McDowell County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for James McDowell. The County is located in the southeast 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:

Cemeteries

 * I Dream of Genealogy McDowell County, West Virginia Cemeteries

Census Records

 * McDowell Census

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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

Local Histories

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

West Virginia Archives

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:Cities and Towns- 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 Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - 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.

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

Marriage

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

Death

 * 1804-1999 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * The closest family history centers are the Huntington Family History Center and Charleston Family History Center
 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Libraries

 * Craft Memorial Library, Bluefield, WV

Societies

 * McDowell County Historical Society HC 61 Box 37-B Paynesville, WV 24873 President: Dr. Tom Hatcher Secretary/Treasurer: Geneva Steele

Websites

 * McDowell County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * CYNDI'S List West Virginia
 * McDowell County Articles
 * McDowell West Virginia Families
 * McDowell County, West Virginia Photo Album
 * Flat Top Field, McDowell County, West Virginia
 * McDowell County Biographies
 * - 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