Births started in Ohio in 1867 and were recorded at the local level. Births were recorded at both the local and state level beginning in December 1908.
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Early divorces may be found in Common Pleas Court: Supreme Court Records, in Journals, and in newspapers.
Deaths started in Ohio in 1867 and were recorded at the local level. Deaths were recorded at both the local and state level beginning in December 1908.
The U.S. Census was first taken in 1790. It has been taken every 10 years. The individual details for the 1950 U.S. Census was released April 1, 2022.
Early court records include wills, estates, naturalizations, criminal and civil actions, list of jurors, ministers being ordained, international vendors, and much more.
Use Compiled genealogies with caution. These usually include secondary information and may be correct or incorrect.
Community and county histories contain information on people and places. You may find information on churches, schools, businesses, early settlers and much more.
Many communities have historical buildings, some that have been recognized while others have not.
There are more than 230 cemeteries in the county. Many are still in existence while others have not survived the test of time.
Property records include land deeds as well as taxes. Often, land deeds are the only resource available to researchers that may provide evidence of a parent-child relationship.
The first train arrived in Wooster, Ohio in 1852. The railway opened opportunities for people to travel longer distances at quicker rates.
In many of the local municipalities, the downtown area was the center of the business industry. As the years went by, businesses set up shop throughout the county.
Organizations have been common throughout history. They provide many services at little or no cost to many. Some have been long lasting while others were in existence for a limited period of time.
When the early settlers started a new community, the first and most important public building to be erected was the church. The church was the hub for many social activities.
Education has always been very important in Wayne County. In 1878, historian Ben Douglass stated that "Education in Wayne county is perhaps as far advanced as in any other county in the State, and that in its progress and development it can challenge comparison with the foremost in Ohio."
Many immigrants to the United States brought traditions, elements of their culture, skills, trade and much more to the United States. Often, they came with very little in their pockets seeking a better life for themselves and their descendants.
From the beginning of our country, our nation has been a melting pot. Immigrants came to Colonial America and the United States to seeking economic opportunities or seeking asylum from religious and/or government persecution.
Learn about the individuals who served for the U.S. Armed Services in wars from the Revolutionary War through World War II.
Historical newspapers were the "Social Media" of their time. If you want to find out the latest gossip, spend some time reading the news of long ago.
The number of digital collections becoming available through commercial businesses and non-profit organizations is improving access to valuable documents and information. Wayne County, Ohio digital collections may be found through a variety of websites.
The library has access to several subscriptions databases. In addition, volunteers and staff have created a number of unique databases for the county.
Our collection includes books on Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Indiana, and West Virginia. In addition, there is a growing collection of family papers and family histories available for visitors to browse.
Several subject bibliographies have been prepared to assist researchers with the collection. These include books on a variety of ethnic groups, military, women's history, heraldry, the Mayflower, organizing your genealogy, preservation, and much more.
Whether you are a novice or seasoned researchers, there is something here for you. Several instructional videos have been prepared. In some cases, several documents that go along with the instructional videos are available through the classroom.