Houghton County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Houghton 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 Douglass Houghton. The County has Houghton as its seat and the County was created 1846. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage records from 1855, divorce and court records from 1853, land records from 1847, naturalization records from 1848 and military records. Probate Judge has probate records.

Parent County
1845--Houghton County was created 19 March 1845 from Marquette and Ontonagon Counties. It was attached to Chippewa County prior to organization 18 May 1846. County seat: Houghton

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.

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:

Neighboring Counties
Baraga •  Iron  •  Keweenaw  •  Ontonagon

Resources
A Guide to Genealogical Resources and researching their special collections may be viewed at MTU Archives. Perhaps the most interesting item in the collection are the employment records of now defunct mining companies that give names, birth date and place of birth and the names, ages of children and also extended family employed worked for the mining companies from 1880 to 1920. This is especially valuable since the majority of the miners were immigrants from Europe. Please read the guide carefully for the resources that will help you 'cross the pond'.

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929-1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Michigan. By Samuel W. Durant. 1880. Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Online at: Hathitrust; Internet Archive; Google Books; Ancestry ($)

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War

 * at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1784–1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry — 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 — index and images

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 — index and images

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 — index and images
 * 1897-1920 - Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920 -- Free index and images of death certificates located at the Michigan State Archives website (SeekingMichigan.org)
 * 1921-1952 - Michigan Death Records, 1921-1952 -- Free index and images of death certificates for 1921-1941 located at the Michigan State Archives website (SeekingMichigan.org). Free index only for death records from 1942-1952.

Societies and Libraries

 * Houghton County Historical Society 53102 Hwy M-26 PO Box 127 Lake Linden, MI 49945 Website
 * Houghton-Keweenaw County Genealogical Society PO Box 72 Houghton, MI 49931 Email: [mailto:HKCGSociety@gmail.com HKCGSociety@gmail.com]
 * J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931 Phone: 906-487-2505 Fax: 906-487-2357 Email: [mailto:copper@mtu.edu copper@mtu.edu] Website

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Houghton Michigan Family History Center 47691 Meadow St, Houghton, MI 47691 United States

Websites

 * 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.
 * Houghton County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * French-Canadians in Houghton
 * French-Canadians in Houghton