Formed January 16, 1808 from Fairfield County territory (administered by Knox County until organizing in 1813) — county seat Mansfield. Repository addresses below, plus a free printable record checklist.
50 Park Ave. East, 2nd Floor, Mansfield, OH 44902 · (419) 774-5583
richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/probatecourt
Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and marriage licenses. Also holds births and deaths from before 1908/1909, since those predate local health-department registration.
50 Park Ave. East, Mansfield, OH 44902 · (419) 774-5602
richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/recorder
Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land records, with an online search portal.
43 West Third St., Mansfield, OH 44902 · (419) 521-3100
mrcpl.org/explore/genealogy-local-history
Genealogy and local-history collection: photographs, artifacts, city directories, school yearbooks, and the free Richland County Digital Newspaper Archive (1823–1923).
Meets at the OGS state headquarters library, 611 State Route 97 West, Bellville, OH 44813
Organized 1959, reorganized 1964 as OGS's first county chapter. Publishes the quarterly newsletter The Pastfinder.
The Ohio Genealogical Society's statewide headquarters library is also in Bellville (Richland County) — that's the state organization, a separate entity from this county chapter.
310 Springmill St., Mansfield, OH 44903 · (419) 524-1765
oakhillcottage.org · Sundays 2–5pm, April–December
A different organization from the genealogical society above — operates the 1847 Oak Hill Cottage house museum. A member of the RichHistory Alliance, a coalition of ~20 area museums and historical groups.
555 Lexington Ave., Mansfield, OH 44907 · (419) 774-4500
richlandhealth.org/vital-statistics
Births and deaths from 1909 forward. Records before 1908 are at the Probate Court. Marriage and divorce records are not held here — marriages at Probate Court, divorces at the Clerk of Courts.
Find A Grave — Richland County, Interment.net, and OhioGravestones.org.
Titles that covered Richland County, historic and current, with where to search each one. Not every historic title has been digitized — several survive only on microfilm.
| Title | Years | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| Mansfield News Journal | 1932-present | Richland County Digital Newspaper Archive (mrcpl.org, free); NewsJournal.com archive |
| Mansfield News | 1894-1932 | Chronicling America (loc.gov); Richland County Digital Newspaper Archive |
| Mansfield Journal | 1800s-1932 | Richland County Digital Newspaper Archive; microfilm — Mansfield/Richland County Public Library |
| Daily Shield and Banner | 1888-1892 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress, free) |
| Richland Shield and Banner | c.1850s-1890s | Ohio Memory; Richland County Digital Newspaper Archive |
| Mansfield Herald | 1840s-1880s | Richland County Digital Newspaper Archive; microfilm — Mansfield/Richland County Public Library |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Richland County, Ohio
