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Wilkes 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
Wilkes County, North Carolina History
When was Wilkes County, NC Created?
Wilkes County was created on 1777 from Surry County.
What is the County Seat of Wilkes County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Wilkesboro also, the county government website is www.wilkescounty.net.
What counties are adjacent to Wilkes County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Alleghany County, Surry County, Yadkin County, Iredell County, Alexander County, Caldwell County, Watauga County, Ashe County.
Wilkes County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Wilkes County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Wilkes 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 Wilkes County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Wilkes County clerk of court.
You can search online for Wilkes 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
- Marriages of Wilkes County, North Carolina 1778-1868 (search.ancestry.com)
- North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Wilkes 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
Wilkes County, NC Census Records
What Wilkes 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 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Wilkes Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Wilkes Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Wilkes 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
Wilkes County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Wilkes County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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.
- Wilkes County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 500 Courthouse Dr, Wilkesboro, NC 28697-2497
- Wilkes County Register of Deeds
- Phone: 336.651.7351
- Birth Records: 1913
- Marriage Records: 1778
- Death Records: 1913
- Land Records: 1741
- Wilkes County Clerk of Court
- Phone: 336-667-1201
- Probate Records: 1777
- Court Records: 1761
- 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: Wilkes County Records
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Wilkes County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Wilkes County, NC?
A list of Wilkes County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- North Carolina Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- New River Notes (newrivernotes.com)
- State of North Carolina Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Wilkes County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1629, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-1629
- Wilkes County Public Library, 215 Tenth Street, N. Wilkesboro NC 28697
- 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 Wilkes 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)
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Wilkes County
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Wilkes County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Wilkes 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.
Wilkes 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)
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Wilkes Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Wilkes Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Wilkes County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Wilkes Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Wilkes Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Wilkes Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Wilkes Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Wilkes Co. NC General and History Websites
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Historical sketches of Wilkes County (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical address … delivered July 3, 1949 at Beaver Creek, North Carolina (search.ancestry.com)
- A History of Wilkes County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Wilkes County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Wilkes Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Wilkes County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Wilkes (cyndislist.com)
- Wilkes County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Wilkes Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Wilkes County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Wilkes County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Wilkes Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Wilkes Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Wilkes Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2] – [Map 3] – [Thumbnail of Sheet Key]
- Map of Wilkes County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Wilkes County Map (livgenmi.com)
Wilkes Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Wilkes 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 Wilkes County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Wilkes Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)