Vanderburgh County genealogy

Vanderburgh County, Indiana Genealogy: Records & How to Trace Your Ancestors

Researching ancestors from Vanderburgh County, Indiana? Here's where the records are — the free path first, then how to get the whole family history traced and written.

Search Indiana ancestors free

Vanderburgh County's seat is Evansville. Look up your surname among the deceased residents of Indiana in our public-record database.

Search Indiana records →

Where Vanderburgh County records are kept

Original Vanderburgh County vital, probate, and land records are held at the county courthouse in Evansville — the county recorder or clerk's office. Statewide death registration in Indiana began around 1900 (earlier at the county health office or clerk), so for earlier Vanderburgh County deaths you'll rely on the county courthouse, church registers, and cemetery transcriptions. The Indiana State Archives & Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis holds the broader historical and microfilmed county records.

The free records for Vanderburgh County

  1. Census — every federal census through 1950 is free and places your family in Vanderburgh County by household every ten years.
  2. Death records — search our Indiana database and the state death index for the death year and place.
  3. Obituaries — the Library of Congress's Chronicling America has free Indiana newspapers, including Evansville-area papers.
  4. Cemeteries — Vanderburgh County cemetery and tombstone transcriptions, many public domain, fill gaps where a certificate doesn't exist.
Want your Vanderburgh County family line researched & written?

We trace both sides back to the documented wall and deliver a written book + interactive family site — flat rate, no DNA test.

See how it works →

Frequently asked questions

How do I find genealogy records in Vanderburgh County, Indiana?

Start with the free federal census (public through 1950) and our free Indiana database, then check the county courthouse in Evansville for vital, probate, and land records, plus obituaries and cemetery transcriptions.

Where is the Vanderburgh County, Indiana courthouse?

The Vanderburgh County seat is Evansville, where the county recorder or clerk holds original vital, probate, and land records.