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Stark County History and Information

County History | Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |
Stark County Ohio Map
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Stark Co., Ohio
Township Map

Stark County was created on February 13, 1808 and was formed from Columbiana and Muskingum Counties. The County was named for General John Stark, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.. The County Seat is Canton.

Mineral resources include coal limestone and marl deposits. The county seat of Canton is best known as the home of President McKinley. The McKinley tomb is a famous tourist attraction. Today Canton is primarily a steel-industry city. It is the home of professional football and has one of the most modern school systems in the United States. Manchester was transferred from Stark County to Summit County in 1840. The original Stark County records (marriage, birth, death, probate, etc.) are available at the Genealogy Division at the Stark County District Library in Canton, OH. Contact them at scdlgen@oplin.lib.oh.us for research details. Industries in the county include; metals, machinery, rubber, stone-clay-glass, food, roller bearings, steel forgings, ceramic tile, fabricated structural steel, See also County History for more historical details.

The Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1908-Present, see the Vital Records section for more details. For birth and death records prior to Dec. 20, 1908, contact the Probate Court of this county.

Counties adjacent to Stark County are Portage County (north), Mahoning County (northeast), Columbiana County (east), Carroll County (southeast), Tuscarawas County (south), Holmes County (southwest), Wayne County (west), Summit County (northwest).

Stark County Municipalities Include Alliance, Canal Fulton, Canton, Louisville, Massillon, North Canton, Beach City, Brewster, East Canton, East Sparta, Hartville, Hills and Dales, Limaville, Magnolia, Meyers Lake, Minerva, Navarre, Waynesburg, Wilmot. Townships Include Bethlehem, Canton, Jackson, Lake, Lawrence, Lexington, Marlboro, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, Paris, Perry, Pike, Plain, Sandy, Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas, Washington. Other localities Include Maximo, Middlebranch, North Lawrence, Paris, Robertsville, Greentown, Perry Heights, Uniontown.

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Click Here to Search Ohio Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records!
Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Records at the Stark County Courthouse

See Also Ohio Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

All Departments below are in the Stark County Courthouse 115 Central Plaza North, Canton, OH 44702;
Phone: +1-216-438-0442 unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.co.stark.oh.us/. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Stark County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1809, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1810 and is located at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 501, Canton, Ohio 44702-1413; Telephone: (330) 451-7755

Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

The Probate Court handles the following administrative functions: the probating of wills, estate administrations (full estates and releases from administration), trusts, guardianships of incompetent adults and minors, commitment hearings for the mentally ill and mentally challenged, adoptions, birth corrections, name changes, delayed birth registrations, custodial accounts, lost heir accounts, order disinterments, and issues marriage licenses. In addition, the Court tries litigation issues in all the above matters. A unique aspect of the Probate Court is that the Probate Judge is the ex-officio Clerk of Courts, thus, the Court performs all the duties as its own Clerk of Courts (indexing, filing, docketing, etc.).

Stark County Recorder has Land Records from 1809 and is located at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 170, Canton, OH 44702-1409; 330-451-7443 or by email:recorder@co.stark.oh.us

In Ohio, the Recorder, as an elected official, is charged by law with the exacting duty of keeping certain specific records which may include: deeds, mortgages, financing statements, easements, leases, federal tax liens, personal tax liens, military discharges, powers of attorney, mechanics liens, plats, recognizance liens, partnerships, living wills, zoning resolutions, etc.

Stark County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1809 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (330) 493-9904

The Clerk of Courts of Common Pleas is responsible for various administrative and ministerial duties in conjunction with the Court of Common Pleas.  These duties include filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all court pleadings for civil, felony criminal and domestic relations cases.  The Clerk of Courts must also follow procedure required by law and issues writs to carry out Court orders.  Some of these writs include summons, subpoenas, warrants to arrest and to convey to penal institutions, and signing the death warrant in capital cases. The Clerk is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all money paid into the court system. Other services provided by the Clerk of Court of Common Pleas are accepting bonds, recording notary commissions, administering oaths, keeping naturalization records, and recording and retention of coroner records.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Stark County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Ohio Birth, Marriage & Death Records!
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Stark County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Ohio

Ohio did not make it a law to keep birth records until 1867. Ohio made it a law to record births in 1867. County probate courts kept birth records between 1867 and December 19, 1908. There is no statewide index to birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Go to the list of county probate court birth records held at the Ohio Historical Society. If the Ohio Historical Society does not hold a county's birth records, please contact the county's probate court.

Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; (614) 466-2531. Same-day service available to walk-in customers (for Ohio birth and death records only)., P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Please allow up to approximately 3 weeks to 6 months for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. The Vital Statistics Office maintains statewide Death Certificates from 1954 to the present. Individual health departments in the county or city where the death took place keep certificates for their local area (not statewide).
    • Cost: $16.50 per certificate, payment is payable to the Treasurer State of Ohio. The cost for each authentication is $5.00 payable to the Secretary of State of Ohio. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $16.50 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 3-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: The State of Ohio Vital Statistics Office maintains the abstracts of marriages and divorces that occurred in Ohio from January 1, 1954, to present.  Abstracts are brief forms that list limited information extracted from the original marriage licenses or divorce decrees.  This limited information is used for index purposes and the filing of the marriage or divorce within the State of Ohio. We do not have marriage licenses or divorce decrees on file, only abstracts. An abstract is not a marriage license or divorce decree. Please contact the following agencies: Marriage License - County Probate Court; Divorce – County Clerk of Court. To request a certified copy of a marriage license contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.To request a certified copy of a divorce decree contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.
    • Cost: Include a fee of $3.00 per 10 year search per last name with request.  Allow 4 to 6 months for the search. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: Allow 4 to 6 months for the search by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY. Mail your search request to: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 246 N. High Street, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098
  • Ordering Vital Records Online - You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
Order In Person:

Same day service is available to walk-in customers. This is the fastest way to obtain a birth certificate. When you arrive, you will complete an application and pay the $16.50 required fee. Walk-in address is Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Phone: (614) 466-2531. You can also obtain the birth/death record from the city or county health department office where the event occurred, provided there is no court or legal action. You may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.

Order By Mail:

Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $16.50 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Order On-Line:

To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Stark County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek’s order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Ohio newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Search Ohio Death Certificate Index 1913-1944 from the Ohio Historical Society
  • Ohio Obituaries Index 1830s-present - mostly Northwest counties (over 800,000 names) includes obituaries from these Ohio counties: Allen, Auglaize, Belmont, Defiance, Erie, Gallia, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Logan, Lorain, Miami, Ottawa, Paulding, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Washington, Wayne, Wood & Wyandot - coverage varies by county - also see the links below (copies of the obituaries can be ordered for a fee)
  • MOLO Obituary Index includes obituaries from newspapers in Ashland County (Loudonville), Coshocton County, Holmes County and Stark County (Massillon)
  • Stark County, Ohio Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
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Click Here to Search Ohio Voter Lists & Census Records!
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Stark County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Stark County, Ohio are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Stark County, Ohio are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Stark County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Ohio Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 (Northwest Territory) Federal Census Index; 1800 Federal Census Index (Washington County); 1810 Washington County Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; Early Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule.
  • Stark County, Ohio Census Books at Amazon.com
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Stark County Maps & Atlases

 

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Ohio showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Ohio showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Maps. Email us with websites containing Stark County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Search Ohio Military Records!
Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

Stark County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Ohio

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Stark County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Stark County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tax records for Ohio began as early as 1800. The archives section of the Ohio Historical Society has a collection of original Ohio tax lists from the state auditor's office. They include lists from the county's organization to 1838, usually arranged by county and township. They are not indexed. County courthouses hold various tax records that have not been inventoried. They are in the office of the county auditor or the county records manager. The FHL has microfilm copies of all known extant tax records 1800-38 for Ohio.

The National Archives-Great Lakes Region retains numerous federal tax records for Ohio. These include assessment books for 1867-73 and corporate and personal records for District 10, Toledo, and District 11, Columbus.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Stark County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Stark County, Ohio Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Stark County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Stark County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Stark County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 9035, Canton, OH 44711-9035; Stark County Chapter, OGS meets at the Stark County District Library, 715 Market Ave., in Canton, OH on the second Thursday of each month except December., E-mail: starkquery@yahoo.com
  • The Alliance Genealogical Society, PO Box 3630, Alliance, OH 44601-7630; The Alliance Genealogical Society meets at the Union Avenue United Methodist Church, Alliance, OH on the third Thursday, March through December at 7:00pm.
  • Local Ohio Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
  • Ohio Historical Society, Archives-Library Division,1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211; Telephone: 614-297-2300
    The Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library is, by law, the archives for the State of Ohio. As such, we collect, preserve, and make available to the public, documents pertaining to the operation of state and local governments.
  • Ohio Genealogical Society, 713 S. Main St, Mansfield, OH 44907-1644;(419) 756-7294, [EMAIL]
  • Columbus Metropolitan Library, Genealogy Division, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215. 614-645-2ASK (2275);The Genealogy Division holds microfilm; printed, typescript, and manuscript collections, including family and local histories; atlases; cemetery records; city directories; military records; censuses and census indexes; and transcribed records provided by the Ohio chapters of the DAR.
  • Ohio Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
  • Ohio Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Click Here to Search Ohio Obituary Records!
This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

Stark County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Ohio

There are many churches and cemeteries in Stark County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Stark County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Religion in Ohio was an early and important factor in settlement. The first Moravian mission was established in 1772. Presbyterians and Quakers were in the state at an early date, the latter having established forty-three monthly meetings and settlements between 1801 and 1883. The Presbyterians founded seventeen towns between 1784 and 1799. Baptists, Congregationalists, several reformed groups, Lutherans, Disciples of Christ, United Brethren, Methodists, and Catholics arrived prior to 1850. By 1890 the latter two denominations were the largest in the state. The Methodist circuit in Ohio was organized in 1798, with circuit riders traveling from log cabins to camp meetings across the territory. In 1831 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints migrated from New York to Kirtland in Lake County. No thorough survey exists of any of the holdings of individual churches in Ohio, although many are on microfilm through the FHL. The Ohio Genealogical Society is presently undertaking a church records survey.

According to the Ohio Genealogical Society, the majority of Ohio counties have published cemetery records in one form or another. They suggest contacting local societies or one of the major genealogical libraries in the state.

Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Stark County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Ohio Family Tree Records!
The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Stark County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Stark County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

On February 13, 1808, the Ohio government authorized the creation of Stark County. Residents named the county in honor of General John Stark, a hero of the American Revolution.

Stark County is located in northeastern Ohio. The county seat is Canton, which is the county’s largest population center, with 80,806 residents in 2000. The county experienced a 2.9 percent increase in population between 1990 and 2000, raising the number of residents to 378,098 people. An average of 656 people live in each of Stark County’s 576 square miles.

Stark County remains heavily rural, with urban areas comprising just five percent of the county’s land mass. With 1,300 farms existing in the county, many residents find employment in agriculture, but manufacturing establishments, sales positions, and service industries are the county’s largest employers. Stark County also has an active tourist industry, including the President William McKinley National Memorial, the First Ladies Museum, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, among numerous other sites. The county’s average income was 25,214 dollars per person in 1999, with 10.5 percent of the population living in poverty.

In 1805, Bezaleel Wells founded Canton. The community grew slowly during the first half of the nineteenth century. By 1815, only three hundred people resided in the town. One of the main reasons for Canton's slow development was its distance from transportation routes. During the late 1820s, planners of the Ohio and Erie Canal offered to build the canal through Canton. Residents refused, believing that disease would run rampant through the community due to the standing water in the canal. As a result, the Ohio and Erie Canal skipped Canton, travelling through nearby Massillon, Ohio, instead. The canal actually improved the health of Massillon residents, draining the neighboring swamps of putrid water. Canton also rejected railroads initially. The developers of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad offered to build the track through Canton, if residents pledged ten thousand dollars to the line's construction. City officials refused, believing that the railroad would have to build the track through Canton anyway. The developers constructed the line eighteen miles east of Canton, through Alliance, Ohio, allowing Alliance to prosper.

Canton emerged as an important agricultural and industrial center due to the Civil War. Canton, along with Akron, emerged as the leading agricultural implement manufacturers in northeastern Ohio in the years leading up to and following the Civil War. Canton also emerged as an important center for iron production. In 1888, Canton's manufacturing establishments brought in almost five million dollars in income. Machinery produced in Canton's factories was shipped across the world. Equally important to Canton's traditional industries during the 1880s was the emergence of watch-making establishments. The two main watch producers in Canton were Hampden Watch Manufacturing Company and the Dueber Watch Case Company. In 1890, these two companies employed over 2,300 people, roughly ten percent of Canton's population. In 1890, Canton's population numbered 26,337 people, more than double the number of residents who had lived in the city in 1880. Canton had emerged as one of Ohio's most important industrial centers. One of Canton's most famous residents was William McKinley, president of the United States.

During the twentieth century, many Canton businesses continued to be iron and steel manufacturers, although other businesses also emerged. Following World War II, Canton experienced some difficult times as these various industries declined in importance to the American economy. Other Ohio cities, including East Liverpool and Akron, have experienced similar difficulties. Some businesses have continued to prosper, including several dairies, which supply northeastern Ohio with large quantities of milk. Many Canton residents also earn their livelihood by working for several corporate poultry farms. A small tourism industry also exists in the city, due primarily to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. In 1920, organizers founded the first professional football league in the city. In honor of this event, the National Football League authorized the Hall of Fame to be located in the city. One of Canton's most important businesses is the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company. Hoover's home offices are located in Canton, and the company has been one of the city's leading employers since the early 1900s.

In 2000, Canton had a population of over eighty thousand people. Local industries produced more than 1,500 different types of items.

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