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Ottawa County, Michigan
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Ottawa County, Michigan Facts
When was Ottawa County, MI Created?
Ottawa County was created on March 2, 1831 from Mackinac County and unorganized territory .
What is the County Seat of Ottawa County, MI?
The County Seat is located in Grand Haven also, the county government website is www.co.ottawa.mi.us/.
What counties are adjacent to Ottawa County, MI?
Bordering Counties are Muskegon County, Kent County, Allegan County.
Ottawa County, MI Vital Records
Where can find Ottawa County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Ottawa County vital records can be found at the Michigan Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records since 1867. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Michigan for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Ottawa County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Michigan Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenweb Archives Michigan Marriage Project
- Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995
- Michigan Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911
- Michigan Births, 1867-1902
- Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925
- Michigan Marriage Records, 1867-1952
- Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1935
- Michigan Marriages to 1850
- Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995
- Michigan Marriages, 1851-1875
- Michigan Divorce Records, 1897-1952
- Michigan Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995
- Michigan Deaths and Burials 1800-1995
- Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996
- Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920
- Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952
- Michigan Death Index, 1971-1996
- Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897
Ottawa County, MI Census Records
What Ottawa County, MI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Ottawa County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Ottawa Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Ottawa Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Ottawa Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Michigan Census Records Research Guide
Ottawa County, MI Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Ottawa County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Ottawa County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Michigan courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Michigan 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 Ottawa 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 Michigan Corthouse Records Research Guide.
- Ottawa County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460
- Ottawa County Clerk
- Phone: 616-994-4531
- Births & Deaths: 1866
- Marriage Records: 1848
- Ottawa County Register of Deeds
- Phone: (616) 994-4510
- Land Records: 1834
- Ottawa County Clerk of the Probate Court
- Phone: (616) 786-4110
- Probate Records: 1844
- Ottawa County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Phone: (616) 846-8320
- Court Records: 1839
- Michigan Land Records
- Michigan Probate Records 1797-1973
- BLM Land Records
Ottawa County, MI Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Ottawa County, MI?
A list of Ottawa County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Michigan Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Coopersville Area Historical Society & Museum 363 Main Street Coopersville MI 49404; (616) 997-7240
- Grand Haven Genealogical Society c/o Loutit Library 407 Columbus Street Grand Haven Ml 49417
- Holland Genealogical Society c/o Herrick Public Library 300 River Avenue Holland MI 49423
- Western Michigan Genealogical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library Street NE Grand Rapids MI 49503-3268
- Zeeland Historical Society P.O. Box 165 Zeeland 49464
- State Archives of Michigan, 702 W Kalamazoo Str, P.O. Box 30738, Lansing, MI 48909-8238; (517) 373-1408
- Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48909
- Historical Society of Michigan, 1305 Abbott Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823; (517) 324-1828
Where can I connect with other Ottawa County, MI Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- Michigan Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of Michigan Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Ottawa County Michigan Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Ottawa County
- Ottawa County, Michigan Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Ottawa County, MI?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Ottawa County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a fee. This is just a list that has been compiled or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.
Ottawa Co. MI Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Michigan Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Michigan historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Michigan (1837 – 1995) (genealogybank.com)
- Holland Evening Sentinel (Holland Michigan) (search.ancestry.com)
- Ottawa County Michigan Books (amazon.com)
- Ottawa County Michgan Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Michigan Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Ottawa Co. MI Cemeteries & Church Records
- Michigan Cemetery Research Guide
- Ottawa Co. Michigan Graves (findagrave.com)
- Ottawa County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Web: Michigan Find A Grave Index 1805-2011 (search.ancestry.com)
- Ottawa Co. Michigan Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Ottawa County Michigan
- Ottawa Co. Michigan Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Michigan Church & Bible Research Guide
- Topographic Church List and Map for Ottawa County Michigan
- Bible records Michigan (search.ancestry.com)
- Michigan Christenings 1775-1995 (familysearch.org)
- Ottawa County Michigan Church Books (amazon.com)
Ottawa Co. MI Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Michigan Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Ottawa Co. MI General and History Websites
- Ottawa County Michigan Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Portrait and biographical record of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties Michigan (search.ancestry.com)
- Ottawa County Michigan Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Ottawa Co. MI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Ottawa County Michigan (linkpendium.com) Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Michigan – Counties – Ottawa (cyndislist.com)
- Ottawa County Michigan (genealogytrails.com)
- Ottawa Co. MIGenweb (migenweb.net)
- Ottawa County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Ottawa Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Ottawa Co. MI Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Michigan
- The immigration and early history of the people of Zeeland Ottawa County Michigan in 1847 (search.ancestry.com)
- Michigan Eastern District Naturalizations (search.ancestry.com)
Ottawa Co. MI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Michigan Links and Information
- Ottawa Co. D.O.T. Base Maps (roads.michigan.gov)
- 1895 Ottawa County Map (livgenmi.com)
Ottawa Co. MI Military Records
- Michigan Military Records Research Guide
- Michigan Military Records (fold3.com) provides you with access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Michigan both males and females that served. Just the thing for Ottawa County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
- Michigan Military Records 1775-1836 (search.ancestry.com)