Mercer County Death Records

Mercer County is a western Pennsylvania county near the Ohio border, formed in 1800 from Allegheny County. The county seat of Mercer is a small borough, while Sharon and Hermitage are the county's largest population centers. Death registration at the county level began in 1893. Researchers face a specific challenge in Mercer County: birth records and death records from the local registration period are held at two different offices within the same courthouse. Knowing which office holds which record type is essential before making a request. This guide walks through the offices, resources, and strategies for finding Mercer County death records.

Mercer County Death Records: Two Offices, One Courthouse

Mercer County handles its local registration period records through two separate offices inside the courthouse. Death records from 1893 to 1905 are held at the Registrar of Wills. Birth records from the same period are held at the Clerk of Orphan's Court. These are different offices, and a request sent to the wrong one will not return results for the record type you need.

This split is unusual and catches many researchers off guard. If you are looking for a death record, contact the Registrar of Wills. If you need a birth record from the same era, go to the Clerk of Orphan's Court. Both offices are in the Mercer County Courthouse at 112 Mercer County Courthouse in Mercer, PA.

Note: In Mercer County, death records 1893 to 1905 are at the Registrar of Wills, while birth records from the same period are at a different office. Always confirm the correct office before your request.

Mercer County Death Certificates After 1906

From 1906 forward, death certificates for all Mercer County deaths are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. This state office handles requests for certified copies and maintains the official record of each death registered in Pennsylvania since that year.

You can order a certified copy online through mycertificates.health.pa.gov or via VitalChek. Mail requests go to PO Box 1528, New Castle PA 16103. Each copy costs $20. Certificates for deaths within the last 50 years require documentation showing a qualifying relationship.

Online Indexes and Historical Mercer County Death Records

The Pennsylvania State Archives death indices are searchable online at no cost. These cover the local registration period and allow you to find a record before submitting a formal request. The index gives you the certificate number, which helps when contacting the county office or requesting a copy from the archives.

FamilySearch has digitized Pennsylvania vital records collections that include Mercer County materials. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Vital Records guide explains which collections are available and how to access them. Many records from the 1893 to 1905 period have been indexed within these databases.

The Ancestry PA program gives library cardholders free access to Pennsylvania collections on Ancestry. This includes historical vital records, census data, and other genealogy materials relevant to Mercer County research.

Mercer County Genealogy Research Tips

Mercer County's proximity to Ohio means some families moved across the state line during different periods. A death that occurred in Ohio may have involved a person who spent most of their life in Mercer County, and Pennsylvania records may document earlier life events even when an Ohio record covers the death. Cross-state research is sometimes necessary.

Sharon and Hermitage were industrial cities with significant immigrant populations. Workers came from Poland, Slovakia, Italy, and other countries to work in the steel and manufacturing industries. Death records for these communities may include information about country of birth and ship of immigration, which can open up research in European records.

Probate records at the Mercer County Courthouse also document deaths. An estate filing typically confirms a death date and names surviving heirs. These records can serve as evidence of death when a death certificate was never filed or has not survived.

Mercer County Background and Formation

Mercer County was created in 1800 from Allegheny County. It was named after General Hugh Mercer, a Revolutionary War officer who died at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The county grew through the 19th century as farming communities developed and later as industrial facilities expanded along waterways and rail lines.

Sharon became the county's industrial hub, producing steel products and other manufactured goods throughout the 20th century. The Shenango Valley, which includes Sharon and Hermitage, developed a distinct urban-industrial identity within an otherwise rural county. Today Mercer County has a population of roughly 110,000 spread across many townships and boroughs.

The county courthouse has operated since the early 19th century, and records there reflect a long history of local governance. Researchers can expect to find well-maintained records going back to the county's founding year, though the split in vital records offices adds a layer of complexity not found in most Pennsylvania counties.

Nearby Counties

Mercer County borders several western Pennsylvania counties. Families in this part of the state frequently had connections across county lines, and the Ohio border adds an additional dimension to records research.

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