Organized May 1, 1805 from Ross, Adams, and Clermont counties · county seat Hillsboro. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.
Short episodes that walk through Highland County's records, one record type at a time.
Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look
Watch on YouTube105 N. High St., Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-9981
Wills, estate settlements, guardianships, marriage records, and adoptions. Marriage license search available online.
119 Governor Foraker Pl., Suite 108, Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-9954
co.highland.oh.us/offices/recorder
Deeds, land records, and mortgages. Cash or check only — no credit cards.
105 N. High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-9957
Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.
119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-1915
Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates are on FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.
10 Willettsville Pike, Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-3114
highlandco.org/content/genealogy-and-local-history
Census, military, court, land, and probate record indexes; contributes to the Hayes Obituary Index and holds Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.
1487 N. High St., Hillsboro, OH · PO Box 414, Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 402-4104
sogs.info · Fri 12–4:30pm by appointment
A separately housed organization — First Families and Second Families of Highland County lineage databases, plus family Bible records.
151 E. Main St., Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-3392
A different organization from SOGS above. Maintains a gravestone documentation project and offers genealogy research assistance; call ahead for researcher hours.
1487 N. High St., Suite 400, Hillsboro, OH 45133 · (937) 393-1941 ext. 4
highlandcountyhealth.org/vital-statistics
Certified birth/death certificates for events from 1909 onward only. Earlier events have no certificate on file — check church records, family Bibles, or newspapers.
Find A Grave — Highland County and OhioGravestones.org — Highland County.
Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.
Many Highland County record books are filmed and free to view at FamilySearch (free account required).
In Full-Text Search, add Highland County, Ohio as the place to find names inside handwritten deeds, wills, and court books. How to use it.
Highland County was formed in 1805 from Ross, Adams, and Clermont Counties. For records made before then, search the parent counties:
All of Highland 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.
Titles that covered Highland 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough Gazette, and Highland Advertiser | 1818-1827 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Hillsboro' Gazette | 1827-1862 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Highland Weekly News | 1853-1886 | Chronicling America; Ohio Memory |
| The News-Herald | 1886-1973 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| The Press-Gazette | 1928-1973 | Chronicling America (1928-1973); microfilm — Hillsboro Public Library |
| Highland County Press | 1985-present | GenealogyBank; highlandcountypress.com for current issues |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Highland 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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