DeSoto County, Florida Records

DeSoto County, Florida (Map It) was created on May 19, 1887 from Manatee County. DeSoto County was named for Hernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador.

DeSoto County is bordered by Hardee County (north), Highlands County (east), Glades County (southeast), Charlotte County (south), Sarasota County (west), Manatee County (northwest).

DeSoto County Cities and Towns include Arcadia.

A Map of DeSoto County, Florida contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries.

DeSoto Co. Historical Events:

• When this county was first formed it was the leading cattle raising county in the State. Its early history is the same as that of the parent county of Manatee.
• Fort Ogden founded 1861.
• Arcadia incorporated December 8, 1886.

DeSoto County, Florida Courthouse Records

The DeSoto County Courthouse is located in Arcadia, Florida. Learn More About State of Florida 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 indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in DeSoto 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.

• DeSoto County Clerk of the Circuit Court / County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1887, Land Records from 1887, Probate Records from 1887 and Court Records from 1887. The County Clerk of the Circuit Court / County Clerk is custodian of all records of all predecessor courts, whether justice of the peace, city, county, probate, civil, or criminal.
• DeSoto County Tax Collector collects all real estate taxes including postponed and delinquent, all county revenues in addition to the research and issue tax deed applications. Our department is the holder of tax records and assessed values.
• DeSoto County Health Department has copies of Birth & Death certificates. Also has computer access from 1917 to present for birth records for the entire state as well as births that occurred in this county.

DeSoto County, Florida Census Records

• Learn More: State of Florida Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• U.S. Census Reconstructed Records: Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890
• State Population Schedules: 1867-1945, 1885
• U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules: None
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: None
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: None
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: None
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

DeSoto County, Florida Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Florida Vital Records
• Birth Records: from January 1917 to present. 
• Marriage and Divorce Records: from June 6, 1927 to present.
• Death Records: from January 1917 to present.
• Locations: Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street (Zip 32202), Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042; PH (904) 359-6900 Ext. 1029.
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail:  Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications.

DeSoto County, Florida Resources

• State of Florida Archives and Societies
• RAOGK Volunteers for Florida
• DeSoto County Historical Society, Inc.
• Peace River Valley Historical Society, P. O. Box 1379, Arcadia, FL 33821
• DeSoto County, Florida Message Boards

DeSoto County, Florida External Links

• Florida Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• DeSoto County, Florida Books - Amazon
• DeSoto Co., Florida - FindaGrave
• Florida Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
• DeSoto County Courthouse History
• DeSoto County, Florida Links - Cyndi's List
• Historical Newspapers from Florida (1823 - 1959)
• DeSoto Co. FLGenweb
• DeSoto County, Florida Ancestry Database Collections
• DeSoto County maps from Exploring Florida website
• DeSoto County, Florida Military Records