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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Facts
When was Luzerne County, PA Created?
Luzerne County was established on September 25, 1786 from Northumberland County.
What is the County Seat of Luzerne County, PA?
The County Seat is located in Wilkes-Barre and in addition the county government website is www.luzernecounty.org
What counties are adjacent to Luzerne County, PA?
Bordering Counties are Wyoming County, Lackawanna County, Monroe County, Carbon County, Schuylkill County, Columbia County, Sullivan County.
Luzerne County, PA Vital Records
Where can find Luzerne County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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.
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- USGenweb Archives Pennsylvania Marriage Project
- Pennsylvania Vital Records, Vol. I, Vol. II, Vol. III
- Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950
- Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940
- Pennsylvania County Marriages, 1885 – 1950
- Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915
Luzerne County, PA Census Records
What Luzerne County, PA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Luzerne County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Luzerne Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Luzerne Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Luzerne Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be found for 1890. You can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help with your research.
Luzerne County, PA Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Luzerne County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Luzerne County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Pennsylvania Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Luzerne County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 200 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
- Phone: (570) 825-1672
- Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: (570) 825-1641
- Land Records: 1787
- Luzerne County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts
- Phone: (570) 825-1585
- Court & Divorce Records: 1787
- Luzerne County Register of Wills/ Orphan’s Court Clerk
- Address: 20 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-1001
- Phone: (570) 825-1668
- Marriage & Probate Records: 1786
- Birth & Death Records: before Jan 1906
- Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993
- Early Pennsylvania Land Records
- BLM Land Records
Luzerne County, PA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Luzerne County, PA?
A list of Luzerne 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)
- Luzerne County Historical Society, 49 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701; (570) 823-6244
- 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 Luzerne County, PA Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- Pennsylvania Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of Pennsylvania Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Luzerne County, PA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Luzerne 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.
Luzerne Co. PA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Pennsylvania Links and Information
- Luzerne Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Luzerne County, PA with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
- 1895 Luzerne County Map (livgenmi.com)
Luzerne Co. PA Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Pennsylvania Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- 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!
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Books (amazon.com)
- Search Pennsylvania Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Luzerne County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Luzerne Co. PA Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Pennsylvania Cemetery Records Research Guide
- Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania Graves (findagrave.com)
- Luzerne County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Pennsylvania Church Records Research Guide
- Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 (search.ancestry.com)
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Church Books (amazon.com)
Luzerne Co. PA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Luzerne Co., PA GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families from the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (search.ancestry.com)
Luzerne Co. PA General and History Websites
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Ohio and her Western Reserve : with a story of three states, leading to the latter, from Connecticut, by way of Wyoming, its In (search.ancestry.com). See also Luzerne County Certified Townships (phmc.state.pa.us)
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Luzerne Co. PA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Pennsylvania – Counties – Luzerne (cyndislist.com)
- Luzerne County Pennsylvania (genealogytrails.com)
- Luzerne Co. PAGenweb (pagenweb.org)
- Luzerne County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives (usgwarchives.net)
- Luzerne Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Luzerne Co. PA Immigration & Naturalization
- Pennsylvania, Naturalizations, 1794-1908 (search.ancestry.com)
Luzerne Co. PA Military Records
- Pennsylvania Military Records Research Guide
- 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 Luzerne County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.
Luzerne Co. PA Schools & Directories
- Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Directories, 1889-1892 (search.ancestry.com)