Start your family tree. We'll start searching. It's FREE. - Enter a few simple facts about recent generations of your family. We'll use what you enter to try and find more about your family in the world's largest online collection of historical records and family trees.
Bookmark and Share
SITE DIRECTORY
OH County Selection List
OH Home Page - Includes
County Links, State History &
Facts, Burned Courthouses
and Discontinued Counties
OH Genealogy Records -
Includes State Census, Court,
Probate, Church, Cemetery, Land,
Military and Vital Records Info
OH Online Resources -
Includes Online Databases, Maps,
Help Tools & Message Boards
OH Societies & Archives -
Includes State Archives,
Historical & Genealogical
Societies, Genealogical
Publications and Newspapers
SEARCH THIS SITE
 
Logan 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 |

Logan County was created on December 30, 1817 and was formed from Champaign County . The County was named for General Benjamin Logan, who fought Indians there. Bellefontaine is the county seat of Logan County, Ohio. It was named after the French word for beautiful spring, since several limestone springs once existed in the area. Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket once had a village located on the site of Bellefontaine. Established in 1820, Bellefontaine grew slowly, having only 610 residents in 1846. That same year, the town contained four churches, one newspaper office, and eleven stores. 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 Logan County are the province of Ontario, Canada (north), Cuyahoga County (east), Medina County (southeast), Ashland County (south), Huron County (southwest), Erie County (west).

Logan County Municipalities Include Bellefontaine, Belle Center, De Graff, Huntsville, Lakeview, Quincy, Ridgeway, Rushsylvania, Russells Point, Valley Hi, West Liberty, West Mansfield, Zanesfield. Townships Include Bloomfield, Bokes Creek, Harrison, Jefferson, Lake, Liberty, McArthur, Miami, Monroe, Perry, Pleasant, Richland, Rushcreek, Stokes, Union, Washington, Zane. Other localities Include East Liberty, Lewistown, Logansville, Middleburg, Northwood, Pickrelltown

Back to top

Records at the Logan County Courthouse
PLEASE READ!! 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.

All Departments below are in the Logan County Courthouse Bellefontaine, OH 43311; Phone: +1-513-599-7201, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.co.logan.oh.us/ . NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

   Logan County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1818, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1851 and is located at the courthouse in RM 6; Phone: 937-599-7249.
   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.).

   Logan County Recorder has Land Records from 1810 and is located at 100 South Madriver Street, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311; Phone: 937-599-7201
    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.

   Logan County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1804 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (937) 599-7260
   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.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include:Ohio Land Records and Ohio Early Land Ownership Records.


Search Online 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.

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

Back to top

Logan County Vital Records
Search Online 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.

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 or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
  • 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

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

The Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library has most birth records before 1908 and copies of original death certificates on microfilm for the period December 20, 1908 through 1953.

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

Back to top

Logan County Census Records
Search Online 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.

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Logan County, Ohio are 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 Logan 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.

See Also Statewide Records that exist for Ohio

Below is a list of online resources for Logan County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Logan 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.
  • Logan County, Ohio Census Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Logan 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.



Logan County, Ohio Township Map

  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 Logan County Maps. Email us with websites containing Logan County Maps by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Logan County Military Records
Search Online Click Here to 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.

   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 Logan County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Logan County Military Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Logan County 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 Logan County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Logan County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Logan County, Ohio Tax Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Logan County 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 Logan County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Logan County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Logan County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 36, Bellefontaine, OH 43311-0036; Logan County Chapter, OGS meets at the Society Library, 521 E. Columbus Ave., May through October at 7:00pm on the third Monday of the month and November through April at 1:00pm on the third Wednesday of the month., E-mail: logangs@loganrec.com
  • Logan County Historical Museum, 521 East Columbus Avenue, Bellefontaine, OH 43311-2401
    937-593-7557
  • Logan County Health Board, 310 S Main St, Bellefontaine, OH 43311; 513-592-9040 
  • 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

Back to top

Logan County Church & Cemeteries
Search Online 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.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Logan County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Logan 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 Logan County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Logan County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Search Online 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.

   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 Logan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Logan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

Back to top

County History

On December 30, 1817, the Ohio government authorized the creation of Logan County. Residents named the county in honor of Benjamin Logan, a hero of the American Revolution and wars with Ohio’s Indian population. Previously, the county had been part of land reserved to Ohio’s Indian people, under the Treaty of Greeneville.

Logan County is located in northwestern Ohio. It is predominantly rural, with less than one percent of the county’s 458 square miles consisting of urban areas. The county seat is Bellefontaine. With a population of 13,069 people, Bellefontaine was the county’s largest community in 2000. Many residents of Ohio’s rural communities are seeking better lives and more opportunities in the state’s cities, but Logan County’s population grew between 1990 and 2000. The county experienced an 8.7 percent population growth rate between 1990 and 2000, bringing the total number of residents up to 46,005. The county averages just over one hundred people per square mile.

Manufacturing businesses and service industries, such as health care and tourism, are Logan County’s largest employers. Retail positions and farming rank third and fourth, respectively. Among the county’s tourist attractions are Lake State Park, the Zane Caverns, and the Ohio Caverns. In 1999, the per capita income in the county was almost twenty-five thousand dollars, with 9.5 percent of the people living in poverty.

Bellefontaine is the county seat of Logan County, Ohio. It was named after the French word for beautiful spring, since several limestone springs once existed in the area. Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket once had a village located on the site of Bellefontaine. Established in 1820, Bellefontaine grew slowly, having only 610 residents in 1846. That same year, the town contained four churches, one newspaper office, and eleven stores.

Over the next three decades, Bellefontaine grew dramatically. In 1880, 3,998 people resided in the town, and the number of inhabitants increased to 4,238 by 1890. One of the principal reasons for this growth was Bellefontaine’s location along two railroad lines. In 1886, three newspapers, eleven churches, and two banks operated in the town. Numerous manufacturing businesses operated in the town, with Mack, Dickinson & Company being the largest employer, with sixty-four workers. This firm produced chairs. Many other businesses manufactured items for farmers in the surrounding countryside.

During the twentieth century, Bellefontaine continued to grow in population. In 2000, the town was Logan County's largest urban center, with a population of 13,069 people. Many Bellefontaine residents are empolyed at Honda of America’s various plants in the county. In 1901, the town became the first community in the United States to have a street paved with concrete. Bellefontaine also contains the world's shortest street, McKinley Street, which is approximately twenty feet long.

Back to top

Ohio Site Map l l Site Hosted by HostMonster.COM. l Copyright © 2008 Genealogy Inc,