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Raleigh County, West Virginia
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Raleigh County, West Virginia Facts
When was Raleigh County, WV Created?
Raleigh County was established on January 23, 1850 from Fayette County.
What is the County Seat of Raleigh County, WV?
The County Seat is located in Beckley and the county government website is http://www.raleighcounty.com/
What counties are adjacent to Raleigh County, WV?
Bordering Counties are Kanawha County, Fayette County, Summers County, Mercer County, Wyoming County, Boone County.
Raleigh County, WV Vital Records
Where can find Raleigh County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Raleigh County vital records can be found at the West Virginia Office of Vital Records which has copies of birth and death records from January 1917 to present; marriage records from 1921 to present and divorce records from 1968 to present. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in West Virginia for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Raleigh County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for West Virginia Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Birth Records, 1853-75
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenweb Archives West Virginia Marriage Project
- Vital Research Records Search Selection
- West Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1928
- West Virginia, Births, 1853-1930
- West Virginia, Marriages, 1853-1970
- West Virginia, Marriages, 1854-1932
- West Virginia, Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932
- West Virginia, Deaths, 1853-1970
Raleigh County, WV Census Records
What Raleigh County, WV census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Raleigh County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Raleigh Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Raleigh Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Raleigh Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. One can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also West Virginia Census Records Research Guide
Raleigh County, WV Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Raleigh County Courthouse?
The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also West Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Raleigh County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 215 Main St, Beckley, WV 25801
- Raleigh County Clerk
- Phone: 304-255-9127
- Birth / Death Records: 1853
- Marriage Records: 1850
- Land Records: 1850
- Probate Records: 1850
- Raleigh County Clerk of Circuit Court
- Phone: 304-255-9135
- Court Records: 1850
Raleigh County, WV Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Raleigh County, WV?
A list of Raleigh County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide West Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Genealogical Society: Fayette and Raleigh Counties, Inc., PO Box 68, Oak Hill, WV 25901-0068
- Raleigh County Historical Society, P. O Box 897, Skelton, WV 25919-0897
- West Virginia Archives and History, The Cultural Center; 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.; Charleston, WV 25305-0300
- West Virginia and Regional History Collection, West Virginia University, Colson Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506; (304) 293-3536
- West Virginia Genealogical Society, Post Office Box 249, Elkview, West Virginia 25071
- West Virginia Historical Society, PO Box 5220, Charleston, WV 25361
Where can I connect with other Raleigh County, WV Researchers through message boards and forums?
- West Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Raleigh County
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Raleigh County, WV?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Raleigh County. Each of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a payment. This is basically a list which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.
Raleigh Co. WV Books, Newspapers & Publications
- West Virginia Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- West Virginia historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from West Virginia (1808 – 1904) (genealogybank.com) Quickly identify names and keywords and phrases in over 450 million publications, obituaries, marriage announcements, birth announcements as well as other items written and published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added every month!
- Raleigh Register (Beckley, West Virginia) (search.ancestry.com)
- Beckley Post-Herald (Beckley, West Virginia) (search.ancestry.com)
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Books (amazon.com)
- Search West Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Raleigh County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Raleigh Co. WV Church & Cemeteries
- West Virginia Church and Cemetery Research Guide
- Raleigh Co., West Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
- Raleigh County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Raleigh Co., West Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Raleigh Co., West Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)
Raleigh Co. WV Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- West Virginia Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Raleigh Co. WV General and History Websites
- See Also State History for West Virginia
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Early History of Raleigh County (polsci.wvu.edu)
- Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800 (search.ancestry.com)
- Raleigh County Encyclopedia (wvencyclopedia.org)
- Raleigh County, West Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Raleigh Co. WV Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Raleigh County, West Virginia (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – West Virginia – Counties – Raleigh (cyndislist.com)
- Raleigh County West Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
- Raleigh Co. West Virginia Genealogy Page, USGenWeb Project (wvgenweb.org)
- Raleigh County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Raleigh Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Raleigh Co. WV Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of West Virginia Links and Information
- 1895 Raleigh County Map (livgenmi.com)
Raleigh Co. WV Military Records
- West Virginia Military Records Research Guide
- West Virginia Military Records (fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the West Virginia women and men which served. Ideal for Raleigh County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.