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Lee 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
Lee County, North Carolina History
When was Lee County, NC Created?
Lee County was created on March 6, 1907 from Moore County and Chatham County.
What is the County Seat of Lee County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Sanford also, the county government website is www.leecountync.gov/.
What counties are adjacent to Lee County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Chatham County, Harnett County, Moore County.
Lee County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Lee County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Lee 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 Lee County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Lee County clerk of court.
You can search online for Lee 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
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Lee County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Lee 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
Lee County, NC Census Records
What Lee 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 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Lee County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Lee County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Lee 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 Lee 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.
- Lee County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 1400 S Horner Blvd, Sanford, NC 27330
- Lee County Register of Deeds
- Phone: 919-718-4585
- Birth Records: 1913
- Marriage Records: 1908
- Death Records: 1913
- Land Records: 1908
- Lee County Clerk of Court
- Phone: 919-708-4414
- Probate Records: 1906
- Court Records: 1908
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Lee County Tax Assessor / Collector
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Lee County Records
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Lee County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Lee County, NC?
A list of Lee County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Lee County Genealogical and Historical Society, P.O. Box 3216, Sanford, NC 27331-3216
- 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 Lee 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)
- Lee County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Lee County
- Lee County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Lee County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Lee 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.
Lee 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)
- Lee County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Lee Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Lee Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Lee County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Lee Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Lee Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Lee County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Lee Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Lee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Lee Co. NC General and History Websites
- Lee County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- A History of Lee County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Lee County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Lee Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Lee County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Lee (cyndislist.com)
- Lee County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Lee Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Lee County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Lee County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Lee Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Lee Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Lee Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2]
- Map of Lee County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Lee County Map (livgenmi.com)
Lee Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Lee 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 Lee County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Lee Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)