Lackawanna County Death Records

Lackawanna County death records cover one of northeastern Pennsylvania's most historically significant regions. The county was carved out of Luzerne County in 1878 and grew rapidly as a center of anthracite coal mining. County-level death registration began in 1893. Researchers should know that Scranton city deaths before 1906 were recorded separately from county records, so a thorough search requires checking more than one source. This guide covers the offices, archives, and online tools available for finding death records in Lackawanna County.

Lackawanna County Death Records at the Register of Wills

The Register of Wills and Marriage Bureau is the primary county office for vital records. It holds death records created between 1893 and 1905, the period before the state took over registration. These records cover deaths throughout the county with one major exception: deaths occurring within Scranton city limits during this period were registered separately.

Researchers who ignore this split often miss records for ancestors who lived or died in Scranton. If you are unsure whether a death occurred inside or outside Scranton, plan to check both sources.

Note: County death records from 1893 to 1905 do not include Scranton city deaths, which were maintained as a separate registration series.

Scranton City Death Records Before 1906

Scranton began registering deaths on its own before Lackawanna County started formal registration. Scranton city death records date back to 1878, which is earlier than county-level records. These records are held at the Scranton Public Library, not at the county courthouse.

For any ancestor who lived in Scranton between 1878 and 1905, the Scranton Public Library is the right place to start. The library's collection predates the county's registration by 15 years. This makes it one of the older urban death record series in northeastern Pennsylvania.

After 1906, all deaths in both Scranton and the rest of the county were reported to the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle.

Lackawanna County Historical Society Genealogy Resources

The Lackawanna Historical Society offers genealogy research support for the county. Staff and volunteers can assist with death-related searches, cemetery records, obituary lookups, and related materials. The society holds collections that go beyond what official government offices maintain.

Cemetery records are especially useful when a death certificate cannot be located. Grave markers, burial registers, and sexton records often confirm death dates and family connections. The Historical Society can point researchers toward the right cemeteries for specific communities within the county.

Note: The Historical Society's genealogy resources are a strong complement to official death records, especially for the pre-registration era before 1893.

Lackawanna County Library System for Death Record Research

The Lackawanna County Library System provides public genealogy resources at multiple branches. The main library in Scranton offers access to newspaper obituaries, local history collections, and genealogy databases. Newspaper obituaries are often the most detailed source of death information for the early 20th century.

Many obituaries from Scranton-area papers list survivors, employment history, cause of death, and the name of the funeral home. Funeral home records can sometimes be obtained directly and may include burial information not found in official certificates.

Pennsylvania Death Records After 1906

Starting in 1906, all deaths in Lackawanna County were reported to the state. The Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records handles requests for certificates from 1906 to the present. Certificates less than 50 years old are restricted to eligible family members and legal representatives.

You can order a certificate through the official state portal or by mail. The PA online certificate system allows direct ordering, while VitalChek also processes Pennsylvania death certificate requests as an authorized vendor.

Searching Historical Lackawanna Death Indexes Online

The Pennsylvania State Archives death indices cover the early registration period and are searchable online. These indexes let you confirm a death occurred and identify the certificate number before requesting a copy.

FamilySearch also holds digitized Pennsylvania vital records. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Vital Records page lists available collections and links to searchable databases. Many early Lackawanna County death records have been indexed and are free to access.

Ancestry PA, a partnership through the State Archives, provides access to historical Pennsylvania records through the Ancestry platform at no charge when accessed through participating libraries.

Note: Online indexes are finding aids. They help you locate a record, but an official certified copy must be ordered from the issuing office.

Lackawanna County Background and Record Coverage

Lackawanna County was formed in 1878 from the northern portion of Luzerne County. Scranton, the county seat, became one of Pennsylvania's major industrial cities during the anthracite coal era. The county's population grew fast in the late 1800s, drawing immigrants from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and other parts of Europe.

This immigration history means many death records contain names that were anglicized or spelled inconsistently. Searching under multiple name variants is often necessary. The county's coal mining industry also meant deaths from occupational causes were common, and coroner records from this period can supplement official death certificates.

Today the county is home to roughly 200,000 residents. The University of Scranton and other institutions have contributed to local historical preservation efforts that benefit genealogy researchers.

Cities in Lackawanna County

Scranton is the county seat and the largest city in Lackawanna County. Death records for Scranton have a separate history from the rest of the county, particularly for the period before 1906.

Nearby Counties

Death records research in northeastern Pennsylvania often crosses county lines. Families moved between neighboring counties, and some records may be found in adjacent jurisdictions.

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