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Durham 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
Durham County, North Carolina History
When was Durham County, NC Created?
Durham County was created on 1881 from Orange County and Wake County.
What is the County Seat of Durham County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Durham also, the county government website is www.co.durham.nc.us/.
What counties are adjacent to Durham County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Person County, Granville County, Wake County, Chatham County, Orange County.
Durham County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Durham County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Durham 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 Durham County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Durham County clerk of court.
You can search online for Durham 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
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Durham County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Durham 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
Durham County, NC Census Records
What Durham 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 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Durham 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 North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Durham County, NC Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Durham County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Durham 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 Durham 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.
- Durham County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 20 East Main St, Durham, NC 27701
- Phone: (919) 808-3000
- Durham County Register of Deeds
- Phone: 919-560-0480
- Birth Records: ?
- Marriage Records: 1881
- Death Records: ?
- Land Records: 1881
- Durham County Clerk of Court
- Phone: 919-564-7070
- Probate Records: 1875
- Court Records: 1881
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Durham County Records
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Durham County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Durham County, NC?
A list of Durham County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Durham – Orange Genealogical Society of NC, P.O. Box 4703, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4703
- 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 Durham 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)
- Durham County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Durham County
- Durham County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Durham County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Durham 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.
Durham 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)
- Durham County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Durham Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Durham Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Durham County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Durham Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Durham Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Durham County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Durham Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Durham Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Durham Co. NC General and History Websites
- Durham County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Chas. Emerson’s North Carolina tobacco belt directory : embracing the counties of Alamance, Durham, Forsyth, Granville, Guilfo (search.ancestry.com)
- A History of Durham County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Durham County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Durham Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Durham County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Durham (cyndislist.com)
- Durham County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Durham Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Durham County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Durham County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Durham Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Durham Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Durham Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2] – [Map 3] – [Map 4] – [Thumbnail of Sheet Key]
- Map of Durham County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Durham County Map (livgenmi.com)
Durham Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Durham 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 Durham County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Durham Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)