Greene County Death Records
Greene County death records from 1893 to 1915 are held at the Greene County Courthouse in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Greene County was created on February 9, 1796 from part of Washington County and named for General Nathanael Greene, a hero of the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Waynesburg. The death record period extends to 1915, longer than most Pennsylvania counties, which reflects local recording practices. Marriage records from 1885 are maintained by the Clerk of Orphans Court. Records from 1906 forward are also held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.
Greene County Quick Facts
Greene County Death Index Records
Greene County maintains death records from 1893 through 1915 at the county courthouse. This extended period sets Greene County apart from most Pennsylvania counties, which typically held records only through 1905 or 1906. The overlap between county records and the state system from 1906 to 1915 means some deaths during that window may appear in both sources. Researchers should check both the county courthouse and the PA State Archives for deaths in the 1906 to 1915 range.
Death records from 1893 to 1915 for Greene County are available at FamilySearch Library on films 1319626 and 1319627. The Greene County Death Register from 1893 to 1915 is also available through the USGenWeb Archives project. USGenWeb provides free access to transcribed genealogy records contributed by volunteers, and the Greene County collection is a useful supplement to the official microfilm records. Both sources should be consulted when researching a specific death in Greene County.
Birth records from 1893 to 1915 are also held at the Greene County Courthouse. Marriage records from 1885 to the present are maintained by the Clerk of Orphans Court. Delayed birth records from 1941 to 1976 are available for Greene County as well. These multiple record types together provide strong coverage for Greene County genealogy research across the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Note: Greene County's death records extend to 1915, nine years beyond the start of statewide registration, creating an unusually rich overlap period for researchers working on families from 1906 to 1915.
Greene County History and Genealogy
Greene County sits in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, bordering West Virginia to the south and Ohio nearby. Its location made it a crossroads for early settlers moving westward. The county was named for General Nathanael Greene, who commanded forces in the southern theater of the Revolutionary War. The county was formed in 1796 from Washington County, reflecting the growth of settlement in the region after American independence.
The coal industry shaped Greene County's 19th and 20th century history. Many families came to work the mines, and their deaths are documented in the county's extensive record collection. Early settlers in the region also left behind church records, land patents, and tax lists that predate the formal death registration system. For deaths before 1893, probate records and estate files at the Register of Wills provide the most direct documentation. Washington County, as the parent county, holds records for Greene County families before 1796.
Researchers working on Greene County genealogy should also check West Virginia records when tracing families near the state border. Many 19th-century families had relatives on both sides of the state line. Some deaths may have been recorded in West Virginia if the individual died there even though they lived in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Cross-border research is often necessary for complete family history in this southwestern Pennsylvania corner.
State Death Certificates for Greene County
Deaths from 1906 onward are recorded by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Because Greene County also kept records through 1915, deaths from 1906 to 1915 may appear in both systems. The PA State Archives Death Indices cover 1906 to 1975 and are free to search online. Original certificates from 1906 to 1974 are at the State Archives. Digital copies for 1906 to 1972 are on Ancestry.com free for Pennsylvania residents.
Certified copies cost $20 each from the PA Division of Vital Records. Orders can be placed online through mycertificates.health.pa.gov via VitalChek, by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, or by phone at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. The Pittsburgh walk-in office is most convenient for Greene County researchers and is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Statewide registration began in 1906 with full compliance achieved by 1915. Soundex indexing applies to records from 1920 to 1924 and 1930 to 1951. Death certificates are public 50 years after death, so records through 1975 are now accessible.
Nearby Counties
Greene County borders Washington County to the north and Fayette County to the east. Washington County is the parent county. Searching neighboring counties may help trace families who moved across these boundaries.