Find Blair County Death Records
Blair County was formed from Huntingdon and Bedford Counties on February 26, 1846. Records in the courthouse begin from that date, with probate and land records organized within the first years of the county's existence. Birth and death certificates from 1893 through 1905 are held at the Register of Wills in Hollidaysburg. Marriage records begin in 1885. Naturalization records start in 1848. For deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records and the PA State Archives death index are the primary sources.
Blair County Quick Facts
Blair County Register of Wills and Death Records
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is at 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 142, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. The phone number is (814) 693-3095. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This office holds birth and death certificates from 1893 through 1905, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees. Land records and estate records are accessible through the Landex system. The Prothonotary Office is in Suite 144 of the same building and can be reached at (814) 693-3080.
Orphans' Court Dockets from 1846 through 1882 are on file along with Estate and Proceedings Indexes covering 1846 through 1980. Will Books from 1846 through 1882 come with an Index to Wills and Letters covering the same extended period through 1980. Divorce and probate court records are held by the Prothonotary from 1846. Naturalization records begin in 1848. Marriage records from 1885 are at the Register of Wills. For death records from 1906 forward, the Division of Vital Records handles all requests.
The Blair records site provides access to county-level record searches for Blair County. This resource covers court records, property records, and other county documents that can help trace deaths indirectly through property transfers and estate proceedings. Blair County was carved out of Huntingdon and Bedford Counties, so researchers tracing families who lived in the area before 1846 should check those parent county courthouses as well.
Pennsylvania Death Index for Blair County
The PA State Archives hosts the free statewide Death Index online for 1906 through 1975. Blair County deaths during this period are fully indexed. Access the search at the PA State Archives vital statistics page. A search result gives the decedent's name, death year, and certificate number. That number is needed to request the full certificate.
Death certificates from 1906 through 1974 are held at the State Archives. Digital copies for 1906 through 1972 are on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry at no charge at most public libraries. The Altoona area has several library branches where this access is available. Soundex phonetic indexing applies to the 1920 through 1924 and 1930 through 1951 periods. Death certificates become public record 50 years after the death date, so all Blair County deaths from 1975 and earlier are now accessible.
Certified copies of death certificates cost $20 each. Order online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov through VitalChek, by phone at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516, or by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The Harrisburg walk-in office is the nearest state walk-in location for Blair County residents. The PA Department of Health vital records page has full details on ordering options.
Early Blair County Death Records and Parent Counties
Blair County was not formed until 1846. Deaths before that date for people who lived in the Blair County area are found in Huntingdon or Bedford County records. Both parent counties have long courthouse archives. Huntingdon County records go back well before 1846, and the estate filings from both parent counties may hold the only documentation for deaths of Blair County ancestors from the early 1800s.
Within Blair County itself, the Orphans' Court Dockets from 1846 through 1882 are the earliest formal records of death-related legal proceedings. When a Blair County resident died leaving minor children or significant property, the estate came before the court. These dockets track the names of the deceased, their heirs, and the appointed administrators or guardians. Combined with Will Books from the same period, they give a fairly complete picture of deaths in Blair County during the county's first four decades.
Blair County did not exist during the 1852 through 1854 vital records period, but Huntingdon and Bedford Counties both participated in that early registration effort. If your ancestor was living in the area that would later become Blair County before 1846, the 1852 through 1854 records would be in Huntingdon or Bedford County. The formation date of February 26, 1846, is the dividing line for which courthouse holds the records.
Note: Blair County was formed from parts of both Huntingdon and Bedford Counties, so always check those parent county records for deaths before 1846.
What Blair County Death Records Include
A Blair County death certificate from the state registration era gives the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, age, birthplace, occupation, cause of death, and the names of surviving family members. The attending physician is listed, and the informant is usually a close relative. This informant information can help identify relatives not otherwise known. Certificates from the 1893 through 1905 county registration period follow a similar format but may be less standardized.
Death certificates become public record 50 years after the death date. All Blair County deaths from 1975 and earlier are open to the public. For more recent deaths, eligible requestors include the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, and legal representatives. Certified copies cost $20 each. Order online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov through VitalChek, by phone at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516, or by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The full eligibility rules and required documentation are explained on the PA Department of Health vital records page. The PA State Archives also hosts the free Death Index for 1906 through 1975 at the PA State Archives vital statistics page, giving you the certificate number needed to order from the Division of Vital Records.
Nearby Counties
Blair County is in central Pennsylvania. Its parent counties of Huntingdon and Bedford are the first places to look for records predating 1846.