Maryland County History and Listings

Allegany
701 Kelly Rd. Suite 407, Cumberland, MD 21502
(301) 777-5911
http://gov.allconet.org
Incorporated: Dec. 25, 1789
Parent County: Washington
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1898-1972, court records 1791-1954, death records 1865-1882, 1898-1972, marriage records 1791-1972, and probate records 1790-1964. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987. Clerk of Circuit Court has naturalization records 1854-1904.

Anne Arundel
44 Calvert St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 222-7000
http://www.aacounty.org
Incorporated: April 9, 1650
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Divorce: 1851, Circuit Court
Land: 1653, Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1804-1877, 1898-1972, court records 1775-1910, death records 1865-1880, 1898-1972, marriage records 1777-1972, and probate records 1777-1980. Clerk of Circuit Court has naturalization records 1899-1929. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Baltimore
400 Washington Ave., Towson, MD 21204
(410) 887-2601
http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov
Incorporated: June 30, 1659
Parent County: Anne Arundel
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1883, 1898-1972, court records 1755-1964, death records 1898-1972, divorce records 1851-1973, marriage records 1777-1851, 1865-1972, naturalization records 1796-1851, 1868-1906, probate records 1664-1979 and land records starting in 1659. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Baltimore City
111 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 396-3100
http://baltimorecity.gov
Incorporated: July 4, 1851
Parent County: Baltimore
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1875-1972, court records 1821-1849, 1852-1959, death records 1875-1972, divorce records 1851-1982, marriage records 1851-1972, naturalization records 1845-1906, 1911-1933, probate records 1850-1970 and land records starting in 1851. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Calvert
175 Main St., Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(410) 535-1600
http://www.co.cal.md.us
Incorporated: July 1654
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: Called Patuxent County until 1658. Courthouse burned in 1882, destroying most county records. State Archives has birth records 1898-1972, court records 1882-1966, death records 1898-1972, divorce records 1881-1993, marriage records 1812-1972, military discharge records 1954-1972, naturalization records 1908-1920, probate records 1882-1983 and land records starting in 1812. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Caroline
Box 458, Denton, MD 21629
(410) 479-2303
http://www.carolinemd.org
Incorporated: December 1773
Parent Counties: Dorchester, Queen Anne
Marriage records: start in 1987, Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1865-1884, 1898-1972, court records 1775-1947, divorce records 1969-1984, marriage records 1774-1972, probate records 1685-1981 and land records starting in 1774. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Carroll
225 N. Court St., Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 386-2026
http://ccgovernment.carr.org
Incorporated: December 1837
Parent Counties: Baltimore, Frederick
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1891, 1898-1972, court records 1842-1905, death records 1898-1972, divorce records 1837-1983, marriage records 1837-1972, probate records 1837-1975 and land records starting in 1812. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Cecil
129 E. Main St., Elkton, MD 21921
(410) 996-5376
http://www.ccgov.org
Incorporated: December 1674
Parent Counties: Baltimore, Kent
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1891, 1898-1972, court records 1750-1856, death records 1898-1972, divorce records 1972-1976, marriage records 1777-1972, probate records 1674-1977 and land records starting in 1674. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Charles
200 Charles St., Box 970, La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 932-3201
http://www.charlescounty.org
Incorporated: July 1658
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1654-1706, 1865-1877, 1898-1972, court records 1658-1780, death records 1654-1706, 1865-1866, 1898-1972, divorce records 1829-1885, 1949-1992, marriage records 1654-1706, 1865-1921, military discharge records 1957-1995, probate records 1665-1981 and land records starting in 1658. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Charles, old
Incorporated: 1650
Notes: Abolished in 1653.

Dorchester
206 High St., Box 150, Cambridge, MD 21613
(410) 228-0480
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/do/html/do.html
Incorporated: Feb. 16, 1669
Parent Counties: Somerset, Talbot
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Naturalization: 1860, Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1898-1972, court records 1743-1902, divorce records 1820-1827, 1852-1948, marriage records 1780-1841, 1851-1972, probate records 1688-1976 and land records starting in 1669.

Frederick
100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 600-2570
http://www.frederickcountymd.gov
Incorporated: June 10, 1748
Parent Counties: Prince George’s, Baltimore
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1873, 1898-1972, court records 1748-1936, death records 1865-1881, 1898-1972, divorce records 1807-1988, marriage records 1779-1975, naturalization records 1785-1836, 1854-1958, probate records 1745-1963 and land records starting in 1748. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1976-1987.

Garrett
203 S. Fourth St. Room 301, Oakland, MD 21550
(301) 334-1941
http://www.garrettcounty.org
Incorporated: April 1, 1872
Parent County: Allegany
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1898-1972, divorce records 1874-1904, marriage records 1873-1972, probate records 1873-1996 and land records starting in 1872. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Harford
20 W. CourtLand: St., Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 838-6000
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov
Incorporated: March 1773
Parent County: Baltimore
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1898-1972, court records 1774-1788, divorce records 1851-1972, marriage records 1782-1886, 1914-1972, probate records 1774-1976 and land records starting in 1774. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Howard
9250 Bendix Road, Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-5850
http://co.ho.md.us
Incorporated: July 4, 1851
Parent County: Anne Arundel
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Land: 1839, kept by State Archives
Notes: Howard District formed in 1838, didn’t become a county until 1851. State Archives has birth records 1898-1972, court records 1851-1933, death records 1865-1878, 1898-1972, marriage records 1840-1972, military discharge records 1957-1978, naturalization records 1903-1945, and probate records 1840-1976. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has vital records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Kent
103 N. Cross St., Chestertown, MD 21620
(410) 778-7460
http://www.kentcounty.com
Incorporated: Aug. 2, 1642
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1873, 1898-1972, court records 1654-1850, death records 1865-1871, 1898-1972, marriage records 1675-1707, 1796-1792, probate records 1669-1977 and land records starting in 1648. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Montgomery
50 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 777-9466
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov
Incorporated: Sept. 6, 1776
Parent County: Frederick
Marriage records: start in 1993, kept by State Archives
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1972, court records 1779-1820, death records 1898-1972, divorce records 1851-1940, marriage records 1798-1839, 1867-1899, 1939-1980, probate records 1777-1953 and land records starting in 1777. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Patuxent
Incorporated: July 1654
Parent County: Original county
Notes: See Calvert County. Name changed back to Calvert in 1658.

Prince George’s
14735 Main St., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(301) 952-3352
http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov
Incorporated: May 20, 1695
Parent Counties: Charles, Calvert
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1867, 1898-1972, court records 1696-1870, death records 1865-1866, 1898-1972, divorce records 1851-1868, 1965-1969, marriage records 1777-1972, naturalization records 1799-1845, 1865-1910, probate records 1698-1984 and land records starting in 1696. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Queen Anne’s
100 Court House Sq., Centreville, MD 21617
(410) 758-1773
http://www.qac.org
Incorporated: April 18, 1706
Parent Counties: Kent, Dorchester, Talbot
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1881, 1898-1972, court records 1734-1905, death records 1898-1972, marriage records 1817-1972, military discharge records 1966-1984, probate records 1667-1984 and land records starting in 1707. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Somerset
30512 Prince William St., Princess Anne, MD 21853
(410) 845-4840
http://www.somersetmd.us
Incorporated: Aug. 22, 1666
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1649-1720, 1865-1870, 1894, 1898-1972, court records 1698-1899, death records 1649-1720, 1898-1972, divorce records 1816-1983, marriage records 1649-1720, 1796-1972, military discharge records 1956-1973, probate records 1664-1977 and land records starting in 1665. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, division or vital records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

St. Mary’s
41605 Courthouse Dr., Box 676, Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-7844
http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us
Incorporated: Feb. 9, 1637
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Divorce: 1815, State Archives
Land: 1777, Registrar of Wills
Military: 1944, State Archives
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1865-1867, 1898-1972, court records 1795-1949, marriage records 1794-1863, 1865-1972, and probate records 1658-1976. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Talbot
11 N. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601
(410) 770-8010
http://www.talbgov.org
Incorporated: Feb. 18, 1662
Parent County: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1657-1691, 1898-1972, court records 1662-1916, divorce records 1870-1973, marriage records 1657-1691, 1794-1972, military discharge records 1959-1976, probate records 1665-1990 and land records starting in 1662. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Washington
24 Summit Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 733-8660
http://www.washco-md.net
Incorporated: Sept. 6, 1776
Parent County: Frederick
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1865-1867, 1898-1972, court records 1782-1818, marriage records 1799-1981, divorce records starting in 1815, probate records 1749-1977 and land records starting in 1777. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Wicomico
Box 198, Salisbury, MD 21803
(410) 543-6551
http://www.wicomicocounty.org
Incorporated: Aug. 17, 1867
Parent Counties: Somerset, Worcester
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth and death records 1898-1972, court records 1868-1984, divorce records 1908-1988, marriage records 1868-1981, naturalization records 1912-1975, probate records 1867-1984 and land records starting in 1867. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

Worcester
1 W. Market St., Snow Hill, MD 21863
(401) 632-1194
http://www.co.worcester.md.us
Incorporated: Oct. 29, 1742
Parent County: Somerset
Marriage records: start in 1987, kept by Circuit Court
Notes: State Archives has birth records 1865-1889, 1898-1972, court records 1825-1900, 1959-1969, death records 1898-1972, marriage records 1795-1972, divorce records starting in 1818, probate records 1777-1963 and land records starting in 1742. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records has birth records 1973-1978, death records 1972-1987, and marriage records 1973-1987.

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From the Family Tree Sourcebook
Also available: the State Research Guide Book, State Research Guides CD and The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy.