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Roane 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
Roane County, West Virginia Facts
When was Roane County, WV Created?
Roane County was established on March 11, 1856 from Gilmer County, Jackson County and Kanawha County.
What is the County Seat of Roane County, WV?
The County Seat is located in Spencer and the county government website is http://www.roanecounty.wv.gov
What counties are adjacent to Roane County, WV?
Bordering Counties are Wirt County, Calhoun County, Clay County, Kanawha County, Jackson County.
Roane County, WV Vital Records
Where can find Roane County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Roane 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 Roane 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
Roane County, WV Census Records
What Roane County, WV census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Roane County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Roane Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Roane Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Roane 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
Roane County, WV Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Roane County Courthouse?
The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also West Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.
PLEASE READ FIRST!!! Please call the clerk’s department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are available to interested parties, barring private issues. Many staff will guide individuals in locating the materials, however it’s up to the person to carry out the research. Both the courthouse built in 1856 and its replacement built in 1887 burned. Could not determine dates of fires. Not all records were destroyed. Many survived.
- Roane County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 200 Main Street, Spencer, WV 25276
- Roane County Clerk
- Phone: 304-927-2860
- Birth / Death Records: 1856
- Marriage Records: 1856
- Land Records: 1856
- Probate Records: 1856
- Roane County Clerk of Circuit Court
- Phone: 304-927-2750
- Court Records: 1856
Roane County, WV Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Roane County, WV?
A list of Roane County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide West Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Roane County Historical Society, Inc., P. O. Box 161, Spencer, WV 25276-0161
- 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 Roane County, WV Researchers through message boards and forums?
- West Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Roane County, West Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Roane County
- Roane County, West Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Roane County, WV?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Roane 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.
Roane 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!
- Roane County, West Virginia Books (amazon.com)
- Search West Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Roane County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Roane Co. WV Church & Cemeteries
- West Virginia Church and Cemetery Research Guide
- Roane Co., West Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
- Roane County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Roane Co., West Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Roane Co., West Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Roane County, West Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)
Roane Co. WV Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- West Virginia Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Roane Co. WV General and History Websites
- See Also State History for West Virginia
- Roane County, West Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Early History of Roane County (polsci.wvu.edu)
- Roane County Encyclopedia (wvencyclopedia.org)
- Roane County, West Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Roane Co. WV Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Roane County, West Virginia (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – West Virginia – Counties – Roane (cyndislist.com)
- Roane County West Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
- Roane Co. West Virginia Genealogy Page, USGenWeb Project (wvroane.net)
- Roane County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Roane Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Roane Co. WV Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of West Virginia Links and Information
- 1895 Roane County Map (livgenmi.com)
Roane 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 Roane County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.