District of Columbia, United States Genealogy

Guide to District of Columbia ancestry, family history, and genealogy, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records

District of Columbia Information
The District of Columbia, or Washington, D.C., is the capitol of the United States of America. The first land grants to English settlers, in what is now the District of Columbia (then Charles County, Maryland), were made in 1663. Scottish immigrants founded Georgetown in 1751. Only a few people lived in the area when the federal government offices were moved there from Philadelphia in 1800. The city grew slowly until the 1860s, when the population more than doubled during and after the Civil War.

Getting Started


Migration Routes
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal· Cumberland Road· Fall Line Road (or Southern Road)· King's Highway· National Road· Potomac River· Atlantic Coast Ports

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records - databases and record images on FamilySearch
 * District of Columbia Family History Center locator map

Additional Resources

 * 2001-2014 – Currentobituary.com index, 2001-2014 at FamilySearch – Index
 * Cyndi's List – Washington, D.C. genealogy sites on the internet
 * Washington, D.C. Genealogy Trails – Collection of transcribed data for Washington, D.C.
 * The Ancestor Hunt – Resources for Washington, D.C. genealogy research
 * Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness – Volunteer look-ups in Washington, D.C.
 * Washington, D.C. Research Outline – Original Family History Library research outline; contains many out of date links
 * Every Name Index