Houghton County, Michigan Genealogy

United States Michigan  Houghton County

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

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
For a list of record loss in Michigan counties see: Michigan Counties with Burned Courthouses

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'.

Local Histories
MTU Archives &amp; Copper Country Historical Collection J. Robert Van Pelt Library Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI 49931 Tel: (906)487-2505 Fax: (906)487-2357 E-mail: copper@mtu.edu www.lib.mtu.edu Updated July 2008

Maps



 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

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
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Societies and Libraries

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

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers


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

Web Sites

 * 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. Select the state, then the county.