Washington County, Tennessee

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Washington County, Tennessee Facts

When was Washington County, TN Created?

Washington County was founded on  November 15, 1777 from western territory known as the Washington District.

What is the County Seat of Washington County, TN?

The County Seat of government is located in Jonesborough also, the county government website is www.washingtoncountytn.org/ .

What counties are adjacent to Washington County, TN?

Bordering counties are Sullivan County, Carter County, Unicoi County, Greene County and Hawkins County .

Washington County Courthouse and Government Records

Washington County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Washington County Courthouse?

The following information and facts indicates whatever birth, death, marriage, land, wills, and courtroom records will be in Washington County or in the Tennessee State Library & Archives. The dates indicated below could be the first widely known documents for this county.

• Washington County Clerk
  • Address: P.O. Box 218, 100 Main St., Jonesborough, TN 37659
  • Phone: (423) 753-1621
  • Marriage Records: 1787
  • Probate Records: 1779
• Washington County Register of Deeds
  • Address: P.O. Box 69, Jonesborough, TN 37659
  • Phone: (423) 753-1644
  • Land & Deed Records: 1782
• Washington County Clerk of Circuit Court
  • Address: Washington County Justice Center 108 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 1210, Jonesborough, TN 37659
  • Phone: 423-753-1736
  • Chancery Court Minutes: 1836
  • Circuit Court Minutes: 1809
  • County  Court Minutes: 1778

Where can find Washington County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?

Washington County vital records can be found at the Tennessee Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has copies for copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Tennessee for current fees and application process.

Marriage license records are available from the county clerk who issued the marriage license. Court divorce orders may be obtained from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce.

You can search online for Washington County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Tennessee Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificates to mail.

What Washington County, TN census records are available?

Federal Population Schedules for Washington County can be found for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Washington Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research.

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Washington County, TN?

• Emmanuel School of Religion, Restoration Movement Archives, One Walker Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601 423-926-6198
• Jonesborough-Washington County History Museum, (Heritage Alliance), 117 Boone Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659 423-753-1015
• Tipton-Haynes Historical Site, 2620 South Roan Street, PO Box 225, Johnson City, TN 37605 423-926-3631

Washington County Genealogy Resources

Where can I connect with other Washington County, TN Researchers through message boards and forums?

https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• Tennessee Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
• Tennessee State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Washington County, Tennessee Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Washington County
• Washington County, Tennessee Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• Genealogical “Fact Sheets” About Washington County (tn.gov) The purpose of these fact sheets is to help determine what sources are available for genealogical research about the people and places in Washington County. Although this is by no means an exhaustive list of all the possible places one might search, it does cover the major publications and microfilms available at TSLA on the Washington County.

What other genealogical resources are available in Washington County, TN?

The following are links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relevant to Washington County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a payment. This is merely a collection which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to suggest your own most popular Washington County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Washington Co. TN Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Tennessee Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Tennessee historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Tennessee (1795 – 1929 ) (genealogybank.com) Rapidly find names and key phrases in over 450 million content articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements as well as other items written in over 2,800 old U.S. newspapers. Brand new articles and other content added every month!
• Tennessee Newspaper List by County and City (.state.tn.us)
• Washington County, Tennessee Books (amazon.com)
• Search Tennessee Obituaries (1990 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Washington Co. TN Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• Tennessee Vital Records Research Guide
• Order Hard Copies of Vital Records  (archives.com)
• Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com)

Washington Co. TN Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• Tennessee Real Estate Assessment Data Property Search (assessment.state.tn.us)
• Washington County Records on Microfilm (tennessee.gov) – Order County Microfilm Inventories and Reels
• Early Washington County Records Available on Interlibrary Loan (tennessee.gov)
• BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)

Washington Co. TN Census Records

• Tennessee Census Records Research Guide
• Washington County, TN Census Records Links
• Washington County, TN Census QuickFacts

Washington Co. TN Cemeteries & Church Records

• Washington Co., Tennessee Graves (findagrave.com)
• Washington County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Washington Co., Tennessee Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Washington Co., Tennessee Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Washington County, Tennessee Church Books (amazon.com)

Washington Co. TN Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
• 1911 Who’s Who in Tennessee: A Biographical Reference Book of Notable Tennesseans – (tngenweb.org)
• Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)

Washington Co. TN General and History Websites

• Washington County Tennessee (genealogytrails.com)
• Washington County History and Culture (tennesseeencyclopedia.net)
• Washington County, Tennessee Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Washington County, Tennessee Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Washington Co. TN Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Washington County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
• Washington County, Tennessee (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Tennessee – Counties – Washington (cyndislist.com)
• Washington Co. TNGenweb (tngenweb.org)
• Washington County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Washington Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Washington Co. TN Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Tennessee Links and Information
• Washington Co. D.O.T. County Highway Map
• 1895 Washington County Map (livgenmi.com)

Washington Co. TN Military Records

• Tennessee Military Records Research Guide
• Tennessee Military Records (Fold3.com) delivers access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Tennessee both women and men that served. Great for Washington County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.