Washtenaw County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Washtenaw is a variant of the Ojibwa word: "Wash-ten-ong," meaning what is now called the "Grand River". The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Washtenaw County Courthouse 200 N Main Street, Suite 120 P. O. Box 8645 Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 Phone: 734-222-6700 Washtenaw County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage and death records from 1867, divorce, court and land records, naturalization records and supervisors records from 1835.

A Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County volunteer is at Vital Records Office every Thursday (except holidays) between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to assist people using death and marriage 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:

History Timeline
Additional Information Washtenaw County is directly west of Detroit, and is situated on the old 'Chicago Road' which today is US Highway 12. One of the first things that took place after the town of Ann Arbor was formed was to start the University of Michigan, which is today one of the largest in the United States. It contains a significant collection of historical documents in its library given the nearly 200 years it has been in existence, having been formed in the 1820s.

Census Records
Federal Census
 * 1820 Census 1820 Federal Population Census for Michigan for the Territory of Michigan. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1830 Census 1830 Census of Michigan Territory: Washtenaw County. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1840 Census 1840 Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan Census, Page 1, Page 2. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1860 Census Washtenaw, MI 1860 Federal Census, Freedom Township, Sylvan Township. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1870 Census City of Ann Arbor. MiGenWeb Project

State Census


 * 1894 at FamilySearch -How to Use this Collection This is one of 16 counties that have a full, searchable census with links to images.


 * 1894 - Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library


 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch -How to Use this Collection

Church Records

 * 1819-1991 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Ann Arbor
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

American Indian
The Indians of Washtenaw County, Michigan. By Wilbert B. Hinsdale. FHL| 45162 | FHL book 970.1 H596i WorldCat

Land and Property Records

 * Self Service Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds 200 North Main Street, Suite 110 Ann Arbor, MI 48107 Phone: 734-222-6710 website
 * Historical Indexes for Grantor and Grantee names for documents recorded between 1824 - 1968.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War Civil War service men from Washtenaw County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Washtenaw County.


 * -1st Regiment, Michigan Cavalry, Company E
 * -14th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Company H
 * -17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Companies B and E


 * 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
 * 1876-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Spanish American War
 * Washtenaw Volunteers in the Spanish American War. Michigan Family History Network.

World War I
 * 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * Ann Arbor Argus - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1889-1896
 * Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat - Google News Archive; covers 1902-1906
 * Ann Arbor Journal - Google News Archive; covers 1855-1863
 * Ann Arbor Record - Google News Archive; covers 1902-1903
 * Ann Arbor Register - Google News Archive; 1875-1897
 * Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Probate Records
Older probate records are located at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing.Website

Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1784-1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry $
 * 1797-1973 at FamilySearch - 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.

Birth

 * 1867-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1902 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 Michigan, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
 * 1820-1937 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1868-1925 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Death

 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch -How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1897 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1897-1952 Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index and images, organized by county and then last name.
 * Washtenaw County Death Resources. MiGenWeb Project

Divorce

 * 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Ann Arbor Michigan Family History Center
 * Riverview Michigan Family History Center
 * Westland Michigan Family History Center


 * Lyon Township Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Manchester District Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan 1150 Beal Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Phone: 734-764-3482 website

Societies

 * Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Inc. PO Box 7155 Ann Arbor, MI 48107-7155 E-mail:[mailto:info@washtenawgenealogy.org info@washtenawgenealogy.org] Website Facebook


 * Washtenaw County Historical Society PO Box 3336 Ann Arbor MI 48106-3336 Phone: 734-662-9092 Email: [mailto:wchs-500@ameritech.net wchs-500@ameritech.net] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Washtenaw County, MI-Roots Michigan Roots is a member of the PA-Roots family of websites.
 * USGenWeb Michigan: May have maps, name indexes, history or other information
 * Washtenaw County Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com): Links to online records
 * Finding Your Washtenaw County Ancestors(on the Website of the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County)
 * – 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.