Washtenaw County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Washtenaw County, Michigan ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, 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
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 10a.m.-2p.m. to assist people using death and marriage records.

History
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 It contains a significant collection of historical documents in its library given the nearly 200 years it has been in existence, having been formed in the 1820s.

Parent County
1822--Washtenaw County was created 10 September 1822 from Wayne and Oakland Counties. It was attached to Wayne County prior to organization 31 December 1826. County seat: Ann Arbor

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

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
Ingham •  Jackson  •  Lenawee  •  Livingston  •  Monroe  •  Oakland  •  Wayne

Cemeteries

 * Dolph Funeral Home Records: Courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. this funeral home is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Coverage: June, 1937-September, 1952.


 * Genealogical Society of Washtneaw County Research Section: Cemetery Records

Census
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 — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Ann Arbor

Court
Washtenaw Clerk/Register of Deeds Vital Records Phone: 734-222-6720 200 N. Main P.O. Box 8645 Ann Arbor, MI 48107 Phone: 734-222-6700 Fax: 734-222-6528

Washtenaw County Courthouse 200 North Main Street Ann Arbor, MI 48107

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

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

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

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

Spanish American War

 * Michigan Volunteers in the Spanish American War - Veterans by County. MiGenWeb Project

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

Probate Court 101 East Huron St. - Rm 314 PO Box 8645 Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 Telephone: (734) 222-3072 email: probate@ewashtenaw.org

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

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1902 - 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.

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1868-1925 - 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.

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - 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.
 * Washtenaw County Death Resources. MiGenWeb Project

Societies and Libraries
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

Washtenaw County Historical Society PO Box 3336 Ann Arbor 48106-3336


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


 * FamilySearch Wiki: Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County
 * Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County Library.
 * Washtenaw County Historical & Genealogical Societies. MiGenWeb Project

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Ann Arbor Michigan Family History Center 525 E Woodland Dr, Rear Entrance, Saline ,MI 48176 United States

Websites

 * Washtenaw County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb Michigan: May have maps, name indexes, history or other information
 * Washtenaw County Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy): Links to online records
 * Finding Your Washtenaw County Ancestors(on the Website of the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County)