West Virginia Genealogy

fastfacts

US TERRITORY OR
COLONY SETTLED

1607 (as part of Virginia)

STATEHOOD

1863

AVAILABLE STATE CENSUSES
(OR SIMILAR)

1624–25, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786 (1700s censuses are partial; as part of Virginia)

FIRST FEDERAL CENSUS

1810 (partial; as part of Virginia)

PUBLIC-LAND OR
STATE-LAND STATE

State

BIRTH AND DEATH RECORDS
BEGIN

1917

MARRIAGE RECORDS
BEGIN

1964

CONTACT FOR VITAL RECORDS

West Virginia Department of Health
Health Statistics Center
Room 165
350 Capitol St.
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 558-9100

West Virginia See All

Now What: Early West Virginia Genealogy

Early American, West Virginia

Q. How can I find birth records in West Virginia before 1850?   A. Virginia, of which West Virginia was then a part, first mandated birth and ...

West Virginia Records Details and Resources

West Virginia

Where to find West Virginia census records, immigration records, land records, maps, vital records and more.

West Virginia History and Research Overview

West Virginia

Learn about West Virginia's history and available records in this research guide that includes a map and bibliography.

West Virginia Archives, Libraries and Societies

West Virginia

Find contact information for archives, libraries and other genealogical organizations in West Virginia.