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Wise County, Virginia
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Wise County, Virginia Facts
When was Wise County, VA Created?
Wise County was established on February 16, 1856 from Lee County, Russell County and Scott County.
What is the County Seat of Wise County, VA?
The County Seat is located in Wise also, the county government website is www.wisecounty.org/ .
What counties are adjacent to Wise County, VA?
Bordering Counties are Letcher County, Kentucky, Pike County, Kentucky, Dickenson County, Russell County, Scott County, Lee County, Harlan County, Kentucky.
Wise County, VA Vital Records
Where can find Wise County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Wise County vital records can be found at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has Birth and Death Records since June 14, 1912 and copies of Marriage and Divorce Records since 1918 to present. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Virginia for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Wise County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also order Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for copies of Wise Co. Virginia Birth, Marriage, Divorce, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
The Archives Division has copies of surviving birth and death records for the period 1853 to 1896 and marriage records prior to 1936. Another resource is the Wise County and City of Norton Health Department, 134 Roberts Avenue, SW, Wise, Virginia 24293; (276) 328-8000
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- USGenweb Archives Virginia Marriage Project
- Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1917
- Virginia Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers
- Virginia Birth and Marriage (Husband-Wife) Indexes
- Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
- Early Virginia Marriage Records
- Early Virginia Marriage Records – Research Notes Number 26.
- Henley Marriage/Obituary Index to Virginia Newspapers
- Index to Virginia Marriage Records
- Marriage Index for Richmond Enquirer/Richmond Visitor
- Virginia Death Records Indexing Project
- Virginia Death Certificates, 1912-1939
- Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912
Wise County, VA Census Records
What Wise County, VA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Wise County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Wise Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Wise Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Wise Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Virginia Census Records Research Guide
Wise County, VA Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Wise County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Wise County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Wise County Clerk of Circuit Court
- Address: P. O. Box 1248, 206 East Main Street, Wise, VA 24293-1248
- Phone: (276) 328-6111
- Marriage Records: 1856
- Land Records: 1856
- Court Records: 1856
- Probate Records: 1856
- Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850
- Using County and City Court Records in the Archives at the Library of Virginia
- County and City Research in Virginia Guides and Indexes – County and city records document the daily activities of the courts in Virginia’s counties, independent cities, and towns. The Library of Virginia houses both original and microfilm records for many of Virginia’s counties and independent cities. The guides list will help researchers navigate the complex variety of county and city records in the Library’s collections. It includes County and City Records at the Library of Virginia, Using County and City Court Records, Chancery Cases, Judgments, Lost Records Localities database and Burned Jurisdiction database.
- Virginia County Records, Volume, VI, VII , IX, X – The records in these series were compiled as part of a series known as the Virginia County Records . The volume includes wills, land grants, and marriage bonds as well as other miscellaneous information on early Virginia settlers.
- BLM Land Records
Wise County, VA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Wise County, VA?
A list of Wise County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Historical Society of Southwest Virginia, P.O. Box 3877 , Wise, VA 24293
- Wise County Historical Society, (Wise County Courthouse, archives and office location), P.O. Box 368 (mailing address), Wise, VA 24293
- The Library of Virginia, Archives And Research Services , 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
- The Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
- Virginia Genealogical Society, 5001 West Broad Street, Suite 115, Richmond, Virginia 23230-3023 Telephone (804) 285-8954
- Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220, Phone: 804.358.4901
- Wise County microfilmed holdings at The Library of Virginia (lva.virginia.gov)
- Virginia Heritage – Guides to manuscript and Archival Collections in Wise Co. Virginia
Where can I connect with other Wise County, VA Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Virginia Genealogy Network
- Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Wise County, Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Wise County
- Wise County, Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Wise County, VA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Wise County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a fee. This is just a listing which has been compiled or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.
Wise Co. VA Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Virginia Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Virginia historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Virginia (1784 – 1922 ) (genealogybank.com) Immediately locate names and keywords in over 450 million content articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth notices and other items written and published in over 2,800 historic U.S. newspapers. Brand new articles and other content added each month!
- Wise County, Virginia Books (amazon.com)
- Search Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Virginia County Obituaries (usgwarchives.net)
Wise Co. VA Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Wise Co., Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
- Wise County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Wise Co., Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Wise Co., Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Wise County, Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)
Wise Co. VA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Virginia Penny Postcards (usgwarchives.net)
Wise Co. VA General and History Websites
- Wise County Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
- A narrative history of Wise County, Virginia (search.ancestry.com)
- Big Stone Gap, Virginia (search.ancestry.com)
- Wise County : her industries, resources and prominent men. (search.ancestry.com)
- Wise County, Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Wise County, Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Wise Co. VA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Wise County History (usgwarchives.net)
- Wise County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
- Wise County, Virginia (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Virginia – Counties – Wise (cyndislist.com)
- Wise Co. VAGenweb (vagenweb.org)
- Wise County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Wise Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Wise Co. VA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Virginia Links and Information
- 1895 Wise County Map (livgenmi.com)
Wise Co. VA Military Records
- Virginia Military Records Research Guide
- Virginia Revolutionary War Units (revolutionarywar101.com)
- Virginia Military Records (Fold3.com) gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Virginia both women and men which served. Ideal for genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.