County Research Guide

Greene County, Ohio

Organized March 24, 1803 from Hamilton and Ross counties — named for Gen. Nathanael Greene · county seat Xenia. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.

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Greene County, Ohio Genealogy & History

Short episodes that walk through Greene County's records, one record type at a time.

Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look

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Where the records are

Greene County Probate Court

45 N. Detroit St., Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 562-5280

greenecountyohio.gov/447/Probate-Court

Adoptions, guardianships, name changes, trusts, and marriage licenses (2013–present). Wills/estate records before 2018 and marriage records 1803–2013 have been transferred to the Records Center & Archives below.

Greene County Records Center & Archives

535 Ledbetter Rd., Xenia, OH

Holds pre-2018 wills/estate records, marriage records 1803–2013, and transcribed deeds 1804–1864 — check here first for anything older, since it's a separate facility from both the Probate Court and Recorder.

Greene County Recorder

69 Greene St., 3rd Floor, Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 562-5270

greenecountyohio.gov/473/Recorder

Deeds, mortgages, plats, and military discharge (DD-214) filings. Online index from 1984 forward.

Greene County Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas)

45 N. Detroit Street, Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 562-5290

co.greene.oh.us/COC

Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.

Greene County Auditor

69 Greene Street, #200, Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 562-5065

greenecountyohio.gov

Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates are on FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.

Greene County Public Library — Greene County Room

Xenia Community Library, (937) 736-7140

greenelibrary.info/local-history-genealogy

One of the largest local history collections in SW Ohio — newspapers on microfilm back to 1814, directories back to 1870, digitized birth/death records 1869–1909, and 1974 Xenia tornado archive.

OGS Greene County Chapter

Meets at the Records Center & Archives, 535 Ledbetter Rd., Xenia · 1st Saturday monthly (except July)

greenecountyogs.com

Volunteer-run; publishes "Leaves of Greene" newsletter and a First Families of Greene County lineage program.

Greene County Ohio Historical Society

74 W. Church St., Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 376-4606

gchsxo.org

A different organization from the OGS chapter above. Multi-building museum campus; check current seasonal hours before visiting.

Greene County Public Health — Vital Statistics

360 Wilson Dr., Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 374-5639

greenecophoh.gov

Greene County births/deaths 1909–present. Pre-1909 records: Records Center & Archives above.

Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.

Before Greene County existed

Greene County was formed in 1803 from Hamilton and Ross Counties. For records made before then, search the parent counties:

Land: Virginia Military District

Part of Greene County lies in the Virginia Military District, land Virginia set aside for its Revolutionary War veterans. It was surveyed in irregular metes and bounds, and the first owners' records follow a warrant, entry, survey, and patent trail.

Other parts of the county were federal Congress Lands or smaller special tracts. Where land was sold by the federal government, the first purchase appears as a federal patent.

More for Greene County

Newspapers of Greene County

Titles that covered Greene County, historic and current, with where to search each one. Not every historic title has been digitized — several survive only on microfilm.

TitleYearsWhere to Search
Xenia Gazette1868–currentChronicling America (1902–1921); Greene County Library digital archive (2013+); current at xeniagazette.com
The Xenia Sentinel1863–early 1900sChronicling America
The Xenia Herald1896–1907Chronicling America
Greene County Gazette1835–1837Chronicling America
Ohio Free Press1838–1843Chronicling America
Fairborn Daily HeraldCurrentOwn site — older runs microfilm only, check Greene County Room at Greene County Library

Download the Newspaper Research Log (PDF)

Printable Record Checklist

Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.

Brick Walls & Buckeyes emblem Brick Walls & Buckeyes brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Greene County, Ohio

Vital & Probate

Birth record (Public Health 1909+, or library 1869–1909)
Death record (Public Health 1909+, or library 1869–1909)
Marriage record (Records Center, 1803–2013)
Will / estate administration file (Records Center, pre-2018)
Guardianship record
Divorce or court case (Clerk of Courts)

Land & Property

Deed / land transfer (Recorder's Office, 1984+)
Transcribed deed 1804–1864 (Records Center)
Mortgage record
Military discharge record
Tax duplicate (Auditor, FamilySearch)
First land purchase or patent (BLM GLO or county deeds)

Community & Print

Newspaper mention (Xenia Gazette)
City directory (library, 1870+)
Cemetery record / headstone photo
Museum artifact record (Historical Society)
Census record

Addresses and links last checked October 2026.

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