Charles County, Maryland Records

Charles County, Maryland (Map It) was created on April 13, 1658 from unorganized territory. This county was named in honor of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, second proprietor of the Maryland colony..

Charles County is bordered by Prince George's County (north), Fairfax County, Virginia (northwest), Calvert County (east), Stafford County, Virginia (west), Prince William County, Virginia (west), St. Mary's County (southeast), Westmoreland County, Virginia (southeast), King George County, Virginia (south).

Charles County Cities and Towns include Indian Head (incorporated 1920), La Plata (incorporated 1888), Port Tobacco Village (incorporated 1888).

A Map of Charles County, Maryland contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries. Also view Maryland Town / Municipal Maps.

Charles County, Maryland Courthouse Records

The Charles County Courthouse is located in La Plata, Maryland. Learn More About State of Maryland Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Charles county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk.

• Charles County Circuit Court Clerk has Marriage Records from 1658 and Land Records from 1658. The County Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for recording documents related to property. Documents recorded consist of, but are not limited to, deeds, mortgages, restrictions, notaries, public and elected county officers. Other documents, such as Military Service Discharges, foreign birth certificates, as well as obscure documents like cattle brands, are also recorded here.
• Charles County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1665. The County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk responsibilities include supervising Clerk's office personnel in the civil, criminal, courtroom clerks, business license, marriage license, land records, and juvenile units.
• Charles County Government Records are available in original, microfilm and digital formats from the Maryland State Archives.

Charles County, Maryland Census Records

• Learn More: State of Maryland Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• U.S. Census Reconstructed Records: Census Substitutes Index, 1772-1890
• State Population Schedules: 1776, 1776 and 1778 Indexes
• U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules: 1850 and 1860
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Charles County, Maryland Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Maryland Vital Records
• Birth and Death Records: from August 1898  to present
• Marriage Records: from January, 1990 to present. Earlier Records are in the County Clerk of Circuit Court.
• Divorce Records: from January, 1992 to present. Earlier Records are in the County Clerk of Circuit Court.
• Locations: Maryland Office of Vital Records, Maryland State Archives
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail:  Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Verification, Death Certificate Applications.
• In Person:  Division of Vital Records Division of Vital Records & Mental Hygiene, 6550 Reisterstown Rd., Reistertown Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215, (410) 764-3038 or (800) 832-3277

Charles County, Maryland Resources

• State of Maryland Archives and Societies
• RAOGK Volunteers for Maryland
• Charles County Historical Society
• Charles County, Maryland Message Boards

Charles County, Maryland External Links

• Maryland Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Charles County, Maryland Books - Amazon
• Charles Co., Maryland - FindaGrave
• Maryland Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
• Charles County, Maryland Links - Cyndi's List
• Historical Newspapers from Maryland (1719 - 1931)
• Charles Co. MDGenweb
• Charles County, Maryland Ancestry Database Collections
• Charles County, Maryland Military Records