Find Youngstown Obituary Records
Youngstown obituary and death records go through the Youngstown City Health District and several Mahoning County offices. The city health district has one of the longer record spans of any Ohio city health department, with death certificates going back to 1892. If you are looking for an obituary for a Youngstown resident, the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has genealogy resources, and the Mahoning County Microfilm Department holds court records and coroner reports dating to 1883. Between local, county, and state sources, you can trace Youngstown death records across more than a century of records.
Youngstown Overview
Mahoning County Obituary Resources
Youngstown is the county seat of Mahoning County. The county has a deep set of historical records for obituary and death research. The Mahoning County Microfilm Department at 345 Oak Hill Avenue in Youngstown keeps Common Pleas Court records, commissioner journals going back to 1846, auditor ownership cards, tax records, and coroner reports from 1883 to 2004. Those coroner reports can be especially useful when you are trying to learn more about a death than what shows up on a certificate.
The Mahoning County Probate Court at 120 Market Street handles marriage licenses and estate records. For death records from 1867 to 1908, the probate court holds the original ledger entries that were kept before Ohio's statewide system started under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705. The Mahoning County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society also maintains local indexes and can point researchers to additional sources.
The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor at 151 West Wood Street focuses on steel industry and labor history. While not a traditional obituary source, their archives can help you learn about workers who lived and died in Youngstown during the steel era.
For more county resources, visit the full Mahoning County page.
Youngstown Vital Statistics Division
The Youngstown City Health District Vital Statistics Division handles death certificates for Mahoning County deaths going back to 1892. That is earlier than most Ohio city health departments, which typically start at 1908. They also issue birth certificates for Mahoning County and Ohio births from 1908 on. The fee is $25 per copy.
| Office | Youngstown City Health District - Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 9 West Front St., Suite 200 Youngstown, OH 44503 |
| Phone | 330-742-8212 |
| vitalstatistics@youngstownohio.gov | |
| Hours | Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed; certificates usually ready in 15 minutes |
You can order in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek at 866-277-9849. In-person requests are the fastest, with most certificates ready in about 15 minutes. For mail orders, send the application with a money order or cashier's check plus a self-addressed stamped envelope. They accept cash and credit or debit cards in person, but no personal checks. Credit and debit come with an extra fee.
Note: Deaths in Struthers from 1933 forward are excluded from the Youngstown office; contact Struthers directly for those records.
Youngstown Library Obituary Resources
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County at 305 Wick Ave. has a solid genealogy collection. They hold oral histories, state and county histories, biographies, and genealogy reference materials. The library is a good place to start if you are looking for Youngstown obituaries that were published in local newspapers. Staff can help you use the microfilm readers and point you to the right resources for your search.
The Ohio Obituary Index from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center has over 3.7 million entries. Mahoning County records are in the index. You search by name and the results show which paper and library holds the original obituary. This is free to use online. It covers papers going back to the 1810s. For Youngstown, you will find entries from the Vindicator and other local papers that serve the Mahoning Valley.
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society also keeps local history archives. They can be a secondary source for obituary and death information, especially for notable Youngstown residents. Contact the library at 330-744-8636 for help with obituary requests.
How to Search Youngstown Obituaries Online
The Ohio Death Record Index is free and covers 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970. Enter the name and year of death to search. A match gives you a certificate number you can use to order a copy from the Ohio History Connection. For the gap years of 1945 to 1953, you can use FamilySearch, which has free digital images of death certificates from 1908 to 1953.
Since the Youngstown office has records going back to 1892, they cover a longer span than the state archives for this area. If you need a death record from the 1890s or early 1900s, calling the Youngstown City Health District at 330-742-8212 is your best first step. That is 16 years before the state started keeping records in 1908.
The Ohio Department of Health holds records from 1971 on. Certified copies cost $21.50 online. Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24 sets that fee. The state office is at 4200 Surface Road in Columbus. Allow three weeks for mail delivery after ordering online.
Getting Youngstown Death Record Copies
Youngstown has a wider range of local records than most Ohio cities. Here is where to go based on when the death happened:
- Before 1867: No official records exist
- 1867 to 1891: Mahoning County Probate Court ledger entries
- 1892 to present: Youngstown City Health District
- 1908 to 1970: Also at Ohio History Connection
- 1971 to present: Also at Ohio Department of Health
For legal use, the Youngstown City Health District and the Ohio Department of Health both issue certified copies. The Ohio History Connection only provides uncertified copies stamped to show they came from the state archives. Those work for genealogy but not for courts, insurance, or estate matters. FamilySearch images are great for personal research when you just need to see the information on the certificate.
The coroner reports at the Mahoning County Microfilm Department cover 1883 to 2004. These can give you cause of death details and other information not always found on a death certificate or in an obituary. Contact Jessy Horkey at 330-740-2303 ext. 6801 or jhorkey@mahoningcountyoh.gov to ask about accessing these records.
Youngstown Obituary Search Tools
The City of Youngstown official website links to city services including the health district's vital statistics division where you can find information about ordering death certificates.
From the city site, navigate to the health department section to find vital statistics forms, hours, and contact information for ordering certificates in person or by mail.
Nearby Ohio Cities
Youngstown is in northeast Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. These nearby cities have their own obituary resources you may want to check.
Warren • Canton • Akron • Cleveland • Mentor • Cuyahoga Falls