Perry County Pennsylvania Death Records
Perry County is a rural county in south-central Pennsylvania created on March 22, 1820 from Cumberland County. New Bloomfield serves as the county seat, a small borough that sits a short distance across the Susquehanna River from the Harrisburg metropolitan area. Death records at the county level begin in 1893 and extend through 1918, a span that is notably longer than the typical 1905 or 1906 cutoff found in most Pennsylvania counties. That twelve-year overlap between county and state record-keeping means researchers looking for deaths in Perry County between 1906 and 1918 should check both the local courthouse and the state system for the most complete picture.
Perry County Quick Facts
Perry County Death Records at the Local Courthouse
The Perry County courthouse in New Bloomfield holds birth records that were maintained at the local level through 1918. This is one of the longest county-level birth registration periods in Pennsylvania, ending twelve years after the state took over in 1906. Death records from 1893 through 1905 are also on file at the courthouse. The Register of Wills maintains these historical vital records along with probate files that help document deaths even before formal registration began.
Marriage records at the county level go back to 1870 for county-recorded marriages and to 1885 for state-required marriage registrations. For researchers tracing Perry County families, the combination of marriage, birth, and death records held at the courthouse covers a substantial portion of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The probate files are also worth consulting for any deaths that occurred before formal registration, as estate filings often confirm dates and family relationships.
| Office | Perry County Register of Wills New Bloomfield, PA 17068 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Death records 1893–1905; birth records 1893–1918; marriage records from 1870 (county) and 1885 (state required) |
Note: Perry County birth records extend through 1918, which is twelve years past the typical county-level cutoff in Pennsylvania. This means the courthouse holds records that overlap significantly with the state system for births.
Pennsylvania State Death Certificates for Perry County
For Perry County deaths from 1906 onward, certified copies are issued by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Written requests go to P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone orders are accepted at (724) 656-3100. Online ordering is available through the MyCertificates portal or through VitalChek. Each certified copy costs $20 from the state.
Death records from 1906 through 1975 are also accessible through the Pennsylvania State Archives. The Archives' online death indices allow researchers to search by name and confirm a record before ordering a copy. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry collections at no charge through the State Archives free Ancestry program.
Genealogical Research with Perry County Death Records
Perry County's rural character means that church records and cemetery registers are particularly important supplements to formal death records. Many Perry County families attended Lutheran, German Reformed, and Methodist churches that kept detailed burial records long before county or state registration began. These records often document deaths from the early nineteenth century, filling a gap that runs from the county's formation in 1820 to the start of formal registration in 1893. Researchers should check FamilySearch collections for digitized church records from Perry County before concluding that no death record exists for a given individual.
The FamilySearch Perry County genealogy page lists available online collections and describes what records can be found for this county. Free digitized records from FamilySearch are a good starting point before contacting the courthouse or state archives. Marriage records from 1870 and probate records from the courthouse complement the death records and help build a complete picture of a family's history in Perry County.
Perry County's location directly across the Susquehanna River from Dauphin County means that many Perry County residents had connections to Harrisburg and the surrounding area. Researchers may find that some family members left records in Dauphin County even if they lived primarily in Perry County, particularly for events that required them to travel to the larger city.
Perry County History and Its Impact on Death Records
Perry County was named for naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry, who led the American fleet to victory on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The county was established just eight years after that battle in 1820. It has remained a rural county throughout its history, with agriculture and small-scale industry defining its economy. The county's small population and rural nature mean that historical records are less voluminous than in more urban counties, but what does exist is generally well-preserved.
The Perry County government website provides current contact information for county offices. Checking the website before contacting the courthouse by mail or phone is a good way to confirm current hours and any changes in procedures for requesting historical records. The site also links to information about other county offices that may hold supplemental records.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records page, which processes all orders for certified Perry County death certificates dated 1906 and later.
Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records is the primary source for certified death certificates for Perry County residents who died from 1906 onward.
The Division handles both mail and online orders for Perry County death certificates and can also assist with genealogical requests for older records.
Ordering Perry County Death Records
The process for ordering a Perry County death record depends on the year of death. For deaths from 1893 through 1905, contact the Perry County Register of Wills in New Bloomfield. For deaths from 1906 to the present, contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. If you are not sure which office holds the record, the death indices available through the State Archives can help you narrow down the date before you place a request.
For genealogical research requests involving records more than 50 years old, the state allows broader access than for recent certificates. A written request with a ten-year date range and the required fee is the standard approach for genealogical searches. The CDC's Pennsylvania vital records guide summarizes who can request records and what documentation is typically needed.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics records page, which provides access to Perry County death records from 1906 through 1975 via online death indices.
Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics records include online death indices for Perry County covering the period from 1906 to 1975.
The online death indices can be searched at no charge and are a practical first step before ordering a certified copy from the Division of Vital Records.
Nearby Counties
Perry County borders several south-central Pennsylvania counties. Families in this region frequently moved between counties, and death records may be found in more than one jurisdiction.