Benzie County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for the Betsie River. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Benzie County Courthouse 448 Court Place Beulah, MI 49617-0377 Phone: (231) 882-9671 Benzie County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from 1868, marriage and court records from 1869, divorce and probate records from 1870, naturalization records from 1871, and burial records from 1934.

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

 * 1799-1999 at FamilySearch — index and images

Census Records
 State Census


 * 1894 at FamilySearch - How to Use this CollectionThis is one of 17 counties that have a full, searchable census with links to images.
 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1819-1991 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929-1966 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
 * 1876-1945 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

World War I
 * 1917-1919 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1784-1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com($)
 * 1797-1973 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

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.

Birth

 * 1867-1917 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1902 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 Michigan, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
 * 1820-1937 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1940 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1868-1925 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection

Death

 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1897 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1897-1952 Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index and images, organized by county and then last name.

Divorce

 * 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index and images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cadillac Michigan Family History Center
 * Kalkaska Michigan Family History Center
 * Traverse City Michigan Family History Center


 * Gladwin County District Library - an affiliate library
 * Roscommon Co Gen Soc Research & Education Library - an affiliate library

Museums
Benzie Area Historical Society PO Box 185/ 6941 Traverse Avenue Benzonia MI 49616 Phone: 231-882-5539 Facebook website

Societies

 * Benzie Area Historical Society 6941 Traverse Avenue Benzonia, MI 49616 Phone: 231-882-5539 Email: [mailto:info@benziemuseum.org info@benziemuseum.org] Website Facebook


 * Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society 610 Woodmere Ave/PO Box 2015 Traverse City, MI 49685 Email: [mailto:info@gtags.org info@gtags.org] Facebook Website

Websites

 * The Benzie County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Benzie County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – 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.