Arenac County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for “A sandy place for a good footing." The County is located in the east area of the state.

County Courthouse
Arenac County Courthouse 120 N Grove Street PO Box 747 Standish, MI 48658 Phone: 989-846-4626 Arenac County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, divorce and court records from 1883 and burial records from 1952.

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

 * 1799-1999 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Census Records

 * Census Online


 * 1870 Arenac County did not exist in 1870, but was part of Bay County

 State Census


 * 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

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch
 * 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

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
AFRICAN-AMERICAN

Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society c/o Burton Historical Collection, DPL 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202-4007 Publication is Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society News published twice a year Located in Wayne County MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council

Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society Post Office Box 22203 Lansing, MI 48909-2203 Publication is Newsletter published quarterly Member of Michigan Genealogical Council

CORNISH

Keweenaw Houghton Cornish Society of the Copper Country Cornish Connection Of Lower Michigan 8494 Wesley Drive Flushing, MI 48433

DUTCH

Joint Archives of Holland, Hope College

FINNISH

Finnish American Heritage Center

FLEMISH

Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans Facebook Page

FRENCH-CANADIAN (includes Acadian, Cajun and Metis)

French-Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan PO Box 1900 Royal Oak, MI 48068-1900 Publication is Michigan's Habitat Heritage published quarterly Located in Oakland County MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

IRISH

Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan c/o Gaelic League/Irish American Club 2068 Michigan Avenue Detroit, MI 48216-1303 Publication is Irish Tree published nine times a year Located in Wayne County MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

Wayne County Irish Society 31975 Cowan Westland, MI 48185

ITALIAN

Americans Of Italian Origin Society 18336 Lister E. Detroit, MI 48021

JEWISH

Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan PO Box 251693 West Bloomfield, MI 48325-1693 Publication is Generations published quarterly Located in Oakland County MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

POLISH

Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan c/o Burton Collection 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202-4007 Publication is The Polish Eaglet published three times a year Located in Wayne County MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

Polish Heritage Society P.O. Box 1844 Grand Rapids, MI 49501

SCOTTISH

The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit 2360 Rochester Ct Troy, Mi 48083 Phone: 248-526-1849 Fax: 248-528-1477 Contact: kilgour@detroitscots.com

Genealogies

 * BOURASSA - (includes Arenac branches, see attachment)
 * LALON(D)E - (see attachment)
 * STANDISH Family Ancestors - (see attachment)

Land and Property Records

 * Bureau of Land Management

Local Histories

 * Books available at the Library of Michigan (Lansing) regarding Arenac Co.
 * A History of Northern Michigan and Its People. 3 Volumes. By Perry Francis Powers, Harry Gardner Cutler. 1912. Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Online at: Hathitrust; Vol. 2 - Google Books

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
 * Standard atlas of Arenac County, Michigan
 * PDF of the Standard Atlas of Arenac County, Michigan in the US Archive
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch
 * 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

World War I
 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch
 * Draft Cards

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Arenac County Independent
 * Arenac Independent Facebook Page
 * Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 at FamilySearch

Probate Records
Online Indexes and Records
 * 1797-1973 at FamilySearch
 * 1784 – 1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

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.

Vital Records

 * State vital records started in 1867, however marriage records started at the county level earlier. Check both.

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch
 * 1867-1902 - at FamilySearch

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch
 * 1868-1925 - at FamilySearch

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch
 * 1867-1897 - at FamilySearch
 * Pre-1897 - (not complete) - Michigan State Department of Community Health Genealogical Death Indexing System
 * 1897-1952 - Michigan Death Certificates, 1897-1952 at Michiganology

Libraries

 * Arenac County Historical Society PO Box 272 304 E. Michigan Ave. Au Gres, MI 48703 517-876-6399 Website Facebook

Societies
Arenac County Historical Society PO Box 272 304 E. Michigan Ave. Au Gres, MI 48703 517-876-6399 Facebook Website

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society c/o Burton Historical Collection, DPL 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202-4007 Website
 * Publication is Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society News published twice a year. Located in Wayne County<. MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council

Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society Post Office Box 22203 Lansing, MI 48909-2203 Website
 * Publication is Newsletter published quarterly. Member of Michigan Genealogical Council

CORNISH

Houghton Cornish Society of the Copper Country Cornish Connection Of Lower Michigan 8494 Wesley Drive Flushing, MI 48433 Website

DUTCH

Joint Archives of Holland, Hope College Website

FINNISH

Finnish American Heritage Center Website

FLEMISH

Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans Facebook Page Website

FRENCH-CANADIAN (includes Acadian, Cajun and Metis)

French-Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan PO Box 1900 Royal Oak, MI 48068-1900 Website
 * Publication is Michigan's Habitat Heritage published quarterly. Located in Oakland County. MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council.Facebook Page

IRISH

Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan c/o Gaelic League/Irish American Club 2068 Michigan Avenue Detroit, MI 48216-1303 Website
 * Publication is Irish Tree published nine times a year. Located in Wayne County. MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

Wayne County Irish Society 31975 Cowan Westland, MI 48185 Website

ITALIAN

Americans Of Italian Origin Society 18336 Lister E. Detroit, MI 48021 Website

JEWISH

Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan PO Box 251693 West Bloomfield, MI 48325-1693 Website
 * Publication is Generations published quarterly. Located in Oakland County. MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

POLISH

Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan c/o Burton Collection 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202-4007 Website
 * Publication is The Polish Eaglet published three times a year. Located in Wayne County. MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council Facebook Page

Polish Heritage Society P.O. Box 1844 Grand Rapids, MI 49501 Website

SCOTTISH

The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit 2360 Rochester Ct Troy, Mi 48083 248-526-1849 Fax: 248-528-1477 Contact: kilgour@detroitscots.com Website

Websites

 * The Arenac County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Family History and Genealogy Linkpendium
 * Cyndi's List
 * Michigan Family History Network
 * Arenac County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – 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.