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Washington County, Maryland
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Washington County, Maryland Facts
When was Washington County, MD Created?
Washington County was created on September 6, 1776 from Frederick County.
What is the County Seat of Washington County, MD?
The County Seat is located in Hagerstown additionally, the county government website is www.washco-md.net/
What counties are adjacent to Washington County, MD?
Bordering Counties are Fulton County, Pennsylvania, Allegany County, Morgan County, West Virginia, Berkeley County, West Virginia, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Loudoun County, Virginia, Frederick County, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
Washington County, MD Vital Records
Where can find Washington County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Washington County vital records can be found at the Maryland Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records from August 1898, has marriage records from January 1990 and has divorce records from January, 1992. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Maryland for current fees and application process.
State of Maryland Archives files, stores, and issues certified copies of vital records including Birth certificates from 1898 for Maryland counties and since 1875 for Baltimore City, Death certificates prior to 1969 and Marriage certificates since 1640 for events that occurred in Maryland.
You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Maryland Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Verification, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
Washington County, MD Census Records
What Washington County, MD census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Washington County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Washington Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890.
Another state census is the Maryland Colonial Census of 1776. There is free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Maryland Census Records Research Guide.
Washington County, MD Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Washington County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Washington County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Maryland courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Maryland residents.
The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Washington County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also Maryland 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. Some records were lost in a courthouse fire in 1871.
- Washington County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown 21740
- Washington County Circuit Court Clerk
- Phone: 301-733-8660
- Marriage Records: 1777
- Land Records: 1777
- Washington County Register of Wills/ Orphan’s Court Clerk
- Phone: (301) 739-3612, (301) 739-3619 or (888) 739-0013
- Probate Records: 1777
- County Records on Digital Media
- County Records on Microfilm
- Original County Records
- Maryland, Probate Estate and Guardianship Files, 1796-1940
- Maryland, Register of Wills Books, 1629-1983
- BLM Land Records
Washington County, MD Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Washington County, MD?
A list of Washington County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Maryland Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Western Maryland Historical Regional Library, 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
- Washington County Historical Society, P. O. Box 1281, Miller House, 135 West Washington St., Hagerstown, MD 21741 – 1281, (301) 797-8782
- Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, Maryland;
- We list: Obituary Locator 1790-2007; Historic Newspaper Index; Whilbr – Western Maryland Digital Marriage Records; School Records; Church Records; Land Records; 1877 Atlas; City Directory 1893-9; Cemetery & Death records.
- Also a list of published materials available in the Library: County & Regional Histories; Military Records; Telephone Directories; Census records; Historical Maps; Naturalization records; School Yearbooks; Hagerstown Farmers Almanacs; Manumission records; City Directories; Wills & Estates.
- Inventory of the county and town archives of Maryland: Washington County (search.ancestry.com)
- Maryland State Archives , 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401; 410-260-6400
- Maryland Genealogical Society, 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-4674
- Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore MD 21201-4674
Where can I connect with other Washington County, MD Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Maryland State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Maryland Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- Washington County, Maryland Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Washington County, Maryland Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Washington County, MD?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Washington County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a payment. This is simply a listing that has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site above another.
Washington Co. MD Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Maryland Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Maryland historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Maryland (1719 – 1931) (genealogybank.com)
- Washington County Free Library | Historic Newspaper Indexing Project (washcolibrary.org)
- Morning Herald (Hagerstown, Maryland) (search.ancestry.com)
- Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland) (search.ancestry.com)
- The Herald And Torch Light (Hagerstown, Maryland) (search.ancestry.com)
- Torch Light And Public Advertiser (Hagers-Town, Maryland) (search.ancestry.com)
- Washington County, Maryland Books (amazon.com)
Washington Co. MD Cemeteries & Church Records
- Maryland Cemetery Research Guide
- Sharpsburg, Maryland, Antietam National Cemetery, 1866-2005 (search.ancestry.com)
- Washington Co., Maryland Graves (findagrave.com)
- Washington County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Washington Co., Maryland Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Washington Co., Maryland Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Maryland Church & Bible Research Guide
- Washington County, Maryland Church Books (amazon.com)
Washington Co. MD Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Maryland Genealogies, Vol. I (search.ancestry.com)
- Maryland Genealogies, Vol. II (search.ancestry.com)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Washington Co. MD General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Maryland
- Washington County, Maryland Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- The First Two Centuries of the Washington County Courthouse (courts.state.md.us)
- The Antietam and its bridges : the annals of an historic stream (search.ancestry.com)
- Washington County, MD Visitors network (marylandvisitorsnetwork.com)
- Washington County, Maryland Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Washington Co. MD Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Washington County, Maryland (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Maryland – Counties – Washington (cyndislist.com)
- Washington County Maryland (genealogytrails.com)
- Washington Co. MDGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Washington County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Washington Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Washington Co. MD Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Maryland
- Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1906-1930 (fold3.com)
- Indexes to Naturalization Petitions to the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for Maryland, 1797-1951 (fold3.com)
- Maryland, Naturalization Indexes, 1797-1951 (familysearch.org)
Washington Co. MD Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Maryland Links and Information
- Washington Co. D.O.T. Grid Maps (roads.maryland.gov)
- Washington Co., Maryland Town Maps
- 1895 Washington County Map (livgenmi.com)
Washington Co. MD Military Records
- Maryland Military Records Research Guide
- Maryland Revolutionary Records (search.ancestry.com)
- Maryland Military Records (fold3.com)