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Cleveland County,
North Carolina History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Cleveland County, North Carolina History
When was Cleveland County, NC Created?
Cleveland County was created on January 11, 1841 from Lincoln County and Rutherford County .
What is the County Seat of Cleveland County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Shelby also, the county government website is www.clevelandcounty.com.
What counties are adjacent to Cleveland County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Burke County, Lincoln County (east-northeast), Gaston County (east-southeast), York County, South Carolina, Cherokee County, South Carolina, Rutherford County.
Cleveland County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Cleveland County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Cleveland County vital records can be found at the North Carolina Department of Health which has copies of birth records after 1913 and death records after 1930, copies of marriage since Jan 1962 and a Divorce records since 1958. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in North Carolina for current fees and application process.
Birth, death and marriage certificates also may be obtained at the Cleveland County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Cleveland County clerk of court.
You can search online for Cleveland County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for North Carolina Birth Certificate, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificate Application to mail.
The North Carolina State Archives has the following vital records: Death Certificates, 1913-1975 (Statewide Index: 1913-1979); microfilmed Indexes to Births and Deaths (except Wake, Durham); Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 (not required by law); Cohabitation Records, 1866-1867; microfilmed Marriage Registers and Indexes; microfilmed Marriage Licenses for many of the counties See Also North Carolina Vital Records Research Guide
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Births & Deaths Records
- Social Security Death Index
- North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
- North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
- North Carolina, Death Collection, 1908-2004
Cleveland County, NC Census Records
What Cleveland County, NC census records are available?
County census records consists of Federal Census Schedules which can guide in looking into your family tree. Federal Population Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Cleveland Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Cleveland Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Cleveland Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Cleveland County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Cleveland County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Cleveland County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in North Carolina courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless North Carolina 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 Cleveland 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 North Carolina Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Cleveland County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 100 Justice Place, Shelby, NC 28150
- Phone: (704) 476-7800
- Cleveland County Register of Deeds
- Address: ?
- Phone: (704) 484-4834
- Birth Records: 1908
- Marriage Records: 1851
- Death Records: 1913
- Land Records: 1792
- Cleveland County Clerk of Court
- Address: ?
- Phone: (704) 484-4851
- Probate Records: 1795
- Court Records: 1838
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Cleveland County Tax Assessor / Collector
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Cleveland County Records
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Cleveland County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Cleveland County, NC?
A list of Cleveland County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Broad River Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 2261, Shelby, NC 28150-2261
- North Carolina State Archives, Office of Archives and History—State Library Building; Public Services Branch, Mail Service Center 4614, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614 ; Phone: (919) 807-7310
- State Library of North Carolina, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807; (919) 733-7222, (919) 733-3270
- North Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Greenville, NC 27835
Where can I connect with other Cleveland County, NC Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- North Carolina Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of North Carolina Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Cleveland County
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Cleveland County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Cleveland County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a payment. This is merely a directory that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.
Cleveland Co. NC Books, Newspapers & Publications
- North Carolina Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- North Carolina historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 – 1977) (genealogybank.com)
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Cleveland Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Cleveland Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Cleveland County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Cleveland Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Cleveland Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Cleveland Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Cleveland Co. NC General and History Websites
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- A History of Cleveland County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Cleveland County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Cleveland Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Cleveland County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Cleveland (cyndislist.com)
- Cleveland County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Cleveland Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Cleveland County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Cleveland County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Cleveland Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Cleveland Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Cleveland Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2] – [Map 3] – [Map 4] – [Map 5] – [Map 6] – [Thumbnail of Sheet Key]
- Map of Cleveland County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Cleveland County Map (livgenmi.com)
Cleveland Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Cleveland Co., NC GenWeb Archives Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- North Carolina Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the North Carolina women and men who served. Perfect for Cleveland County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Cleveland Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)