Access Mahoning County Obituaries
Mahoning County obituary and death records are kept by the Youngstown City Health District, the county Probate Court, and several local archives and libraries. If you need to find a death certificate or search for an obituary from the Youngstown area, Mahoning County has records dating back to the 1840s. The county is in northeast Ohio with a population of about 228,000. Youngstown is the county seat. The health district handles modern vital records. The Probate Court has historical files going back to 1846. The Mahoning Valley Historical Society and the public library system also hold genealogy collections with obituary clippings, newspaper archives, and local family history records.
Mahoning County Overview
Youngstown Health District Death Records
The Youngstown City Health District is the main office for vital records in Mahoning County. They are at 9 West Front Street in Youngstown. Call (330) 742-8212 for questions. The office handles birth records from 1909 to the present and death records from 1892 to the present. That 1892 start date for death records is earlier than many Ohio counties.
The Youngstown office registers all births and deaths in Mahoning County except for Struthers. The Struthers Board of Health at 6 Elm Street has its own records for the Struthers area covering 1909 to 1932. Call (330) 755-7847 for Struthers records. This split in record keeping is unusual for Ohio and worth knowing if you are searching for a Mahoning County obituary from the early 1900s. If you cannot find a record at one office, try the other.
| Office | Youngstown City Health District - Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 9 W Front St, Youngstown, OH 44503 |
| Phone | (330) 742-8212 |
| Also | Struthers Board of Health: 6 Elm St, Struthers, OH 44471 / (330) 755-7847 |
Mahoning County Probate Court Obituary Records
The Mahoning County Probate Court has some of the oldest records in the county. Birth and death records cover 1864 to 1908. Marriage records start from 1846. Wills and estates go back to 1846 as well. One interesting volume exists that covers births, deaths, and marriages from April 1856 to March 1857 in a single record book.
These probate records are valuable for obituary research. Estate files from the 1800s often name every heir, give their place of residence, and describe their relationship to the deceased. Marriage records can help you trace family connections. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, probate courts served as the official registrars for vital events before statewide registration started in December 1908.
Mahoning County Obituary Research Resources
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society at 648 Wick Avenue in Youngstown holds original probate records from 1846 through about 1900. They have an archival library with genealogy resources. Contact them at (330) 743-2589 or visit mahoninghistory.org. The Mahoning County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society also supports local research through their Facebook page and mailing address at P.O. Box 9333, Boardman, OH 44513.
The Mahoning County Probate Court site shown above lets you search for probate cases and access court records online. It covers estates, guardianships, and marriage records.
The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County at 305 Wick Avenue has a microfilm department with extensive county records. Their holdings include Common Pleas Court records, Area Court records, Commissioners Journals dating to 1846, auditor records, tax records, and Coroners Reports from 1883 to 2004. Contact Jessy Horkey at (330) 740-2303 ext. 6801 for help with the microfilm collection.
This screenshot shows the Youngstown City Health District vital statistics page. It is the main place to order death certificates for Mahoning County.
Ohio Obituary Sources for Mahoning County
The Mahoning County OHGenWeb page has vital records information and links to genealogy resources. Their records page lists what is available locally. The Ohio Death Record Index covers statewide certificates from 1913 to 1944 and 1954 to 1970.
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library runs the Ohio Obituary Index with over 3.7 million entries. The Ohio Department of Health has death records from 1971 forward at $21.50 each. The Ohio History Connection holds records from 1908 to 1970. FamilySearch has free images of Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953.
Note: The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor at 151 West Wood Street also has archives that may help with local obituary research.
Cities in Mahoning County
Mahoning County includes Youngstown and several surrounding communities. All death records go through the Youngstown City Health District (except Struthers).
Other communities include Boardman, Canfield, Austintown, Poland, Struthers, and Campbell.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Mahoning County. Check where the person lived or died to find the right records office.