Summers County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Summers County was named for George W. Summers. The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Summers County Courthouse P.O. Box 97 Hinton, WV 25951 Phone: 304-466-7104 Summers County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, probate and land records from 1871. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court 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:

Cemeteries

 * I Dream Of Genealogy Summers County, West Virginia Cemeteries

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1853-1902 (*); Clerk of the County Court, County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1927 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1871-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1873 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1874-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1874-1926 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1874-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Funeral Homes in Summers County, West Virginia

Land and Property Records

 * Hudgins. 226 patents dated 1784-1862 in what is now Summers County, West Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.

Local Histories

 * History of Summers County from the Earliest Settlement to Present Time. Google Books
 * Early History of Summers County
 * Summers County, West Virginia
 * Welcome to Hinton, West Virginia
 * Welcome to Summers County, West Virginia

Cottle, George. History of Forest Hill Community, Summers County, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, n. d. (On-line version).Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: C6.

Graham C. History of Clayton Community, Summers County, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1923.(On-line version). Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: G7.

Lively, Lester. History of Summers County''. s. l., n. p., n. d. 975.476 L784 Pam.

Long, Fred. Historic Pence Springs Resort. s. l., n. p., 1983.917.5476 L848.

Maddy, W. T. History of Marie Community, Summers and Monroe Counties, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1925.(On-line version).Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: M3.

Miller, James Henry. ''History of Summers County From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Hinton, West Virginia'', n. p., 1908.975.476 M648.

Nyden, Paul J. ''Thirty Oral History Transcripts About the New River Region in Fayette, Raleigh and Summers Counties, West Virginia. Beckley, West Virginia'', Paul Nyden, 1980.

Summers County World War Veterans. s. l., n. p., n. d.940.546775 S955 Pam.

Woods, Clee. ''West Virginia Was Good. Charleston, West Virginia'', Mountain State Press, 1984. 975.476 Wood.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Summers County, West Virginia 1895
 * Map of Summers County West Virginia and Vicinity

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - 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

Newspapers

 * The Register Herald.com

Obituaries

 * Summers County, West Virginia 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
 * 1854-1969 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1867-1900 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1900 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1912 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1912 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1912 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1871-1932 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1874-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1874-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1867-1900 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — 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;Assessor and Property Tax

Vital Records

 * West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.

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 $
 * Summers County West Virginia Marriage Record Archives at WVGenWeb Project

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
 * White Sulphur Springs West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Summers County Public Library 201 Temple Street Hinton, WV 25951 Phone: 304-466-4490 Email: [mailto:austin.persinger@mail.mln.lib.wv.us austin.persinger@mail.mln.lib.wv.us ] Website

Societies
Summers County Historical Society P.O. Box 295 Hinton, WV 25951 Phone: 304-466-4490 Facebook

Websites

 * Summers County WVGenWeb
 * Summers County USGenWeb
 * Summers County, West Virginia Family History & Genealogy
 * Summers County WV History and Genealogy at Genealogy Trails
 * Summers County in The West Virginia Encyclopedia
 * Cyndi's List for 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