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Kent County History and Information

Kent County Facts

Kent County was created on 2 Mar 1831 (Organized in 1836) and was formed from Michilimackinac County and Unorganized Land. The County was named for Chancellor James Kent (1763-1847), New York jurist. Michigan employed him to defend its rights during the "Toledo War," 1836-37. The County Seat is Grand Rapids . See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Kent County are Newaygo County (north), Montcalm County (northeast), Muskegon County (northwest), Ionia County (east), Ottawa County (west), Allegan County (southwest), Barry County (southeast). Townships found in Kent County include Ada, Algoma, Alpine, Bowne, Byron, Caledonia, Cannon, Cascade Charter, Courtland, Gaines Charter, Grand Rapids Charter, Gratten, Lowell Charter, Nelson, Oakfield, Plainfield Charter, Solon, Sparta, Spencer, Tyrone, Vergennes Townships. Cities, Towns and Communities include Ada, Alto, Belmont, Byron Center, Caledonia, Cannonsburg, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, East Grand Rapids, Gowen, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kent City, Kentwood, Lowell, Rockford, Sand Lake, Sparta, Walker, Wyoming.

The Kent County Official Government Website
Kent County, Michigan History Books at Amazon.com
Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

Records at the Kent County Courthouse

See Also Michigan Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

All departments below at located at the Kent County Courthouse, 300 Monroe N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 , unless a different address is listed below. NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered.

Kent County Clerk has the following Records for: Births: 1867 to present. (Anyone may obtain a birth record more than 110 years old. If the desired record is less than 110 years old, a death certificate must be provided along with proof of relationship to the deceased), Deaths: 1867 to present (Statewide death records 1867-1882 - link to GENDIS), Marriages: 1845 to present, Also has Divorces: Call or contact the Kent County Circuit Court Clerk's office for information, Adoptions: Adopted persons searching for their original birth record should contact the Adoption Central Registry, P.O. Box 30037, Lansing, MI 48909, Naturalization/Citizenship Records: The State Archives of Michigan has the naturalization/citizenship records for Kent County for 1860-1929. . The Office is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: 616-336-3550 .
The County Clerk is responsible for keeping records of births, deaths, assumed names, co-partnerships, issuing and filing marriage licenses, gun permits, notary bonds and processing passports.

Kent County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1860 and is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: 616-336-3550 .
The Register is the County's official recording officer for all legal documents pertaining to the transfers and encumbrances of all real estate property within the County. The Register also provides permanent storage for approved original subdivision plats, condominiums, land surveys and section corners.

Kent County Clerk of the Probate Court has Probate Records from 1898 and is located at the 180 Ottawa NW, Suite 2500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; Fax: (616) 632-5430 Phone: (616) 632-5440 .
The Court Adjudicates and disposes of cases involving property of persons who have died or become incompetent, interprets wills and trusts, commits the mentally ill when necessary and appoints guardians and conservators for minors, incapacitated individuals and individuals with developmental disability.

Kent County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Court Records from 1854 and is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: 616-336-3550 .
The Clerk provides a variety of functions for the court such as, but not limited to: filing and maintaing the official record for all cases that come before the court; providing staff to assist in the operation of the court; working with the Jury Commission and notifying all potential jurors to appear for jury duty; and, processing felony criminal cases bound over from the District Court.

Click Here to Search Michigan Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Kent County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Michigan Land Records: Michigan Pre-1908 Homestead & Cash Entry Patent and Cadastral Survey Plat Index.
Michigan Eastern District Naturalizations: Index to Naturalization papers of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit, 1837-1903 and U.S. Circuit Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit, 1837-1903
Kent County, Michigan Court Books at Amazon.com
Michigan Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.

Kent County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Michigan

Click Here to Search Michigan Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

The State of Michigan Vital Records Office is located at 201 Townsend Street, Capitol View Bldg, 3rd Floor, Lansing MI 48913 (across the street from the state capitol - south side). The office hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon-Fri, except for State holidays. They are open thru the lunch hour. If applying in person, you must submit your request by 3:00 pm in order to obtain same-day service. It can take up to 1-3 months to get a vital record from Michigan.

Birth Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains birth records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present. Birth records are restricted in Michigan and only a person or parent named on the record or a legal guardian of the person named on the record may request a copy. A legal representative is eligible to request a copy if he/she represents the person named on the record. Photo identification is required to request a Michigan birth record (unless the birth record is at least 100 years old).
- Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
- Processing Time: If the birth year is 1906 to the present, your request will be processed within 4 weeks. If the birth year is prior to 1906, the processing time will be 1-3 months. when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
Death Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains death records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present.
- Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
- Processing Time: If the death year is 1916 to the present, your request will be processed within 4 weeks of receipt in the vital records office. If the death year is prior to 1916, the processing time will be 1-3 months when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
Marriage Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains marriage records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present.
- Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
- Processing Time: If the marriage year is 1926 to the present, your request will
  be processed within 4 weeks of receipt in the vital records office. If the marriage year is
  prior to 1926, the processing time will be 1-3 months when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
Divorce Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains divorce records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present.
- Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
- Processing Time: If the divorce year is 1925 to the present, your request will be
  processed within 4 weeks of receipt in the vital records office. If the divorce year is prior
  to 1925, the processing time will be 1-3 months when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY

Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering below

Birth Certificates

Death Certificates

Marriage Certificates

Divorce Records

Apply In Person: If you wish to apply in person to order a Michigan vital record, you may do so at the office located at 201 Townsend St, Capitol View Building, 3rd Floor, Lansing MI 48913 (across from the State Capitol). Lobby hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Directions are available by logging onto our website at: www.michigan.gov/mdch or by calling 517-335-8666. A check or money order is preferred, and orders in our lobby must be placed by 3:00 pm in order to request same-day service. An additional fee of $10.00 is required for same-day service orders. Please allow a 2-3 hour waiting period for same-day service.

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Kent County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Michigan newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
Michigan Marriages to 1850: This database of Michigan marriages to 1850 contains 13,000 names.
Michigan Marriages, 1851-75: This database contains records of marriages within the state for the years 1851 through 1875.
Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996: With over 2.75 million records, the Michigan Death Index covers the years from 1971 to 1996, making this database of particular interest to those with relatives from Michigan.
Kent County, Michigan Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

Kent County Census Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Property tax records at the county level usually date back to the first land records. Either the county treasurer or the register of deeds will be the custodian of these records.

Numerous early tax assessment and general tax rolls are available at the State Archives of Michigan. Organized by county, the records include the name of the owner or occupant of the property, legal description and number of acres, value of land and personal estate, and amount of tax levied. There are tax rolls for some counties for the late 1830s, but most are for the last half of the nineteenth century.
National Archives/Great Lakes Region in Chicago holds numerous federal personal property and corporate tax assessment lists for the state of Michigan

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Kent County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

Kent County, Michigan Tax Books at Amazon.com

Kent County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Michigan Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Kent County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

Western Michigan Genealogical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503-3268; Email - wmgs@wmgs.org. Includes Kent County and the counties immediately surrounding; namely Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry and Allegan Counties. There is some extension beyond these counties into other areas of the Western Lower Peninsula.
Alpine Historical Office, 2015 7 Mile Rd. NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321
Byron Center Historical Society, 2506 Prescott, P.O. Box 20,Byron Center, MI 49315
Caledonia Historical Society, P.O. Box 110, Caledonia, MI 49316
Cascade Historical Society, 2800 Orange Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Cedar Springs Historical Society, 60 Cedar St., Cedar Springs, MI 49319
Gaines Township Historical Society, 421 68th Street SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49548
Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, Library Plaza, Grand Rapids, MI 49502
Grand Rapids Historic Preservation, 1120 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Grandville Historical Association, Contact address unknown.
Lowell Area Historical Association, 325 W. Main St., Lowell, MI 49331
Rockford Area Historical Society, 140 East Bridge, Rockford, MI 49341
Wyoming Historical Commission, c/o Wyoming Public Library, 3350 Michael SW, Wyoming, MI 49509
Local Michigan Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.)
General Information Leaflet
State Archives of Michigan, 702 W Kalamazoo Str, P.O. Box 30738, Lansing, MI 48909-8238; (517) 373-1408
Original material generated by government offices at the state and/or local level, including census records, tax assessment rolls, military records and photographs are among the extensive holdings. They also have some naturalization files, correctional facility records, school records, and depression era agency files. The archives distribute information circulars on many topics. The circulars act as finding aids to their extensive collection.
The Historical Society of Michigan, 1305 Abbott Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823; (517) 324-1828,
Fax: (517) 324-4370, e-mail:
Library of Michigan, : 702 W. Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48909
Holdings here include an extensive genealogical and historical collection including books, microforms, manuscripts, newspapers, surname index, Centennial and Sesquicentennial Certificate applications, and diaries. Records are housed in a new building with card catalog. See: http://michigan.gov/hal/libraryofmichigan for more information/services. Limited reference service to mail request. They also offer online reference services at:
Michigan Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Michigan Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Kent County Church & Cemeteries

Click Here to Search Michigan Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Kent County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Kent County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The earliest religious denomination in Michigan was the Roman Catholic church, established through a mission in 1668 at Sault Ste. Marie. Ste. Anne's, in Detroit, has parish records beginning in 1703.

Michigan Historical Collections in Ann Arbor holds large collections from the Presbyterian Church and the Protestant Episcopal Church, in addition to other denominations. Dutch Reformed church records are at Calvin College and Seminary Library in Grand Rapids; Finnish church records are deposited at the Finnish-American Historical Archives at Suomi College in Hancock. The Upjohn Library at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo has a large collection of Baptist archive material. Many early Detroit churches have their records deposited at the Burton Historical Collection-Detroit Public Library. The Michigan Historical Records Survey, WPA, completed an Inventory of the Church Archives of Michigan, and many of the church records from this inventory were published from 1936 through 1942.

The Library of Michigan in Lansing and the Burton Historical Collection have over 1,000 books of transcribed or published tombstone readings from Michigan cemeteries. To locate a cemetery in the state, consult the Michigan Cemetery Compendium. It lists most cemeteries in Michigan.

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Kent County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Michigan obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Michigan newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Michigan.
Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Michigan
Kent County, Michigan Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
Kent County, Michigan Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Click Here to Search Michigan Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Kent County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
Sites on USGenweb: [ Kent County ] [ Michigan ] [ Main Page ]
Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
The Michigan Family Group Sheet Project
Kent County MIGenWeb Archives
[GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
Michigan Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
Kent County, Michigan Family Books at Amazon.com

County History