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Ritchie 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
Ritchie County, West Virginia Facts
When was Ritchie County, WV Created?
Ritchie County was established on February 18, 1843 from Harrison County, Lewis County, Wood County.
What is the County Seat of Ritchie County, WV?
The County Seat is located in Harrisville and the county government website is http://www.ritchiecounty.wv.gov
What counties are adjacent to Ritchie County, WV?
Bordering Counties are Pleasants County, Tyler County, Doddridge County, Gilmer County, Calhoun County, Wirt County, Wood County.
Ritchie County, WV Vital Records
Where can find Ritchie County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Ritchie 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 Ritchie 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.
- 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
Ritchie County, WV Census Records
What Ritchie County, WV census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Ritchie 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.
Ritchie Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Ritchie Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Ritchie 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
Ritchie County, WV Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Ritchie County Courthouse?
The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also West Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Ritchie County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 115 E Main St, Harrisville, WV 26362
- Ritchie County Clerk
- Phone: 304-643-2164 Ext. 221
- Birth / Death Records: 1853
- Marriage Records: 1843
- Land Records: 1843
- Probate Records: 1843
- Ritchie County Clerk of Circuit Court
- Phone: 304-643-2164 Ext. 229
- Court Records: 1843
Ritchie County, WV Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Ritchie County, WV?
A list of Ritchie County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide West Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Ritchie County Historical Society and Museum, 310 Myles Avenue, Pennsboro, WV 26415
- 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 Ritchie County, WV Researchers through message boards and forums?
- West Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Ritchie County, West Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Ritchie County
- Ritchie County, West Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Ritchie County, WV?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Ritchie 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.
Ritchie 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!
- Ritchie County, West Virginia Books (amazon.com)
- Search West Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Ritchie County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Ritchie Co. WV Church & Cemeteries
- West Virginia Church and Cemetery Research Guide
- Ritchie Co., West Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
- Ritchie County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Ritchie Co., West Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Ritchie Co., West Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Ritchie County, West Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)
Ritchie Co. WV Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- West Virginia Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Ritchie Co. WV General and History Websites
- See Also State History for West Virginia
- Ritchie County, West Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Early History of Ritchie County (polsci.wvu.edu)
- Ritchie County, West Virginia History (search.ancestry.com)
- Ritchie County Encyclopedia (wvencyclopedia.org)
- Ritchie County, West Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Ritchie Co. WV Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Ritchie County, West Virginia (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – West Virginia – Counties – Ritchie (cyndislist.com)
- Ritchie County West Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
- Ritchie Co. West Virginia Genealogy Page, USGenWeb Project (wvgenweb.org)
- Ritchie County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Ritchie Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Ritchie Co. WV Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of West Virginia Links and Information
- 1895 Ritchie County Map (livgenmi.com)
Ritchie 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 Ritchie County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.