Chester County, Pennsylvania Records

Chester County, Pennsylvania (Map It) was created on November 1682 as one of the three original counties. The county was named for the English city of Chester in the county of Cheshire.

Chester County is bordered by Berks County (north), Montgomery County (northeast), Delaware County (east), New Castle County, Delaware (southeast), Cecil County, Maryland (south), Lancaster County (west). A Map of Chester County, Pennsylvania contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries.

Chester County Townships include  Birmingham, Caln, Charlestown, East Bradford, East Brandywine, East Caln, East Coventry, East Fallowfield, East Goshen, East Marlborough, East Nantmeal, East Nottingham, East Pikeland, East Vincent, East Whiteland, Easttown, Elk, Franklin, Highland, Honey Brook, Kennett, London Britain, London Grove, Londonderry, Lower Oxford, New Garden, New London, Newlin, North Coventry, Penn, Pennsbury, Pocopson, Sadsbury, Schuylkill, South Coventry, Thornbury, Tredyffrin, Upper Oxford, Upper Uwchlan, Uwchlan, Valley, Wallace, Warwick, West Bradford, West Brandywine, West Caln, West Fallowfield, West Goshen, West Marlborough, West Nantmeal, West Nottingham, West Pikeland, West Sadsbury, West Vincent, West Whiteland, Westtown, Willistown.

Chester County Boroughs include  Atglevondale, Downingtown, Elverson, Honey Brook, Kennett Square, Malvern, Modena, Oxford, Parkesburg, Phoenixville, South Coatesville, Spring City, West Chester, West Grove.

Chester County Cities & Towns include Coatesville. See also Chester County Municipalities Incorporation Dates.

MapGeeks.org has is a collection of old Pennsylvania maps.

Chester County, Pennsylvania Courthouse Records

The Chester County Courthouse is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Learn More About State of Pennsylvania 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 Chester 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.

• Chester County Recorder of Deeds has Land Records from 1688.
• Chester County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts has Court & Divorce Records from ?.
• Chester County Register of Wills / Orphan's Court Clerk has Marriage & Probate Records from 1924 (1714–1923 is located at Chester Counry Achives and Records Service, Government Services Bldg) and Birth & Death Records from before Jan 1906.
• Chester County Tax Assessor Office has tax records.

Chester County, Pennsylvania Census Records

• Learn More: State of Pennsylvania 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. 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

Chester County, Pennsylvania Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Pennsylvania Vital Records
• Birth & Death Records: 1906 to present.
• Marriage Records: does not have marriage records. The marriage records should be available in the County Court House.
• Divorce Records: does not have marriage records. The marriage records should be available in the County Court House.
• Locations: Pennsylvania Office of Vital Statistics, Pennsylvania State Archives
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail: Birth Certificate, Death Certificate Applications.
• In Person:  Division of Vital Records, 101 South Mercer Street, Central Building, Room 401, New Castle, PA 16103; PH (724) 656-3100

Chester County, Pennsylvania Resources

• Pennsylvania Archives - Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission series contains records of pennsylvania, from 1664 to 1780, and includes military, marriage, tax and land records. This is a Free Database.
• Chester County Historical Society
• Chester rchives and Records Service
• Swedish Colonial Society
• Chester County, Pennsylvania Message Boards

Chester County, Pennsylvania External Links

• Pennsylvania Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Historical Maps of Chester County, Pennsylvania - PA D.O.T.
• Historical Newspapers from Pennsylvania (1719 - 1997)
• Chester County, Pennsylvania Books - Amazon
• Wills of Centre County, Pa., 1800-1853
• Chester County, PA Census QuickFacts
• Chester Co., Pennsylvania - FindaGrave
• Pennsylvania Quaker Records
• Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania
• History and topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton Counties, Pa.
• Chester County, Pennsylvania Links - Cyndi's List
• Chester Co. PAGenweb
• Chester Co. Data Collections
• Chester County, Pennsylvania Military Records