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.

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
MTU Archives &amp; Copper Country Historical Collection J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931 Telephone: (906)487-2505 Fax: (906)487-2357 E-mail: copper@mtu.edu

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War

 * 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.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.
 * 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 Hwy. M-26, Lock Box D Lake Linden 49945 Website

Houghton-Keweenaw County Genealogical Society PO Box 72 Houghton, Michigan 49931 E-mail:[mailto:HKCGSociety@gmail.com HKCGSociety@gmail.com]


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


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

Websites

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