McDowell County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to McDowell County, West Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
McDowell County was named for James McDowell. The county is located in the southern area of the state.

County Courthouse
McDowell County Courthouse 90 Wyoming Street, #109 Welch, WV 24801 Phone: 304-436-8344 McDowell County Website County Clerk has birth records from 1872, marriage records from 1861, death records 1894, probate and land records from 1897. Circuit Court Clerk has 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:

Bible Records

 * McDowell County Bible Records at US Genweb Archives

Cemeteries

 * I Dream of Genealogy McDowell County, West Virginia Cemeteries

Census Records

 * McDowell County census at WVGenWeb

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1858-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1859-1897 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1859-1902 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1875-1917 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Genealogies

 * Harman - Harman, John Newton. Harman Genealogy (Southern Branch): With Biographical Sketches, 1700-1924. Richmond, Va.: W.C. Hill Print. Co., 1925. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Land and Property Records

 * Names Early Connected with the Land in McDowell County at WVGenWeb - index

Local Histories

 * Early History of McDowell County, West Virginia
 * McDowell County, West Virginia

Evans, Norma Pontiff. First Families of McDowell County, West Virginia. s.l. Author, 1981. 929.1 M138. Friedl, Joseph. A History of Education in McDowell County, West Virginia, 1858-1976. Parsons, West Virginia, McClain Printing Company, 1975. 370.9754 F911h. Goodykoontz, Wells. Address Delivered by Wells Goodykoontz, Tuesday, June 14, 1927, at the Unveiling of Tablet of Black Wolf, McDowell County, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., 1927. 929.2 H287 Pam. Grisby, Louise Carter. Come Back With Me to Gary, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., n.d. 975.449 G857. Lad, Virginia. Sodom and Gomorrah of Today; or the History of Keystone, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., 1912. 975.449 L153. McDowell County Centennial, 1858-1958. s.l., n.p., 1958. 975.449 M138c. McDowell County, West Virginia, The Nations Coal Bin. s.l., n.p., n.d. 917.5449 M138. Solins, Mrs. Samuel and Jones, Mrs. Paul. McDowell County History; A Pictorial History of McDowell County, West Virginia. Fort Worth, Texas, University Supply and Equipment Company, 1959. 975.449 M138. Sowers, Auburn Daniel. Facts About McDowell County, West Virginia. s.l., n.p., 1912. 975.449 S731 Pam. ''Welch West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia''. s.l., n.p., n.d. 917.5449 W439 Pam.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * McDowell County, West Virginia Map
 * McDowell County West Virginia 1895
 * TrailsRus McDowell County, West Virginia

Civil War

 * West Virginia, Civil War - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991  at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * Naturalization records, 1908-1951 Circuit Court McDowell County, West Virginia: available on line.

Newspapers

 * Beckley Register Herald
 * Bluefield Daily Telegraph
 * Welch Daily News Box 569 Welch, WV 24801 Phone: 304-436-3144 McDowell Public Library

Obituaries

 * McDowell County Obituaries

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1724-1985 West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1858-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1860-1876 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1860-1900 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1862-1903 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1897 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1893-1969 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1894-1927 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1897-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

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
West Virginia real and personal property tax records are managed by the County Assessor in each county. Land and land improvements are considered real property while mobile property is classified as personal property.

Many County Assessors offer an online searchable database, where assessment record searches can be performed by name, account number, year, or mp/parcel number. Where online records are not available, requests for records can be made to the Assessment Office in person, by phone, or in writing.

The search for tax information can start here

Vital Records

 * West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
 * McDowell Co., West Virginia births, 1887-1899; marriages, 1861-1899.
 * McDowell County, West Virginia, births, marriages and wills (1860-1900) copied from Welch court house records

Birth

 * 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Marriage

 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1780-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1801-1962 West Virginia, United States Marriages at Findmypast; index $

Death

 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Archives
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History The Culture Center 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E. Charleston, WV 25305-0300 Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Pembroke Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries
McDowell Public Library 90 Howard Street Welch, WV 24801 Phone: 304-436-3070 Website Multiple branches

Societies
McDowell County Historical Society c/o Geneva Steele HC 61 Box 37-B Paynesville, WV 24873 Phone: 304-585-7242 Email: [mailto:mcdowellwvhistory@gmail.com mcdowellwvhistory@gmail.com]

Websites

 * McDowell County WVGenWeb
 * McDowell County USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * CYNDI'S List West Virginia
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * - 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