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Kanawha County, West Virginia
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Kanawha County, West Virginia Facts
When was Kanawha County, WV Created?
Kanawha County was established on November 14, 1788 from Greenbrier County and Montgomery County.
What is the County Seat of Kanawha County, WV?
The County Seat is located in Charleston and the county government website is http://www.kanawha.us/
What counties are adjacent to Kanawha County, WV?
Bordering Counties are Roane County, Clay County, Nicholas County, Fayette County, Raleigh County, Boone County, Lincoln County, Putnam County, Jackson County.
Kanawha County, WV Vital Records
Where can find Kanawha County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Kanawha County vital records can be found at the West Virginia Office of Vital Records which has copies of birth and death records from January 1917 to present; marriage records from 1921 to present and divorce records from 1968 to present. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in West Virginia for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Kanawha County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for West Virginia Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenweb Archives West Virginia Marriage Project
- Vital Research Records Search Selection
- West Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1928
- West Virginia, Births, 1853-1930
- West Virginia, Marriages, 1853-1970
- West Virginia, Marriages, 1854-1932
- West Virginia, Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932
- West Virginia, Deaths, 1853-1970
Kanawha County, WV Census Records
What Kanawha County, WV census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Kanawha County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Kanawha Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Kanawha Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Kanawha Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. One can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also West Virginia Census Records Research Guide
Kanawha County, WV Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Kanawha County Courthouse?
The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also West Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Kanawha County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 407 Virginia St E, Charleston, WV 25301
- Kanawha County Clerk
- Phone: (304) 357-0130
- Birth / Death Records: 1853
- Marriage Records: 1792 (Marriages for 1844-49 are not missing. The ledger is mislabeled. These years are recorded in correct chronological sequence in the ledger)
- Land Records: 1790
- Probate Records: 1789
- Kanawha County Clerk of Circuit Court
- Phone: (304) 357-0440
- Court Records: 1773
Kanawha County, WV Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Kanawha County, WV?
A list of Kanawha County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide West Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Kanawha Valley Civil War Round Table, 317 18th Street, Dunbar, WV 25064; Phone: 304/389-8587
- Kanawha Valley Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 8555, South Charleston, WV 25303
- Kanawha Valley Historical & Preservation Society, Inc., 507 Peoples Building, P. O. Box 2283, Charleston, WV 25328; 304/342-7676
- Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301; Phone: (304) 343-4646
- Saint Albans Historical Society, 2745 Lincoln Avenue, Saint Albans, WV 25177; mailing address: 919 Lee Street, Saint Albans, WV 25177; Phone: (304) 727-5972
- West Virginia Archives and History, The Cultural Center; 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.; Charleston, WV 25305-0300
- West Virginia and Regional History Collection, West Virginia University, Colson Hall, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506; (304) 293-3536
- West Virginia Genealogical Society, Post Office Box 249, Elkview, West Virginia 25071
- West Virginia Historical Society, PO Box 5220, Charleston, WV 25361
Where can I connect with other Kanawha County, WV Researchers through message boards and forums?
- West Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Kanawha County, West Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Kanawha County
- Kanawha County, West Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Kanawha County, WV?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Kanawha County. Each of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a payment. This is basically a list which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.
Kanawha Co. WV Books, Newspapers & Publications
- West Virginia Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- West Virginia historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from West Virginia (1808 – 1904) (genealogybank.com) Quickly identify names and keywords and phrases in over 450 million publications, obituaries, marriage announcements, birth announcements as well as other items written and published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added every month!
- Sunday Gazette-Mail (Charleston, West Virginia) (search.ancestry.com)
- The Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, West Virginia) (search.ancestry.com)
- Charleston Mail (Charleston, West Virginia) (search.ancestry.com)
- Charleston Daily Mail (Charlestown, West Virginia) (search.ancestry.com)
- Kanawha County, West Virginia Books (amazon.com)
- Search West Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Kanawha County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Kanawha Co. WV Church & Cemeteries
- West Virginia Church and Cemetery Research Guide
- Kanawha Co., West Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
- Kanawha County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Kanawha Co., West Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Kanawha Co., West Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Kanawha County, West Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)
Kanawha Co. WV Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- West Virginia Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Kanawha Co. WV General and History Websites
- See Also State History for West Virginia
- Kanawha County, West Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800 (search.ancestry.com)
- Kanawha County Encyclopedia (wvencyclopedia.org)
- Kanawha County, West Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Kanawha Co. WV Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Kanawha County, West Virginia (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – West Virginia – Counties – Kanawha (cyndislist.com)
- Kanawha County West Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
- Kanawha Co. West Virginia Genealogy Page, USGenWeb Project (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Kanawha County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Kanawha Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Kanawha Co. WV Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of West Virginia Links and Information
- 1895 Kanawha County Map (livgenmi.com)
Kanawha Co. WV Military Records
- West Virginia Military Records Research Guide
- West Virginia Military Records (fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the West Virginia women and men which served. Ideal for Kanawha County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.