Raleigh County, West Virginia Genealogy Guide

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Raleigh County, West Virginia (Map It) was created on January 23, 1850 from portions of Fayette County. The county was named in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), an English soldier, adventurer, explorer and poet. Learn More About State of West Virginia History

Raleigh County is bordered by Kanawha County (north), Fayette County (northeast), Summers County (east), Mercer County (southeast), Wyoming County (southwest), Boone County (northwest). A Map of Raleigh County, West Virginia contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries.

Raleigh County Cities and Towns include Abraham, Ameagle, Arnett, Artie, Beaver, Beckley, Blue Jay, Bolt, Bradley, Clear Creek, Coal City, Colcord, Cool Ridge, Crab Orchard, Cranberry, Daniels, Dorothy, Dry Creek, East Gulf, Harper, Helen, Jonben, Josephine, Lanark, Lester, Mabscott, Mac Arthur, McAlpin, Mead, Midway, Montcoal, Naoma, Odd, Pemberton, Piney View, Princewick, Prosperity, Raleigh, Rhodell, Rock Creek, Saxon, Shady Spring, Skelton, Slab Fork, Sophia, Sprague, Stanaford, Stickney, Sullivan, Sundial, Surveyor, Tams, Terry, Whitby, White Oak, Winding Gulf

Raleigh County, West Virginia Courthouse Records

Raleigh County, WV Courthouse

The Raleigh County Courthouse is located in Beckley, West Virginia. Learn More About State of West Virginia Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Please contact the each clerk's department to confirm mailing address, hours, fees and other information before visiting or requesting information because contact information sometimes changes.  The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH.  The documents are available to interested parties, barring confidential issues.  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 Raleigh county. The date listed for each category of record is usually the earliest registration filed. The earliest date does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually registered. Until 1863 West Virginia was part of Virginia, See Virginia State Records for Info and links for years prior to 1863.

• Raleigh County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1853, Marriage Records from 1850, Land Records from 1850 and Probate Records from 1850. The County Clerk has many duties which include some of the following: the issuance of marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, record births, marriages and deaths in the county, serve as the recorder of all documents, prepare and send to all heirs a Notice to Redeem and take care of publications, redemptions or recording deeds with regard to delinquent property, issue military service discharge records and probate wills and assist in administration of estates.
• Raleigh County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1850. TheCounty Clerk of Circuit Court has many responsibilities which include some of the following: Serve as the Clerk to the Circuit and Family Court, Issue mesne (during the progress of a case) process, Issue final process to enforce and execute judgements, Appoint guardian ad litem where required, Responsible for all papers filed in the office; serve as registrar, recorder and custodian for all pleadings, documents and funds pertaining to cases filed in circuit court and family court, Responsible for the administration and management of the petit and grand jury systems in the county.

Raleigh County, West Virginia Census Records

• Learn More: State of West Virginia Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• U.S. Census Reconstructed Records: Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890
• 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

Raleigh County, West Virginia Vital Records

• Learn More: State of West Virginia Vital Records
• Birth & Death Records: from January 1917 to present
• Marriage Records: from 1921 to present.
• Divorce Records: from 1968 to present
• Locations: West Virginia Office of Vital Statistics
• Vital Records Online: USAVital, VitalChek or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail:  Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Applications.
• In Person:  Vital Registration, Division of Health, 350 Capitol St, Rm 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701; (304) 558-2931; Info: (304) 558-2931

Raleigh County, West Virginia Resources

• Genealogical Society: Fayette and Raleigh Counties, Inc., PO Box 68, Oak Hill, WV 25901-0068
• Raleigh County Historical Society, P. O Box 897, Skelton, WV 25919-0897
• Raleigh County, West Virginia Message Boards
• Raleigh County, West Virginia Genealogy Forum

Raleigh County, West Virginia External Links