Cameron County Pennsylvania Death Records
Cameron County is one of Pennsylvania's smallest and least populated counties, and its death records reflect that intimate scale. Local registration began in 1893 at the courthouse in Emporium, covering deaths through 1905 before the statewide system took over in 1906. The small population means individual records are easier to trace, but the limited infrastructure also means fewer online resources exist compared to larger Pennsylvania counties. This guide explains where Cameron County death records are held and how to access them efficiently.
Cameron County Quick Facts
Cameron County Courthouse Death Records
The Cameron County Recorder of Deeds at the County Court House in Emporium holds local birth and death records from 1893 through 1905, along with marriage records dating to 1885. Cameron County is a small rural county in north-central Pennsylvania, and the courthouse is the single point of contact for all pre-state vital records.
Because Cameron County had a small population throughout its history, the volume of pre-1906 death records is limited compared to larger Pennsylvania counties. This can actually work in the researcher's favor: the records are not large in number, and locating a specific entry is often faster than in counties with thousands of annual deaths. Entries typically list the name of the deceased, date and place of death, stated cause, and the attending physician or informant.
| Office | Cameron County Recorder of Deeds County Court House Emporium, PA 15834 Phone: (814) 486-3349 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893–1905; marriage records from 1885 |
Note: Cameron County's small size means the courthouse staff handles a relatively low volume of records requests, and response times for written inquiries tend to be prompt.
State Death Certificates for Cameron County
Cameron County death records from 1906 onward are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle. The state charges $20 per certified copy. Online orders go through mycertificates.health.pa.gov, and mail orders go to P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528. Phone inquiries can reach the Division at (724) 656-3100.
Under 35 P.S. §450.801, Cameron County death records less than 50 years old are restricted to qualified requestors. Immediate family members, attorneys, and individuals with documented legitimate needs can obtain restricted records. Records 50 years and older are accessible for genealogical research. Given that Cameron County's state-era records start in 1906, the vast majority of the historical record is now within the open genealogy access window.
VitalChek provides an authorized online ordering alternative for Pennsylvania death certificates, including those from Cameron County. Service fees apply but the process is straightforward for those who prefer third-party fulfillment.
Cameron County Death Records at the Pennsylvania State Archives
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds death certificates for Cameron County from 1906 through 1975. These are part of the statewide vital statistics collection managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The Archives' online death index can be searched free of charge to verify that a Cameron County record exists before placing a formal request.
Cameron County was created in 1860 from portions of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties. Its late creation date means county-level records do not extend as far back as older Pennsylvania counties. Before 1860, deaths that occurred in what is now Cameron County would have been recorded -- if at all -- under the parent counties of Clinton, Elk, McKean, or Potter.
The Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics page, shown in the image below, is the online access point for Cameron County death certificates from the 1906 to 1975 period.
Researchers can use this portal to search death indices and identify specific Cameron County records held at the Harrisburg archives.
Note: For Cameron County deaths before 1860, check the records of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties, since Cameron County did not exist as a separate entity before that year.
Cameron County History and Record Research Context
Cameron County is a forested, mountainous county in north-central Pennsylvania. Lumber was the dominant industry in the 19th century, and the county's population peaked during the timber boom. Many residents were seasonal workers or migrants who moved through the county during peak lumber seasons, which can make death records harder to trace. A worker who died in Cameron County may have had family roots in another state or in one of the parent counties.
The county seat, Emporium, is the only borough of any significant size in Cameron County. Deaths in rural townships -- of which Cameron County has several -- were sometimes registered late or with less detail than urban entries. Researchers encountering sparse records from the 1893 to 1905 period should consider this context when evaluating what they find.
Church and cemetery records supplement the official records significantly for Cameron County. Many rural parishes kept burial registers that predate formal death registration, and several Cameron County cemeteries have been transcribed by genealogical volunteers. These transcriptions are often available through the PAGenWeb project or local genealogical societies active in north-central Pennsylvania.
Online Resources for Cameron County Death Research
The Cameron County government website provides contact information and some guidance on records requests. While Cameron County does not offer an online death records database, the site helps researchers identify the correct office and contact for specific inquiries.
FamilySearch offers some digitized Pennsylvania records that cover Cameron County through its Pennsylvania Vital Records wiki. The wiki lists specific collections, and some have been indexed to allow name searches. Church records and cemetery transcriptions for Cameron County's small communities are among the materials available through FamilySearch at no cost.
The CDC's Where to Write page for Pennsylvania provides federal-level guidance on obtaining Pennsylvania vital records. This resource is helpful for researchers who are new to Pennsylvania genealogy and want a clear overview of the state vital records system before diving into Cameron County-specific research.
The Ancestry PA portal gives subscribers access to digitized Pennsylvania vital records, including some materials covering Cameron County. Access is also available for free at Pennsylvania libraries that participate in the state's library digitization program.
Nearby Counties
Cameron County shares borders with four counties in north-central Pennsylvania. These counties hold records for areas that were once part of the same territory before Cameron County was created in 1860.