Formed 1820 from Darke County (organized 1837) · county seat Van Wert. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.
Short episodes that walk through Van Wert County's records, one record type at a time.
Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look
Watch on YouTube108 E. Main Street, Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-0027
Estate administration, guardianships, marriage licenses, adoption records, name changes, and minor settlements. Online record search available on the court's website.
Van Wert County Courthouse, 121 E. Main St., Suite 206, Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-2558
vanwertcountyohio.gov — Recorder's Office
Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded land/property documents.
121 E. Main Street, Room 300, Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-1022
vanwertcounty.org/clerk-of-courts
Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.
121 E. Main Street, Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-0843
Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates are on FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.
215 W. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-2168
The first public library in the U.S. built to serve an entire county (est. 1901). Dedicated genealogy department housing the local OGS chapter's research materials, local databases, and reference collections.
PO Box 485, Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-6684
Meets 3rd Tuesday monthly, 7:30pm, at the Council on Aging Building, 717 E. Crawford St. (except Jan, Jul, Dec). Research materials housed at the Brumback Library.
Chapter website is an older RootsWeb page — confirm current contact via the OGS chapter directory if it doesn't load.
602 N. Washington St., Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 771-9851
historicalvanwert.com · Sundays 2:00–4:30pm
A separate organization from the OGS chapter. Runs the county museum and archives; collaborates with the OGS chapter, whose research materials are kept at Brumback Library instead.
1179 Westwood Dr., Suite 300, Van Wert, OH 45891 · (419) 238-0808 ext. 100
vanwertcountyhealth.org — Vital Statistics
Births and deaths for events in Van Wert County, 1908–present. Requests accepted in person, by phone, online, or by mail.
Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.
Many Van Wert County record books are filmed and free to view at FamilySearch (free account required).
In Full-Text Search, add Van Wert County, Ohio as the place to find names inside handwritten deeds, wills, and court books. How to use it.
Van Wert County was formed in 1820 from Darke County. For records made before then, search the parent county:
Most of Van Wert County's land was federal Congress Lands, surveyed in townships and sections and first sold through U.S. land offices. The first buyer of each tract received a federal patent.
Titles that covered Van Wert 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Van Wert American | 1855-1857 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Van Wert Weekly Bulletin | 1859-1933 | Chronicling America (1865-1895); microfilm only — Brumback Library |
| Van Wert Times | 1865-1936 | Microfilm only — Brumback Library |
| Van Wert Daily Bulletin | 1887-1936 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Van Wert Times Bulletin | 1936-1973 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Times Bulletin (current) | 1973-present | Microfilm/current issues — Brumback Library; partial coverage on GenealogyBank, NewspaperArchive |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Van Wert County, Ohio
Addresses and links last checked October 2026.
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