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Portage County, Ohio
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Portage County, Ohio Facts

When was Portage County, OH Created?
Portage County was created on June 7, 1807 from Trumbull County. This county was named foran Indian portage.

What is the County Seat of Portage County, OH?
The County Seat is located in Ravenna also, the county government website is www.co.portage.oh.us/ .

What counties are adjacent to Portage County, OH?
Bordering Counties are Geauga County, Trumbull County, Mahoning County, Stark County ( south), Summit County, Cuyahoga County .

Portage County, OH Vital Records

Where can find Portage County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Portage County vital records can be found at the Ohio Department of Health which has Birth Records since Dec 20, 1908; Death Records since since 1954 and copies of Marriage and Divorce Records since 1918 to present There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Ohio for current fees and application process.

You can search online for Portage County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Ohio Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail. The Archives Division has copies of births before 1908, death before 1944 and marriage records before 1949.

Portage County, OH Census Records


What Portage County, OH census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Portage County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Portage Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Portage Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Portage 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 Ohio Census Records Research Guide

Portage County, OH Courthouse and Government Records

Portage County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Portage County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Portage County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Ohio courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Ohio 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 Portage 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 Ohio Courthouse Records Research Guide.

Portage County, OH Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Portage County, OH?
A list of Portage County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Ohio Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

  • Portage County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 821, Ravenna, OH 44266; Portage County Chapter, OGS meets at the Portage County Historical Society Museum, 6549 North Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH on the third Saturday of the month at 2:00pm. Meetings are nine times a year: January through June and September through November. No meetings in July and August or December; at least one field trip in the spring in place of the meeting. This OGS Chapter is presently updating and publishing all Portage County cemetery records and continuing to publish its Ohio Genealogical Society award winning newsletter. All cemetery records are published for county. Chapter is now indexing court (probate) records housed at Portage Count Historical Society.
  • Portage County Historical Society, 6549 N Chestnut St, Ravenna, OH 44266-3907; Phone: (330) 296-3523; The Portage County Historical Society provides tours of its museums with their exhibits of historical artifacts. The Society’s research library contains numerous publications available for research and among its programs is a free lecture series.
  • Atwater Historical Society, 171 Petrie Rd, Atwater, OH 44201-9214; Phone: (330) 947-2742; The Atwater Historical Society began in October 1996. The museum site is a remodeled township house and that presents programs and displays. The house is partially finished. They offer reproductions of memorabilia (photos and graphics) to the public and participate in historical events-have provided speakers.
  • Aurora Historical Society, PO Box 241, Aurora, OH 44202-0241; Phone: (330) 995-3336; The Aurora Historical Society collects early cheese-making materials, glass plate photographs, a century homes photo collection, genealogy records, and has community projects, antique shows, and history scholarships for high school seniors.
  • Brimfield Historical Society, 4158 St Rt 43, Brimfield, OH 44240-6916; Phone: (330) 673-1058; The Brimfield Historical Society maintains the 1833 Kelso House, the former Union House Inn, built by William R. Kelso. The museum features a country kitchen, a Victorian parlor and exhibits of local artifacts. The grounds also contain a 1840s New England-style barn, a double-bayed corncrib and a granary.
  • Deerfield Historical Society, PO Box 34, Deerfield, OH 44411; Phone: (330) 584-6385; The Deerfield Historical Society is located in the Everett Home that houses a large collection of photographs of local buildings and citizens and reference books for genealogical research.
  • Hiram Historical Society, PO Box 1775, Hiram, OH 44234-1775; Phone: (330) 569-7378; The Hiram Historical Society preserves the oral and artifactual history of Hiram Village and Township. Its museum, located in a restored 1840s house, holds local history programs, sponsors an annual President’s Day dinner, and has a biennial Home and Garden Walk.
  • James A. Garfield Historical Society, PO Box 144, Garrettsville, OH 44231-0144; Phone: (330) 527-5669; The James A. Garfield Historical Society is dedicated to education, preservation and restoration in the Garrettsville, Freedom, and Nelson communities
  • Kent Historical Society, PO Box 663, 152 Franklin Ave, Kent, OH 44240-0012; Phone: (330) 678-2712; The Kent Historical Society maintains the Rowe Museum, located on the second floor of the restored 1875 Tuscan Revival, Atlantic and Great Western Railroad Station. The Museum exhibits historical artifacts from the Kent area and there is a research collection on Kent history.
  • Mantua Historical Society, PO Box 220, Mantua, OH 44255-0220; Phone: (330) 274-0803; The Mantua Historical Society maintains a museum with collections that include several pieces of Mantua glass and a substantial collection of Indian artifacts. The Society saves historical memorabilia and community artifacts for future generations. It is located on the upper story of the Town Hall.
  • Randolph Historical Society , PO Box 67, Randolph, OH 44265-0067; Phone: (330) 325-8817; The Randolph Historical Society members are interested in Randolph’s history from civil ware, Underground Railroad homes, agricultural, old tractors, trucks, cars and others interested in seeing past residents or family members of old residents.
  • Rootstown Historical Society, PO Box 83, Rootstown, OH 44272-9620; Phone: (330) 325-1962; The Rootstown Historical Society collects and preserves the history of Rootstown, located in the northeastern portion of Ohio known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. Named for Ephraim Root, the town remained a small farm town until 1850, when a band of 16 whaling sea captains arrived from Nantucket, bought land, and built large homes, many of which are still occupied.
  • Shalersville Historical Society , PO Box 687, Mantua, OH 44255-0687; Phone: (330) 274-0273;
  • Ohio Historical Society, Archives-Library Division,  1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211; Telephone: 614-297-2300
  • Ohio Genealogical Society, 713 South Main Street, Mansfield OH 44907-1644

Where can I connect with other Portage County, OH Researchers through message boards and forums?

What other genealogical resources are available in Portage County, OH?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Portage County.

Portage Co. OH Books, Newspapers & Publications

Portage Co. OH Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards

Portage Co. OH Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Portage Co. OH General and History Websites

Portage Co. OH Immigration & Naturalization

Portage Co. OH Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Portage Co. OH Military Records