County Research Guide

Jackson County, Ohio

Formed March 1, 1816 from Athens, Gallia, Ross, and Scioto counties · county seat Jackson. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.

Watch the Series

Jackson County, Ohio Genealogy & History

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

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

Watch on YouTube

Where the records are

Jackson County Probate Court

350 Portsmouth St, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-1401

jacksoncountyohio.us/elected-officials/probate-court

Wills, estate administrations, and guardianships — a key source for family relationships, heirs, and death dates.

Jackson County Recorder's Office

226 East Main Street, 3rd floor, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-1919

[email protected] · jacksoncountyohio.us/elected-officials/recorder

Deeds, land records, and mortgages. Online index back to 1997; earlier records in office only.

Jackson County Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas)

226 E. Main Street, Suite 9, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-2006

jcclerk.com

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

Jackson County Auditor

226 E. Main Street, Suite 5, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-4231

jacksoncountyauditor.org

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

Jackson City Library

21 Broadway Street, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-4111

jacksoncitylibrary.org/lochistgen

Yearbooks, digitized local newspapers, Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, Fold3, and an African American Heritage collection. Hosts the Jackson County OGS chapter meetings.

Jackson County Historical & Genealogical Society — Lillian E. Jones Museum

75 Broadway St, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-2556 · [email protected]

jonesmuseum.com

Artifacts and local history archives; offers a paid research service (roughly $10/hr).

Jackson County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 807, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 214-6030 · [email protected]

jacksoncountyohiogen.com

Meets 2nd Saturday bi-monthly at Jackson City Library's Potter Room.

Jackson County Health Department

102 Twin Oaks Dr, Jackson, OH 45640 · (740) 286-5094, ext. 2821

jacksoncountyhealthdepartment.net/vital-statistics

Current birth/death certificates ($30 each); issues Ohio birth certificates statewide.

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

Before Jackson County existed

Jackson County was created from Scioto, Gallia, Athens, and Ross Counties. For records made before then, search the parent counties:

Land: Congress Lands

Most of Jackson County's land was federal Congress Lands, surveyed in townships and sections and first sold through U.S. land offices. The first buyer of each tract received a federal patent.

More for Jackson County

Newspapers of Jackson County

Titles that covered Jackson 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
The Jackson Standard1847-1888Chronicling America (LOC); Ohio Memory
The Jackson Journal1882-1888Chronicling America (LOC)
Jackson Standard-Journal1888-1925Chronicling America (LOC); Ohio Memory
The Jackson Daily Standard1873-1881Chronicling America (LOC)
Jackson Daily News1901Chronicling America (LOC)
Jackson County Times-Journalc.1925-presentGenealogyBank (2008-2018); Jackson City Library digital archive

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 · Jackson County, Ohio

Vital & Probate

Birth record (Health Dept, or Probate Court pre-1908)
Death record (Health Dept, or Probate Court pre-1908)
Marriage record (Probate Court)
Will / estate administration file
Guardianship record
Divorce or court case (Clerk of Courts)

Land & Property

Deed / land transfer (Recorder's Office, online index 1997+)
Mortgage record
Plat map
Tax duplicate
First land purchase or patent (BLM GLO or county deeds)

Community & Print

Newspaper mention (Times-Journal / The Telegram)
Church record (baptism, membership, burial)
Cemetery record / headstone photo
County history mention (Jones Museum / library)
Census record (library — Ancestry Library Edition)

Addresses and links last checked October 2026.

Never Miss an Episode

New Ohio genealogy videos every week

County guides, record walkthroughs, and brick wall breakthroughs. Subscribe on YouTube and tap the bell so new episodes find you.

Subscribe on YouTube