Menominee County Genealogy Records Search

Menominee County genealogy records are kept at the county clerk's office in Menominee, with birth and death records from 1867 and marriage records dating to 1863 when the county was organized. Located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula along the Wisconsin border, Menominee County vital records are available through the clerk in person or by mail. Michiganology provides free access to death records from 1897 to 1952 for researchers working remotely.

Menominee County Clerk Office

The Menominee County Clerk is at 839 10th St. in the city of Menominee. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone is 906-863-9967. You can fax requests to 906-863-8549. Staff process in-person requests and mail requests. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID when you visit.

Birth records in Menominee County date from 1867. Under MCL 333.2882, birth records less than 100 years old are restricted. Eligible requesters include the person named on the record, their parents, a legal guardian, or a documented heir. Birth records from 1867 through the mid-1920s are now over 100 years old and available to the public without a proof-of-relationship requirement.

Death and marriage records are public. Certified copies cost $15 each under MCL 333.2884. The clerk issues certified copies under authority of MCL 333.2885. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909 handles requests for statewide records and can be reached at 517-335-8666.

Vital Records Available in Menominee County

Birth records for Menominee County run from 1867 to the present. Those born before 1867 will not have a county vital record, but earlier records may appear in census data, church registers, or land records. Birth records more than a century old are open to the public, so researchers can access records through the mid-1920s without proving eligibility. Each certified copy costs $15.

Death records start in 1867 and are always public. They are one of the most useful records for genealogy because they often contain the name of the person who reported the death, the deceased's birthplace, and the name of the burial location. That information can lead you to other record sets. Michiganology offers free images of death certificates from 1897 to 1952, which is a good first step before requesting a copy from the clerk.

Marriage records date from 1863, reflecting the county's organization date. These are public and run to the present. Old marriage records from the late 1800s sometimes include both parties' birthplaces and their ages, which helps you connect back an additional generation. If you find a marriage record showing Wisconsin origins, cross-border records may be relevant since Menominee County sits right on the state line.

Online Resources for Menominee County Genealogy

The FamilySearch Wiki for Menominee County provides an overview of what records exist and where to find them. FamilySearch is free and holds some indexed Michigan collections. It is a good starting point before making formal requests from county offices.

The Menominee County MIGenWeb page provides volunteer-contributed records and local links. MIGenWeb sites for Upper Peninsula counties sometimes hold transcriptions not found in official state databases. These can be especially useful for small counties where digitization has been limited.

The Michiganology platform gives free access to Menominee County death certificates from 1897 to 1952, searchable by name and year.

For broader state resources, the Archives of Michigan in Lansing holds records that extend beyond what county offices maintain. Their collections include land records, naturalization files, and census materials that are relevant to Menominee County researchers. The Archives are at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., phone 517-373-1408. The Library of Michigan at the same Lansing campus holds newspaper archives and city directories.

Cross-Border Research for Menominee County

Menominee County borders Marinette County in Wisconsin. Families in this area sometimes moved freely across the state line, and records may exist in Wisconsin as well as Michigan. If you trace a family to Menominee County but find limited information, it is worth searching Wisconsin records too. The Wisconsin Historical Society and FamilySearch both hold Wisconsin vital records collections. The Green Bay area records are particularly relevant given the geographic connection.

Many families in Menominee County have French-Canadian, Scandinavian, or Native American roots going back to the fur trade and early settlement era. Church records, especially Catholic parish registers, can carry information going back before the county was officially organized. Local churches in Menominee and surrounding townships may hold registers from the mid-1800s or earlier.

Note: Ancestry.com holds Michigan death and marriage records going back to the 1800s, which can be useful alongside the free resources above.

Communities in Menominee County

Menominee is the county seat and largest city. Other communities include Stephenson, Carney, and several townships spread across the county. None reach the population threshold for a dedicated genealogy page. All vital records for Menominee County are filed through the county clerk at 839 10th St. in Menominee.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Menominee County. Checking neighboring records helps if your ancestor moved within the Upper Peninsula or across the Wisconsin border.