Washington County, Maryland Records

Washington County, Maryland (Map It) was created on September 6, 1776 from Frederick County. This county was named in honor of George Washington, first President of the United States..

Washington County is bordered by Fulton County, Pennsylvania (northwest), Allegany County (west), Morgan County, West Virginia (southwest), Berkeley County, West Virginia (south), Jefferson County, West Virginia (south), Loudoun County, Virginia (southeast), Frederick County (east), Franklin County, Pennsylvania (northeast).

Washington County Cities and Towns include Hagerstown (incorporated 1813), Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Funkstown, Hancock, Keedysville, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, Williamsport.

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

Washington County, Maryland Courthouse Records

The Washington County Courthouse is located in Hagerstown, Maryland. Some records were lost in a courthouse fire in 1871. 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 Washington 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.

• Washington County Circuit Court Clerk has Marriage Records from 1777 and Land Records from 1777. 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.
• Washington County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1777. 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.
• Washington County Government Records are available in original, microfilm and digital formats from the Maryland State Archives.

Washington 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

Washington 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

Washington County, Maryland Resources

• State of Maryland Archives and Societies
• RAOGK Volunteers for Maryland
• Western Maryland Historical Regional Library
• Washington County Historical Society
• Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, Maryland
• Washington County, Maryland Message Boards

Washington County, Maryland External Links

• Maryland Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Washington County Free Library | Historic Newspaper Indexing Project
• Washington County, Maryland Books - Amazon
• Washington Co., Maryland - FindaGrave
• Maryland Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
• The First Two Centuries of the Washington County Courthouse
• Washington County, Maryland Links - Cyndi's List
• Historical Newspapers from Maryland (1719 - 1931)
• Washington Co. MDGenweb
• Washington County, Maryland Ancestry Database Collections
• Washington County, Maryland Military Records