Formed July 10, 1797 from Hamilton and Washington counties, the fourth county organized in the Northwest Territory — predates Ohio statehood · county seat West Union. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.
Short episodes that walk through Adams County's records, one record type at a time.
Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look
Watch on YouTube110 West Main Street, Room 221, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-2921 ext. 3
adamscountycourts.com/ProbateCourt
Wills, estate/administration files, guardianships, and marriage records.
The courthouse burned February 25, 1910. Most will books and probate files, and the probate birth records, were lost. Check the Recorder's deeds, newspapers, and the Heritage Center for substitutes.
110 West Main Street, Room 133, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-5051
Deeds, land records, and mortgages — essential for property and chain-of-title research.
110 West Main Street, Room 207, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-2344 · Mon–Fri 8am–4pm
adamscountycourts.com/ClerkOfCourts
Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.
Because of the 1910 fire, surviving divorce records generally start in 1910.
110 West Main Street, Room 104, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-2364 · Mon–Fri 8am–4pm
Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates (1800 to 1850) are online at FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.
212 East Sparks Street, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-2591
adamscolibrary.org/findinfo/genealogy
Genealogy resources and databases. Also serves Manchester, Peebles, and Seaman branches.
262 Heritage Way, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-8522
heritage@achs-ohio.org (Historical) · acgsoh@yahoo.com (Genealogical) · achs-ohio.org
Two organizations sharing one building. Genealogical Society: obituaries, cemetery records, family histories. Historical Society: museum artifacts and photos. Staffed Thu & Sat, 12–4pm; by appointment otherwise.
560 Rice Drive, West Union, OH 45693 · (937) 544-5547 ext. 101
info@adamscountyhealth.org · adamscountyhealth.org/vital-statistics
Certified birth/death certificates, $25 mail-in fee. Ohio death certificates from December 20, 1908 through 1970 are also at the Ohio History Connection.
Find A Grave — Adams County and Interment.net — Adams County, compiled by the Genealogical Society.
Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.
Many Adams County record books are filmed and free to view at FamilySearch (free account required).
In Full-Text Search, add Adams County, Ohio as the place to find names inside handwritten deeds, wills, and court books. How to use it.
Adams County was formed July 10, 1797 from Hamilton and Washington Counties. For records made before then, search the parent counties:
All of Adams County lies in the Virginia Military District, land Virginia set aside for its Revolutionary War veterans. Land here was surveyed in irregular metes and bounds, not neat sections, and the first owners' records follow a warrant, entry, survey, and patent trail.
Titles that covered Adams County, historic and current, with where to search each one. Not every historic title has been digitized — several survive only on microfilm.
| Title | Years | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| The People's Defender | 1866–current | Chronicling America (through ~1940), Ohio Memory (1910–1922), current issues at peoplesdefender.com |
| The Adams County News | 1917–1987 | Cataloged on Chronicling America — confirm digitized page images before relying on it |
| Adams County New-Era | 1877–1902 | Chronicling America catalog; also on OldNews.com (subscription) |
| The Adams County Record | 1902–1921 | Cataloged on Chronicling America |
| Adams County Democrat | 1844–1860 | Cataloged on Chronicling America |
| The Manchester Signal | 1881–1979 | Not digitized — check microfilm at the Adams County Heritage Center |
| The Informer | Current | informerpress.com |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Adams County, Ohio
Addresses and links last checked October 2026.
County guides, record walkthroughs, and brick wall breakthroughs. Subscribe on YouTube and tap the bell so new episodes find you.
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