Highland County, Ohio Genealogy

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

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed from Adams, Clermont, and Ross Counties 18 February 1805.
 * County Seat: Hillsboro

Description
The county was named for the topography which is hilly and divides the watersheds of the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers. It's county seat is Hillsboro and was founded May 1, 1805. It is located in the Southwestern area of the state.

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
Clinton County •  Brown County  •  Adams County  •  Pike County  •  Ross County  •  Fayette County

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Ohio county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Ohio County Boundary Maps" (1788-1888) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.


 * Cemeteries of HIghland County, Ohio
 * Many Cemetery Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Census

 * Census Project
 * 1820 United States Census $
 * 1830 United States Census $
 * 1840 United States Census $
 * United States Census 1850 United States Census Population Schedules, 1850 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * U. S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 $ (Free Indexes)
 * United States Census 1860 United States Census Population Schedules, 1860 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * 1860 United States Census $
 * United States Census 1870 United States Census Population Schedules, 1870 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * United States Census 1880 (Index only) United States Census Population Schedules 1910 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * 1880 United States Census$
 * 1890 Veterans Schedule $
 * United States Census 1900 United States Census Population Schedules, 1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * 1910 United States Census $
 * United States Census 1910 United States Census Population Schedules 1910 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * United States Census 1920 United States Census Population Schedules 1920 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * 1930 United States Census $
 * 1930 Census of Merchant Seaman $
 * U. S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914 $

Church Records
The History of the Chillicothe Presbytery, From its Organization in 1799-1889

Churches of Highland County, Ohio

Topographic Map Church Features in Highland County, Ohio

Highland County, Ohio Churches

Many Church Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Court Records

 * Many Court Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.
 * Many Guardianship Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Funeral Homes

 * Funeral Homes in Highland County, Ohio

Local Histories

 * Thompson, James Henry, The History of the County of Highland, in the State of Ohio: From Its First Creation and Organization, to July 4th, 1876, (Hillsboro, Ohio: Hillsboro Gazette Job Room, 1878). Digital copy at Google Books Internet Archive Ancestry ($)(Indexed)


 * Klise, J.W., The County of Highland: A History of Highland County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, (Madison, Wisconsin: Northwestern Historical Association, 1902). Digital copy at Google Books Internet Archive


 * Klise, J.W., State Centennial History of Highland County, Ohio, (Owensboro, Kentucky: Cook and McDowell Publications, 1980).


 * History of Ross and Highland Counties, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, (Cleveland, Ohio: Williams Brothers, 1880). Digital copy at


 * Scott, Daniel, A History of the Early Settlement of Highland County, Ohio, (The Gazette, 1890). Digital copy at Google Books


 * Folklore of Highland County, Ohio
 * Historical Collections of Ohio by Henry Howe Vol. 1 1888

Land and Property

 * various years - community contributed deeds Courtesy OhioGenWeb

Maps

 * Maps of Ohio (1788-1940)
 * Ohio Maps 1866 - 1875
 * Outline Map of Highland County Ohio $

Military

 * 1888-1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * Revolutionary War -Revolutionary War


 * Civil War Civil War service men from Highland County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Highland County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, Company C, also known as "Pope's Escort" and "Shield's Body Guard", and Company H, which had many men from Hillsboro


 * World War I -World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 $


 * World War II -United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942


 * -Highland County, Ohio World War II Casualties Army and Air Force
 * -U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 $


 * General -History of MIlitary Service of the U. S., and the State of Ohio


 * -Many Military Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800-1977 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * Many Naturalization and Citizenship Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Newspapers
Online Newspapers


 * before 1850 - Ohio newspaper abstracts before 1850
 * 1857-1886 - The Highland Weekly News available at the Library of Congress - free.
 * 1886-1914 - The News-Herald at the Library of Congress - free.
 * various years - Highland County Newspapers available at Ancestry ($).
 * various years - The Times-Gazette

Online Newspaper Abstracts Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts in Book Form

Historic Newspapers by Name

Search for newspapers by town or county name in these directories.


 * Historic Highland County Newspapers listed at the Ohio Historical Society.
 * Historic Highland County Newspapers listed at the Library of Congress.
 * Historic Highland County Newspapers listed at Google News.
 * Historic Highland County Newspapers listed at Ohio Newspaper Abstracts

Many Newspapers for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Obituaries

 * Many Obituaries for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.
 * Transcribed Obituaries for Highland county at Genealogy Trails

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1786 - 1998 Ohio Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1789 - 1996 at FamilySearch.org — images
 * 1790–1967 - at FamilySearch Historical Records – free. This collection consists of probate records and estate files from county courthouses in Ohio. The content and time period varies by county, with more records being added as they become available. This Collection will include records from 1789 to 1996. Currently, (September 2012) the collection is only searchable by browsing the images. A list of Fires that have destroyed records in the courthouses of several counties are listed on the Record Description page.
 * various years - community contributed wills Courtesy OhioGenWeb Archives
 * Many Probates for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Courthouse
Highland County Courthouse 114 Governor Foraker Place Hillsboro, OH 45133 Phone: 937.393.1981 Probate Court has marriage and death records 1867-1909, birth records to 1905 and probate records; County Health Department has birth, marriage and death records from 1909; Clerk Court has divorce and court recordsc from 1832, some natturalization and adoption records; County Recorder has land records


 * Highland County Clerk of Courts
 * Highland County Courthouse

Family History Centers

 * Adams Ohio Family History Center

For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory. Put your town name in the top search box.

Libraries

 * Highland County, Ohio Libraries
 * Highland County Public Libraries

Societies

 * Southern Ohio Genealogical Society of Highland County, Ohio
 * Highland County Historical Society
 * Greenfield Historical Society

Online Genealogy Research Groups

 * U.S. Midwest Genealogy Research Community - FamilySearch Facebook Research Group
 * Ohio Ancestors - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join
 * U.S. and Canada Genealogy Research - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join
 * U.S. and Canada Genealogy Research - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join

Taxation

 * 1800-1850 - Ohio Tax Records 1800-1850
 * 1810 - Highland County tax list at Ancestry.com ($)


 * Many Tax Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Birth

 * various years - community contributed birth records Courtesy OhioGenWeb Archives
 * various years - community contributed birth records Courtesy OhioGenWeb

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1789-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1800-1958 - at FamilySearch — free; Index.
 * 1800-1942 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1803-1900 - Ohio Marriages on Ancestry.com $
 * various years - community contributed marriage records Courtesy OhioGenWeb Archives
 * various years - community contributed marriage records Courtesy OhioGenWeb

Original Marriage Records on Microfilm


 * Many Vital Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1840-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1908-1953 - Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953 Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as birth date of deceased, city, county, and state of death, name of spouse if married, names of parents, maiden name of mother, name of informant, if deceased was single, married, windowed or divorced, occupation of deceased.
 * 1908-1932, 1938-1944, 1959-2002 - Ohio Deaths at Ancestry.com $
 * various years - community contributed death records Courtesy OhioGenWeb Archives
 * various years - community contributed death records Courtesy OhioGenWeb

Original Death Records on Microfilm


 * Many Vital Records for Highland County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see.

Websites

 * Highland County, Ohio OHGenWeb
 * Highland County, OH History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWebproject. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Highland County at Genealogy Trails
 * Highland County OH Genealogy
 * Ohio Genealogy Express, Highland County, Ohio
 * Cyndi's List
 * Cyndi's List