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Monroe 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
Monroe County, Florida Facts
When was Monroe County, FL Created?
Monroe County was created on July 3, 1823 from Saint Johns County. This county was named for James Monroe (1758–1831), fifth President of the United States.
What is the County Seat of Monroe County, FL?
The County Seat is located in Key West also, the county government website is www.monroecounty-fl.gov/.
What counties are adjacent to Monroes County, FL?
Bordering Counties are Collier County, Miami-Dade County.
What cities and towns are in Monroe County, FL?
Cities and towns located in the County include Key West, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Layton, Islamorada.
Monroe County, FL Vital Records
Where can find Monroe County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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
Monroe County, FL Census Records
What Monroe County, FL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Monroe County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1830 (as Florida Territory), 1840 (as Florida Territory), 1850, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Monroe Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Monroe Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Monroe Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860.
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
Monroe County, FL Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Monroe County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Monroe 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.
- Monroe County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: P.O. Box 1980, Key West, FL 33040 or 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040
- Monroe 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: (305) 294-4641 ext. 3314
- Marriage Records: 1826
- Land Records: 1826
- Probate Records: 1888
- Court Records: ?
- Monroe 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
Monroe County, FL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Monroe County, FL?
A list of Monroe County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Florida Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Historic Florida Keys Preservation Board, 500 Whitehead St., Key West, FL 33040
- Historical Preservation Society of The Upper Keys, P. O. Box 2200, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Key West Art and Historical Society, 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040; (305) 296-3913
- Monroe County Genealogical Society, 21 Ventana Lane, Big Coppitt Key, FL 33040
- 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 Monroe County, FL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Florida Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Florida State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Monroe County, Florida Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Monroe County, Florida Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Monroe County, FL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Monroe 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.
Monroe 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)
- The Key West Citizen (Key West, Florida) (search.ancestry.com)
- Monroe County, Florida Books (amazon.com)
- Monroe County Florida Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Florida Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Monroe Co. FL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Florida Cemetery Research Guide
- Monroe Co., Florida Graves (findagrave.com)
- Monroe County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Monroe Co., Florida Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Monroe Co., Florida Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Florida Church & Bible Research Guide
- Monroe County, Florida Church Books (amazon.com)
Monroe Co. FL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- The Florida Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Monroe Co. FL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Florida
- Monroe County, Florida Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Key West : the old and the new (search.ancestry.com)
- A Guide to Key West (search.ancestry.com)
- Monroe County Courthouse History (jud10.org)
- Monroe County, Florida Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Monroe Co. FL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Monroe County, Florida (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Florida – Counties – Monroe (cyndislist.com)
- Monroe County Florida (genealogytrails.com)
- Monroe Co. FLGenweb (sites.google.com)
- Monroe County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Monroe Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Monroe Co. FL Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Florida
- Florida, Key West Passenger Lists, 1898-1920 (familysearch.org)
- Florida Passenger Lists, 1898-1951 (search.ancestry.com)
- Florida, Petitions for Naturalization, 1913-1991 (search.ancestry.com)
Monroe Co. FL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Florida Links and Information
- Monroe Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps [1] [2] [3] (dot.state.fl.us)
- Monroe County maps from Exploring Florida website (fcit.usf.edu)
- 1895 Monroe County Map (livgenmi.com)
Monroe 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 Monroe County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.