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.
Wayne County, Ohio Online Resource Center:Genealogy/Resources
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Wayne County, Ohio Online Resource Center Portals
Welcome to the
Genealogy Portal
People ↑Up
There are many resources available when researching one's family history. Some of the main areas include Vital Records (Births, Marriages, Deaths), Census Records, Court Records, Biographies and Compiled Genealogies to name a few.
Divorces
Early divorces may be found in Common Pleas Court: Supreme Court Records, in Journals, and in newspapers.
Deaths
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.
Census
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.
Court
Early court records include wills, estates, naturalizations, criminal and civil actions, list of jurors, ministers being ordained, international vendors, and much more.
Genealogies
Use Compiled genealogies with caution. These usually include secondary information and may be correct or incorrect.
Infrastructure ↑Up
Infrastructure focuses on the history of the county, its buildings and property, transportation and much more.
County Histories
Community and county histories contain information on people and places. You may find information on churches, schools, businesses, early settlers and much more.
Historical Buildings
Many communities have historical buildings, some that have been recognized while others have not.
Cemeteries
There are more than 230 cemeteries in the county. Many are still in existence while others have not survived the test of time.
Property
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.
Transportation
The first train arrived in Wooster, Ohio in 1852. The railway opened opportunities for people to travel longer distances at quicker rates.
Genealogy is much more than names, places and events. It is important to understand the social history of a community. Businesses, organizations, churches, schools, and ethnic groups help make up the social aspects of a community. Newspapers include a wealth of information about the community.
Businesses
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
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.
Churches
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.
Schools
Education Services has always been very important in Wayne County. In 1878, historian Ben Douglass stated that "Education Services 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."
Newspapers
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.
Ethnicity ↑Up
Many of the early settlers were of German descent. Other large groups of immigrants include the Irish, Scottish, English, Blacks, Hispanics, Mexicans, and many smaller ethnic groups.
Ethnicity
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.
Immigration
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.
Military ↑Up
Wayne County has a rich history of men and women serving in the Armed Forces. Visit the Wayne County Historical Society beginning in March 2023 to learn more about the men and women who served from Wayne County.
Military, 18th Century
Many of our early settlers served in the American Revolution.
Military, 19th Century
Learn about the individuals who served during the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.
Military, 20th Century
Learn about the individuals who served for the U.S. Armed Services in wars during the 20th century, including the Great War, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.
Research ↑Up
There is a growing number of collections becoming available online. The library offers many resources, both local and national to help assist you in your research.
Digital Collection
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.
Databases
The library has access to several subscriptions databases. In addition, volunteers and staff have created a number of unique databases for the county.
Collection
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.