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Wayne 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

Wayne County, Ohio Facts

When was Wayne County, OH Created?
Wayne County was created on March 1, 1808 from Columbiana County and Stark County. This county was named for General Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a Revolutionary War officer .

What is the County Seat of Wayne County, OH?
The County Seat is located in Wooster also, the county government website is www.wayneohio.org/ .

What counties are adjacent to Wayne County, OH?
Bordering Counties are Medina County, Summit County, Stark County ( east), Holmes County, Ashland County .

Wayne County, OH Vital Records

Where can find Wayne County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Wayne 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 Wayne 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.

Wayne County, OH Census Records


What Wayne County, OH census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Wayne 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.

Wayne Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Wayne Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Wayne 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

Wayne County, OH Courthouse and Government Records

Wayne County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Wayne County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Wayne 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 Wayne 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.

Wayne County, OH Societies and Family History Resources

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

  • Wayne County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 856, Wooster, OH 44691; Phone: (330) 262-5447; Wayne County Chapter, OGS meets at the Wayne County Library, 304 N. Market St., Wooster, OH on the first Saturday of each month at 2:00pm, except July. This OGS Chapter’s genealogy collection is housed in the Genealogy Room of the Wayne County Public Library at 304 North Market Street.
  • Wayne County Historical Society , 546 E Bowman St, Wooster, OH 44691-3110; Phone: (330) 264-8856; The Wayne County Historical Society campus includes the oldest Wooster Home (1815), a one-room schoolhouse (1873), a log house, the General Mercantile Store and Ladies Dress Shop, and the Kister Building where there are Native American artifacts, pioneer farm and carpenter tools, a carriage house, stuffed animals, the library and a formal gallery.
  • Wayne County Public Library, 304 N Market St, Wooster, OH 44691, 330-262-0916; Gene. Staff 330-262-0916 ext. 225
  • Apple Creek Historical Society, 6300 Secrest Rd, Wooster, OH 44691-8657; Phone: (330) 264-4189;
  • Chippewa-Rogues’ Hollow Historical Society, PO Box 283, Doylestown, OH 44230-0283; Phone: (330) 658-1238; The Chippewa-Rogues’ Hollow Historical Society maintains the Chidester Mill Museum and preserves and promotes interest in the history of Chippewa Township, The Village of Doylestown, and the Rogues Hollow area.
  • Creston Historical Society, 176 S Main St, Creston, OH 44217-9701; Phone: (330) 435-4204; The Creston Historical Society assembles documents and memorabilia, and writes and funds the printing of books about Creston. Material eventually will be housed in the Donald Sonnedecker Historical Room of the new Wayne County Branch Library in Creston.
  • Dalton Community Historical Society, 115 E Main St, Dalton, OH 44618; Phone: (330) 828-2221
  • Fredericksburg Community Preservation Society, 198 Mill St, Fredericksburg, OH 44627; Phone: (330) 695-7475;
  • Kidron Community Historical Society , PO Box 234, 13153 Emerson Rd, Kidron, OH 44636-0234; Phone: (330) 857-9111; The Kidron-Sonnenberg Heritage Center is a museum on the square in Kidron that tells the story of the Swiss Mennonites who came to the area beginning in 1891. It houses artifacts, records, and other historical information including genealogical data bases containing over one million Swiss Mennonite, German, and Amish names.
  • Marshallville Historical Society, 8781 Mt. Eaton Rd, Marshallville, OH 44645-0081; Phone: (330) 855-2212; The Marshallville Historical Society maintains a museum in a former blacksmith shop. The Society recently acquired a circa 1830 log cabin which it is presently renovating. On the site, too, is an Underground Railroad cellar, cut from solid rock located 35′ underground.
  • Mount Eaton-Paint Township Historical Society, PO Box 119, Mount Eaton, OH 44659-0119; Phone: (330) 359-5252;
  • Orrville Historical Society , PO Box 437, Orrville, OH 44667-0437; Phone: (330) 683-8181; The Orrville Historical Museum holds a collection of Orrville history: tools, furniture, clothes, clocks, schoolbooks, pictures, dishes, and artifacts of industry. Once known for railroading and horse-trading, more recently the community has become identified with the J.M. Smucker Co.
  • Orrville Railroad Heritage Society PO Box 11 Orrville, OH 44667-0011; Phone: (330) 683-2426; The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society maintains the 1868 restored Orrville Union Depot that served two intersecting lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Displayed next to the depot is the interlocking tower that controlled the junction, and a PRR caboose. The Society conducts two annual open houses, Depot Days in early June, and a Holiday Open House at Thanksgiving. The ORHS also conducts about six passenger train excursions annually.
  • Rittman Historical Society, PO Box 583, Rittman, OH 44270-0583; Phone: (330) 925-7531; The Rittman Historical Society is restoring the Gish House and holds an annual Christmas open house at the circa 1837 Knupp Church.
  • Smithville Community Historical Society, 7716 Apple Creek Rd, Smithville, OH 44276-9741; Phone: (330) 669-2087; The Smithville Community Historical Society has restored and furnished a 2-story circa 1830 log cabin and the Mishler Weaving Mill, circa 1887. The Mill wove cotton dishcloths with belt-driven overhead line shafts. The Society now produces both dishcloths, rag rugs, and press cloths using the Mill’s own looms, now over 100 years old. They also have two log homes, carriage barn and functioning blacksmith shop.
  • West Salem Historical Society, 99 E Buckeye St, Schoolhouse Community Center, West Salem, OH 44287; Phone: (419) 853-4703;
  • 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 Wayne County, OH Researchers through message boards and forums?

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

Wayne Co. OH Books, Newspapers & Publications

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

Wayne Co. OH Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Wayne Co. OH General and History Websites

Wayne Co. OH Immigration & Naturalization

Wayne Co. OH Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Wayne Co. OH Military Records