Union County Death Records
Union County death records are accessible through both county and state sources in central Pennsylvania. The county seat is Lewisburg. Union County was formed on March 22, 1813 from part of Northumberland County. It was named for the Federal Union. Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg and has been part of the county since the mid-1800s. State death indices from 1906 to 1975 are free to search online through the PA State Archives. Pre-1906 records are held at the county Register of Wills in Lewisburg.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Death Records Overview
Union County sits in central Pennsylvania along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The county seat, Lewisburg, is a small city known for Bucknell University and its Federal period architecture. The county was formed in 1813 from Northumberland County and was named in honor of the Federal Union at a time when national unity was a significant political value. The county has a mix of agricultural, institutional, and small-town character that has defined it throughout its history.
The official Union County government website provides information on county departments and elected officials. Row offices include the Register of Wills, which maintains Orphans' Court records. Union County death records are indexed in the state system from 1906 to 1975. Formal death registration in the county began in 1893. Death records from 1893 to 1905 are at the county courthouse in Lewisburg. Pre-1906 records are the starting point for all genealogical research in Union County before the state system.
Visit the PA State Archives death indices page to search Union County death records online. The index covers 1906 to 1975. For deaths after 1974, use the PA Department of Health vital records page.
Note: Union County was the parent county from which Snyder County was formed in 1855. Researchers working on families from the Snyder County area before 1855 should check Union County records.
Union County Formation and History
Union County was formed on March 22, 1813 from the eastern portion of Northumberland County. The name reflects the patriotic spirit of the early nineteenth century, when the young United States was working to consolidate its national identity. The county has been a source county for several other Pennsylvania counties. Snyder County was formed from Union County in 1855. Researchers working on families who lived in what is now Snyder County before 1855 will find their records in Union County's archives.
Lewisburg became the county seat and grew into a prosperous town. Bucknell University, founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, brought an educational and cultural institution to the county that continues to define it today. The university's presence means that Lewisburg has a more cosmopolitan character than many county seats of similar size. The Federal Correctional Institution at Lewisburg, a federal prison, is another major institution that has shaped the county's modern population and demographics.
Before formal death registration began in 1893, estate records and church records are the primary sources for Union County deaths. The Register of Wills at the Lewisburg courthouse maintains probate files going back to 1813. These files often include death dates and heirs' names. Church records from the county's many historic congregations can provide burial dates and sometimes causes of death for families who were active church members.
Note: Union County's probate records at the Register of Wills in Lewisburg go back to 1813. These records are a valuable source for deaths before formal registration began in 1893.
State Death Records for Union County
Pennsylvania began requiring statewide death registration in 1906. All Union County deaths from that year forward required a certified state certificate. The PA State Archives death index covers Union County from 1906 to 1975 and is free to search online. Two indexing methods apply. Deaths from 1920 to 1924 and from 1930 to 1951 use the Russell Soundex method. All other years use alphabetical surname order.
Once you find a name in the index, record the State File Number. That number is required to order a certified copy. The PA State Archives holds original certificates from 1906 to 1974. Digital images from 1906 to 1972 are available on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry.com free at public libraries through a statewide program. For deaths from 1975 onward, use the PA Division of Vital Records.
Certified copies cost $20 each. Mail requests to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone: 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. Online orders go through VitalChek at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Harrisburg office is the closest walk-in location for Union County. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death.
Note: The Russell Soundex method applies only to the 1920-1924 and 1930-1951 periods in the Union County state death index. All other years use standard alphabetical order by surname.
Research Tips for Union County Deaths
Start with the free PA State Archives death index for any post-1906 death. For pre-1906 deaths, contact the Register of Wills at the Union County Courthouse in Lewisburg. The register holds formal death records from 1893 to 1905. For deaths before 1893, use estate records at the courthouse and church records from the county's historic congregations.
Union County borders Northumberland, Snyder, Mifflin, Centre, and Lycoming counties. If your ancestor lived near a county line, check neighboring county records. The state death index covers all of these counties under the same online search interface, making cross-county research straightforward for post-1906 deaths. For pre-1906 research, each county courthouse must be contacted separately.
Bucknell University may have alumni or faculty records that supplement county death records for families connected to the university. The university library also has local history collections that researchers may find useful. Local historical societies in Lewisburg and surrounding communities sometimes hold records that are not part of the state or county archives. Checking these local organizations can round out a research project with information not found elsewhere.
Note: For Union County families before 1813, records are in Northumberland County, from which Union County was formed. The Northumberland County courthouse in Sunbury holds those earlier records.
Nearby Pennsylvania Counties
Union County borders several counties in central Pennsylvania. Each county has its own death records. Check neighboring counties if your ancestor lived near a county border.