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Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Facts
Philadelphia County was established in 1682 as one of three original counties.
What is the County Seat of Philadelphia County, PA?
The County Seat is located in Philadelphia and in addition the county government website is http://www.phila.gov
What counties are adjacent to Philadelphia County, PA?
Bordering Counties are Montgomery County, Bucks County, Burlington County, New Jersey, Camden County, New Jersey, Gloucester County, New Jersey, Delaware County.
Philadelphia County, PA Vital Records
Where can find Philadelphia County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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.
- Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915
- Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Marriage Indexes, 1885-1951
- 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
Philadelphia County, PA Census Records
What Philadelphia County, PA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Philadelphia County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Philadelphia Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Philadelphia Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia County, PA Courthouse and Government Records
Philadelphia County CourthouseWhat genealogical records can I find in the Philadelphia County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Philadelphia County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Pennsylvania Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Philadelphia County Recorder of Deeds
- Address: Department of Records, Room 156, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Phone: (215) 686-2261
- Land Records: 1684
- Philadelphia County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts
- Address: First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Room 284 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Phone: 215 686-6652
- Court & Divorce Records: 1682
- Philadelphia County Register of Wills / Orphan’s Court Clerk
- Address: Room 180 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Phone: (215) 686-6250
- Marriage & Probate Records: 1682 ; (215) 686-2234
- Birth & Death Records: before Jan 1906
- Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993
- Minutes of the Common Council of the city of Philadelphia, 1704 to 1776 . See also Philadelphia Old Rights (Index)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1819
- Runaway Servants, Convicts, and Apprentices
- Early Pennsylvania Land Records
- BLM Land Records
Philadelphia County, PA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Philadelphia County, PA?
A list of Philadelphia 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)
- The Philadelphia City Archives , 3101 Market Street 1st. Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (215) 686-1581 prior to 1915, (215) 560-3054 after 1915
- Chestnut Hill Historical Society, 8708 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
- Descendants of Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Genealogical Society Of Pennsylvania, 215 S. Broad St., 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5325; Phone: (215) 545-0391,
- German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
- American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145
- Germantown Historical Society, 5501 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia 19144
- Historical Society Of Pennsylvania. 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: 215-732-6200
- Jewish Genealogical Society Of Philadelphia, 1279 June Road, Huntingdon Valley 19006-8405
- Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia, 7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
- Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147
- 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 Philadelphia 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)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Philadelphia County, PA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia Co. PA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Pennsylvania Links and Information
- Philadelphia Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Philadelphia County, PA with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
- 1895 Philadelphia County Map (livgenmi.com)
Philadelphia 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)
- The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent Obituary Index, 1887-2006 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Books (amazon.com)
- Search Pennsylvania Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Philadelphia County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Philadelphia Co. PA Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Pennsylvania Cemetery Records Research Guide
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia National Cemetery, 1862-2010 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia, Tombstone Inscriptions from Christ Church (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania Graves (findagrave.com)
- Philadelphia County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Pennsylvania Church Records Research Guide
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Church Records, 1709-60 (search.ancestry.com)
- Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Church Books (amazon.com)
Philadelphia Co. PA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia Co., PA GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families from the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (search.ancestry.com)
- Every person index of the Memorial history of the city of Philadelphia, 1895-1898, edited by John Russell Young (search.ancestry.com)
- Jefferys of Worcestershire, Nevis, Philadelphia (search.ancestry.com)
- James Manahan, Trials of a Lawyer (search.ancestry.com)
- The lives of eminent Philadelphians, now deceased : collected from original and authentic sources (search.ancestry.com)
Philadelphia Co. PA General and History Websites
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Encyclopedia of Philadelphia (search.ancestry.com)
- History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia History, 1609-1884 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia, a history of the city and its people : a record of 225 years (search.ancestry.com)
- Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania, in the olden time : being a collection of memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the ci (search.ancestry.com)
- Memorial history of the city of Philadelphia from its first settlement to the year 1895 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Philadelphia Co. PA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Pennsylvania – Counties – Philadelphia (cyndislist.com)
- Philadelphia County Pennsylvania (genealogytrails.com)
- Philadelphia Co. PAGenweb (phillygenweb.org)
- Philadelphia County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives (usgwarchives.net)
- Founders’ Week memorial volume : containing an account of the two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the (search.ancestry.com)
- Story of Philadelphia (search.ancestry.com)
- Martin’s bench and bar of Philadelphia : together with other lists of persons appointed to administer the laws in the city and (search.ancestry.com)
- Ancient and modern Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia and its manufactures : a handbook exhibiting the development, variety and statistics of the manufacturing industry (search.ancestry.com)
- The Johnson family and allied families of Lincolnshire, England, being the ancestry and posterity of Lawrence Johnson of Philad (search.ancestry.com)
- Illustrated Philadelphia, its wealth and industries (search.ancestry.com)
- Biographies of successful Philadelphia merchants (search.ancestry.com)
- History of New Amsterdam, or, New York as it was in the days of the Dutch governors : together with papers on events connected (search.ancestry.com)
- West Phildelphia illustrated : early history of West Philadelphia and its environs, its people and its historical points (search.ancestry.com)
- The history of the consolidation of the city of Philadelphia (search.ancestry.com)
- The old “main line” (search.ancestry.com)
- Genealogy of Philadelphia County subdivisions (search.ancestry.com)
- A biography of deceased butchers, and a narrative of facts (search.ancestry.com)
- Personal reminiscences of “the main line” in the sixties and seventies (search.ancestry.com)
- The story of St. Paul’s “on Delaware,” 1703-1903 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Philadelphia Co. PA Immigration & Naturalization
- Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia, Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1800-1850 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia Bank Immigrant Passage Records, 1890-1949 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia, 1789-1880 Naturalization Records (search.ancestry.com)
- Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore Steamship Arrivals, 1890-1930 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chinese Arrivals, 1900-1923 (search.ancestry.com)
- U.S. Chinese Immigration Case Files, 1883-1924 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Indentures, 1771-1773 (search.ancestry.com)
- Philadelphia German Immigration, 1700-75 (search.ancestry.com)
- Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia, 1800-1819 (search.ancestry.com)
- Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, Vol. I (search.ancestry.com)
- Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, Vol. II (search.ancestry.com)
- Pennsylvania, Quaker arrivals at Philadelphia (Meeting), 1682-1750 (search.ancestry.com)
- Pennsylvania, Naturalizations, 1794-1908 (search.ancestry.com)
Philadelphia Co. PA Military Records
- Pennsylvania Military Records Research Guide
- Philadelphia in the Civil War, 1861-1865 (search.ancestry.com)
- History of the Philadelphia Brigade : Sixty-Ninth, Seventy-First, Seventy-Second, and One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunt (search.ancestry.com)
- Register of the members of the “Artillery Corps, Washington Grays” of the city of Philadelphia who served in the War of the Reb (search.ancestry.com)
- 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 Philadelphia County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.
Philadelphia Co. PA Schools & Directories
- Philadelphia City Directories (fold3.com)
- Philadelphia City Directory, 1890 (search.ancestry.com)
