Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Genealogy, History & Facts

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Facts

When was Lancaster County, PA Created?
Lancaster County was established on May 10, 1729 from Chester County.

What is the County Seat of Lancaster County, PA?
The County Seat is located in Lancaster and in addition the county government website is www.co.lancaster.pa.us

What counties are adjacent to Lancaster County, PA?
Bordering Counties are Lebanon County, Berks County, Chester County, Cecil County, Maryland, Harford County, Maryland, York County, Dauphin County.

Lancaster County, PA Vital Records

Where can find Lancaster County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Lancaster County vital records can be found at the Pennsylvania Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records since 1906 and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Pennsylvania for current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events.

You can search online for Lancaster County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Pennsylvania Birth Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail. Walk-in service is available at any of these six public offices: Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton.

Lancaster County, PA Census Records

What Lancaster County, PA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Lancaster County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Lancaster Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Lancaster Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Lancaster Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be found for 1890. You can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Pennsylvania Census Records Research Guide

Lancaster County, PA Courthouse and Government Records

Lancaster County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Lancaster County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Lancaster County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Pennsylvania Corthouse Records Research Guide.

Lancaster County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
- Phone: (717) 299-8242
Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: (717) 299-8275
- Land Records: 1729
Lancaster County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts
- Phone: (717) 299-8275
- Court & Divorce Records: 1729
Lancaster County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk
- Phone: (717) 299-8243
- Marriage & Probate Records: 1729
- Birth & Death Records: before Jan 1906
Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993
Lancaster, Pennsylvania Probate Index, 1729-1850
An index to the will books and intestate records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1729-1850
Early Pennsylvania Land Records
BLM Land Records

Lancaster County, PA Societies and Family History Resources

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

Pennsylvania Archives - Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (fold3.com)
Office of Records and Archives Services, 50 N. Duke St, P.O. Box 83480; Lancaster, Pa. 17608-3480; (717)299-8319
Lancaster Co Historical Society , 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603; Phone: (717) 392-4633
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 2215 Millstream Road, Lancaster 17602-1499
The Pennsylvania Archives Online
Pennsylvania State Archives, 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120; Phone:(717) 783-3281
Genealogical Society Of Pennsylvania, 2207 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103; (215) 545-0391
Historical Society Of Pennsylvania. 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: 215-732-6200
State Library of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1601, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1601

Where can I connect with other Lancaster County, PA Researchers through message boards and forums?

RAOGK Volunteers for Pennsylvania (raogk.org)
Pennsylvania Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
State of Pennsylvania Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)

What other genealogical resources are available in Lancaster County, PA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Lancaster County. Each of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a cost. This is basically a listing which has been compiled or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.

Lancaster Co. PA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

See Also Map of Pennsylvania Links and Information
Lancaster Co. D.O.T. Map
Map of Lancaster County, PA with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
1895 Lancaster County Map (livgenmi.com)

Lancaster Co. PA Books, Newspapers & Publications

Pennsylvania Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide (raogk.org)
Pennsylvania historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
Historical Newspapers from Pennsylvania (1719 - 1997) (genealogybank.com) Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Books (amazon.com)
Search Pennsylvania Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Lancaster County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

Lancaster Co. PA Military Records

Pennsylvania Military Records Research Guide (raogk.org)
Pennsylvania Military Records (fold3.com) offers access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Pennsylvania both males and females who served. Excellent for Lancaster County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.

Lancaster Co. PA Schools & Directories

The farmers' directory of Lancaster County (except Lancaster City) Pennsylvania : with a complete road map of the county. (search.ancestry.com)
Directory of Lancaster County : embracing a full list of all the adult males and heads of families, with their occupation, resi (search.ancestry.com)
Boyd's Lancaster County business directory : the names of the citizens of Lancaster, state, county, and city record, and an ap (search.ancestry.com)
The Lancaster City directory : containing the names of the citizens, a business directory, state and city record, and an append (search.ancestry.com)
Directory of the city of Lancaster : also a business directory, with an appendix, 1868-69. (search.ancestry.com)
J.H. Bryson's Lancaster directory for 1843 : containing the names of the inhabitants, their occupations, places of business, a (search.ancestry.com)
Directory of the borough of Columbia (search.ancestry.com)
A.C. Leonard's directory of business and professional men of Lancaster, Pa. 1883 (search.ancestry.com)
Complete catalogue of the names of all the students who have attended the Lititz Academy for Boys, from A.D. 1815 to A.D. 1865. (search.ancestry.com)
History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and directory of the principal business houses of Columbia (search.ancestry.com)

Lancaster County, PennsylvaniaGenealogy, History & Facts