Clark County Genealogy Records

Clark County genealogy records are managed by the county health department, the county clerk's office, and supported by the Jeffersonville Township Public Library's local history collection. Clark County is one of Indiana's oldest counties, formed in 1801, and birth and death records go back to 1882. The county seat is Jeffersonville, where the main offices for genealogy record requests are located.

Clark County Health Department Vital Records

The Clark County Health Department at 1201 Wall Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 is the primary source for certified birth and death genealogy records. Their phone is 812-282-7521 and fax is 812-288-2711. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Services include certified copies of birth and death records, genealogy searches, and the maintenance of vital records going back to 1882.

Clark County Health Department services include certified copies of birth and death records, genealogy searches, and maintaining vital records. This is one of the only county health departments in Indiana that explicitly lists genealogy searches as a service, which is helpful for researchers who need more than a single certified copy. The office can search records by name and date of event, making it possible to locate records even when you are not sure of the exact year.

The Clark County Health Department page is shown below, where you can learn more about their vital records and genealogy services in Jeffersonville:

The Clark County Health Department at clarkhealth.net provides information on vital records services, including genealogy searches and certified birth and death copies available in Clark County.

The Clark County Health Department's explicit inclusion of genealogy searches as a service makes it more accessible to family history researchers than many other Indiana county health offices.

For state-level access, the Indiana Department of Health at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis holds statewide birth records from 1907 and death records from 1900. Their number is (317) 233-2700, with a toll-free 24/7 line at (866) 601-0891. Online orders go through VitalChek. At the state level, genealogy requests require proof that the person named on the certificate is over 75 years old and deceased. Clark County was formed in 1801 and is the ninth oldest county in Indiana, which means its records span a long history; for events before 1882, the historical society and county clerk are your best options.

Clark County Clerk's Office

The Clark County Clerk's Office is at the Clark County Judicial Center, 501 E Court Avenue #137, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. Clerk Ryan Lynch oversees the office, which can be reached at 812-285-6244. The clerk holds marriage licenses, court records, and related genealogy documents for Clark County. For marriages before 1958, the county clerk is the only source; the statewide IDOH marriage index starts in 1958 and does not cover earlier years.

Court records including probate filings, estate settlements, guardianship records, and civil case documents are held by the Clark County Clerk. These documents are often the richest genealogy sources available, as they name heirs, creditors, family members, and relationships in explicit detail. For Clark County genealogy research that goes beyond vital records, spending time with the clerk's probate files can reveal generations of family connections that no birth or death certificate would show.

The Clark County Clerk website below shows the clerk's office services and access options for genealogy researchers in Jeffersonville:

Visit clarkcountyclerk.com for information on accessing Clark County marriage records, court filings, and other genealogy documents held by the clerk's office.

The Clark County Clerk website provides details on records available, how to request copies, and what fees apply for certified documents relevant to genealogy research.

Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, court and marriage records are public documents open to inspection. The provision at IC 5-14-3-4 makes records classified as confidential available 75 years after creation, opening many older Clark County records to genealogy access today. Given that Clark County was formed in 1801, the oldest accessible records here predate many other Indiana counties' entire archive runs.

Jeffersonville Township Public Library Local History Collection

The Jeffersonville Township Public Library holds a local history and genealogy collection that is one of the best secondary sources for Clark County family history. The library's local history resources include photographs, newspapers on microfilm, city directories, and historical records specific to Clark County and the surrounding region. For genealogy researchers who want to go beyond government records, the library's collection can locate ancestors in ways that vital records alone cannot.

The library's local history page at jefflibrary.org/local-history/ describes the collection in detail and explains how to access it. The collection includes material on Jeffersonville's steamboat-building history, which employed many Clark County residents in the 1800s, as well as records related to the Ohio River communities that make up much of Clark County's settlement history. If you are tracing ancestors who worked in Clark County's river trades or early industries, the library's collection may have occupational records or newspaper accounts not found anywhere else.

The Jeffersonville Township Library local history page is shown below, where genealogy researchers can learn about the collection and plan a research visit:

The Jeffersonville Township Public Library local history collection holds Clark County-specific materials including photographs, newspapers, and local history documents that support deep genealogy research.

The library's local history staff can help researchers navigate the collection and identify which record series are most useful for specific Clark County family history projects.

Note: The library's local history collection may have different hours than the main library. Contact them at the number listed on the local history page to confirm hours and whether an appointment is needed for research access.

Howard Steamboat Museum and Clark County Historical Society

The Howard Steamboat Museum and Clark County Historical Society is at 1101 E. Market Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47131. Their phone is (812) 283-3728, and email inquiries go to info@howardsteamboatmuseum.org. The museum holds records and artifacts related to the Howard Shipyard, which was the largest inland steamboat builder in the United States and employed generations of Clark County families. For genealogy researchers with ancestors in the Clark County riverboat trade, the museum's archives are an important resource not found in government offices.

Beyond the steamboat records, the historical society holds broader Clark County history materials including photographs, maps, and local history documents. Clark County was formed in 1801, making it one of Indiana's oldest counties, and the historical society's collections reflect that long record run. Early Clark County settlement patterns, family migrations from Virginia and Kentucky, and community development in the Ohio River region are all documented in the society's holdings. Contacting the museum before visiting helps confirm what is available for your specific genealogy research needs.

State-Level Resources for Clark County Genealogy

The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division at 315 W Ohio St, Indianapolis holds county-specific research guides and one of the Midwest's largest genealogy collections. Call 317-232-3689 to reach the reference desk. The Indiana County Research Guides include a Clark County guide that identifies available records, their locations, and whether they have been digitized. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at 6440 E 30th St, Indianapolis, phone (317) 591-5220, holds historical court records and state documents. For Clark County genealogy, IARA may have naturalization records from the early 1900s and older court records that were transferred from Jeffersonville. The Indiana Historical Society at (317) 232-1882 holds manuscripts and photographs from across Indiana, including material from southern Indiana counties like Clark. The Indiana Genealogical Society and the FamilySearch Indiana Genealogy wiki are free resources that can point you to digitized Clark County records and local society contacts.

Remote Access to Clark County Genealogy Records

For researchers who cannot visit Jeffersonville in person, remote ordering options are available. VitalChek handles online orders for Indiana vital records with credit card payment. The Indiana Department of Health accepts mail orders using Form 49607 for births and Form 49606 for deaths, with check or money order payment required. These are sent to 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

For Clark County clerk records including marriage licenses and court documents, contact the clerk at 812-285-6244 to ask about mail or fax request procedures. The Clark County Clerk website at clarkcountyclerk.com may also have information on remote access options. For the Jeffersonville Township Library's local history collection, email or call ahead to ask whether digital copies of specific materials can be provided to remote researchers. The library's staff at jefflibrary.org/local-history/ can advise on what is possible.

Cities in Clark County

Jeffersonville is the county seat and largest city in Clark County. It meets the qualifying population threshold and has its own genealogy page with additional city-specific resources.

Other Clark County communities including Clarksville, Sellersburg, Charleston, and Borden do not meet the 25,000 population threshold for dedicated city pages. Genealogy records for those communities are maintained at the county-level offices in Jeffersonville.

Nearby Counties

Clark County is in southern Indiana along the Ohio River. If an ancestor lived near a county line, their genealogy records may be in a neighboring county. The state of Kentucky borders Clark County to the south via the Ohio River, so some ancestral records may be in Kentucky county offices as well.