroe County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Monroe County.


 * - 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Companies C and i

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Monroe County

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers
Bygones of Monroe: Glimpses of Life in Monroe County History Taken from Area Newspapers.

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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.


 * Laurant Durocher Account Book Index, an active citizen in the founding of Frenchtown, later known as Monroe, Michigan.
 * Monroe County Obituary Index: This is 'work in progress' done by the Monroe County Historical Commission Archives.

Societies and Libraries
Monroe County, Genealogical Society Of PO Box 1428 Monroe 48161-1428 E-mail:[mailto:gsmcmi@gsmcmi.org gsmcmi@gsmcmi.org] Website


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies
 * Daughters of the American Revolution - Nancy DeGraff Toll Chapter
 * Genealogical Society of Monroe County
 * Monroe County Library System - Genealogy

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Monroe 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.
 * Monroe County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * Monroe County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)