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Lake County, Florida
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Lake County, Florida Facts
When was Lake County, FL Created?
Lake County was created on May 13, 1887 from Orange County and Sumter County. This county was named for the many lakes in the region.
What is the County Seat of Lake County, FL?
The County Seat is located in Tavares also, the county government website is www.lakecountyfl.gov/.
What counties are adjacent to Lakes County, FL?
Bordering Counties are Volusia County, Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, Polk County, Sumter County, Marion County.
What cities and towns are in Lake County, FL?
Cities and towns located in the County include Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Astatula, Howey-in-the-Hills, Lady Lake, Montverde.
Lake County, FL Vital Records
Where can find Lake County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Lake County vital records can be found at the Florida Office of Vital Records which has copies of Birth & Deaths reported 1917 to present and Divorce & Marriages since June 6, 1927. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Florida for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Lake County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Florida Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
Vital Records can also be found in the Lake County Health Department has copies of Birth & Death certificates. Also has computer access from 1917 to present for birth records for the entire state as well as births that occurred in this county.
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenweb Archives Florida Marriage Project
- Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001
- Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001
- Florida Marriages, 1822-1850
- Florida Marriages, 1830-1993
- Florida Marriages, 1837-1974
- Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
- Florida Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921
- Florida Deaths, 1877-1939
Lake County, FL Census Records
What Lake County, FL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Lake County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Lake Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890.
There are Florida State censuses from 1867, 1875, 1885, 1935, 1945. You can get free downloadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Florida Census Records Research Guide
Lake County, FL Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Lake County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Lake County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Florida Corthouse 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.

- Lake County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800 or 550 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778-3115
- Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court / County Clerk is custodian of all records of all predecessor courts, whether justice of the peace, city, county, probate, civil, or criminal.
- Phone: (352) 742-4100
- Marriage Records: 1887
- Land Records: 1887
- Probate Records: 1887
- Court Records: ?
- Lake County Tax Collector collects all real estate taxes including postponed and delinquent, all county revenues in addition to the research and issue tax deed applications. Our department is the holder of tax records and assessed values.
- Florida Land Records
- BLM Land Records
Lake County, FL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Lake County, FL?
A list of Lake County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Florida Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Lake County Historical Society & Museum, P. O. Box 7800, 317 W Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778; (352) 343-9890
- Lake County Kinseekers Genealogical Society, 19 Quail Run, Wildwood, FL 32785
- Leesburg Genealogical Society, 204 N. Fifth St., Leesburg, FL 32748
- Eustis Historical Museum & Preservation Society, 536 N. Bay St., Eustis, FL 32726
- Kinseekers Genealogical Society of Lake County, Florida, PO Box 492711, Leesburg, FL 34749-2711
- Pastfinders of South Lake County, Cooper Memorial Library, 620 W. Montrose St, Clermont, FL 34711
- Villages Genealogical Society, 26706 La Posada Drive, The Villages, FL 32159
- Florida Dept of State Div of Library & Bureau of Archives & Records Management, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
- Florida State Genealogical Society, PO Box 10249, Tallahassee, FL 32302-2249
- Florida Historical Society 1320 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL 32935
Where can I connect with other Lake County, FL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Florida Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Florida State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Lake County, Florida Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Lake County, Florida Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Lake County, FL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Lake County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a fee. This is just a directory which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site over another.
Lake Co. FL Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Florida Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Florida historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Florida (1823 – 1959) (genealogybank.com)
- Lake County, Florida Books (amazon.com)
- Lake County Florida Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Florida Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Lake Co. FL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Florida Cemetery Research Guide
- Lake County Florida Cemeteries Project (uscemeteryproj.com)
- Lake Co., Florida Graves (findagrave.com)
- Lake County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Lake Co., Florida Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Lake Co., Florida Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Florida Church & Bible Research Guide
- Lake County, Florida Church Books (amazon.com)
Lake Co. FL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- The Florida Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Lake Co. FL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Florida
- Lake County, Florida Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Lake County Courthouse History (jud10.org)
- Lake County, Florida Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Lake Co. FL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Lake County, Florida (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Florida – Counties – Lake (cyndislist.com)
- Lake County Florida (genealogytrails.com)
- Lake Co. FLGenweb (franmuse.com)
- Lake County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Lake Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Lake Co. FL Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Florida
- Florida Passenger Lists, 1898-1951 (search.ancestry.com)
- Florida, Petitions for Naturalization, 1913-1991 (search.ancestry.com)
Lake Co. FL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Florida Links and Information
- Lake Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps (dot.state.fl.us)
- Lake County maps from Exploring Florida website (fcit.usf.edu)
- 1895 Lake County Map (livgenmi.com)
Lake Co. FL Military Records
- Florida Military Records Research Guide
- Florida Military Records (fold3.com) will provide easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Florida women and men which served. Suitable for Lake County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.