
FL RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
Sumter 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
Sumter County, Florida Facts
When was Sumter County, FL Created?
Sumter County was created on January 8, 1853 from Marion County. This county was named for Thomas Sumter (1734–1832), general in the American Revolution.
What is the County Seat of Sumter County, FL?
The County Seat is located in Bushnell also, the county government website is sumtercountyfl.gov/.
What counties are adjacent to Sumters County, FL?
Bordering Counties are Marion County, Lake County, Polk County, Pasco County, Citrus County, Hernando County.
What cities and towns are in Sumter County, FL?
Cities and towns located in the County include Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, Wildwood.
Sumter County, FL Vital Records
Where can find Sumter County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Sumter 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 Sumter 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 Sumter 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
Sumter County, FL Census Records
What Sumter County, FL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Sumter 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.
Sumter Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Sumter Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Sumter Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 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
Sumter County, FL Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Sumter County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Sumter 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.
- Sumter County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: P.O. Box 2587, Bushnell, FL 33513 or 215 E. McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513
- Sumter 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) 569-6600
- Marriage Records: 1853
- Land Records: 1854
- Probate Records: 1856
- Court Records: 1853
- Sumter 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
Sumter County, FL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Sumter County, FL?
A list of Sumter County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Florida Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Sumter County Historical Society, 6355 East CR-478 South Center Hill, Florida 33514.
- 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 Sumter County, FL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Florida Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Florida State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Sumter County, Florida Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Sumter County, Florida Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Sumter County, FL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Sumter 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.
Sumter 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)
- Sumter County, Florida Books (amazon.com)
- Sumter County Florida Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Florida Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Sumter Co. FL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Florida Cemetery Research Guide
- Sumter Co., Florida Graves (findagrave.com)
- Sumter County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Sumter Co., Florida Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Sumter Co., Florida Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Florida Church & Bible Research Guide
- Sumter County, Florida Church Books (amazon.com)
Sumter Co. FL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- The Florida Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Sumter Co. FL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Florida
- Sumter County, Florida Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Sumter County Courthouse History (jud10.org)
- Sumter County, Florida Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Sumter Co. FL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Sumter County, Florida (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Florida – Counties – Sumter (cyndislist.com)
- Sumter County Florida (genealogytrails.com)
- Sumter Co. FLGenweb (sites.google.com)
- Sumter County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Sumter Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Sumter 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)
Sumter Co. FL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Florida Links and Information
- Sumter Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps (dot.state.fl.us)
- Sumter County maps from Exploring Florida website (fcit.usf.edu)
- 1895 Sumter County Map (livgenmi.com)
Sumter 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 Sumter County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.