Find Genealogy Records in Clinton County
Clinton County genealogy records are kept in Frankfort at several offices within the county courthouse. Researchers can access birth and death records through the health department, marriage licenses and court filings through the county clerk, land records through the recorder, and archived documents through a dedicated county archives office. This page lists each office and how to reach them for your family history search in Clinton County.
Clinton County Quick Facts
Clinton County Clerk and Archives
The Clinton County Clerk's Office is the primary stop for marriage records, court records, and related genealogy documents. The office is located at Suite 304, 2 E Washington St, Frankfort, IN 46041. You can reach the clerk by phone at 765-659-6335. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Marriage licenses, court judgments, and civil case filings are maintained here, and the clerk can help you search by name or date.
Clinton County also has a dedicated Archives office, which is a resource not found in every Indiana county. The archives are at Suite 003, 2 E Washington St, Frankfort, IN 46041, in the same building but on a lower level. Contact Grace Gouveia at 765-659-6369. The archives are open Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This office holds older records that have been transferred from active county offices, making it especially useful for genealogy work that reaches back into the 1800s. Not all researchers know this office exists, so it is worth a call before you make the trip to Frankfort.
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) entitles the public to inspect and copy records held at the clerk and archives offices. Under IC 5-14-3-4, records that were once classified as confidential become open for inspection 75 years after creation, which opens a wide range of historical Clinton County documents to researchers.
Clinton County Recorder
The Recorder's Office in Clinton County is run by Kialee Mitchell and is located at Suite 205, 2 E Washington St, Frankfort, IN 46041. You can call the recorder at 765-659-6320. Land deeds, mortgages, and related documents are held here. Land records often list family relationships, neighboring landowners, and property descriptions that can help you place an ancestor at a specific location in Clinton County at a specific time.
For genealogy purposes, the chain of title on a piece of land can trace a family through several generations. If you know your ancestor owned land in Clinton County, the recorder's deed books can help you confirm dates, identify relatives who may have been part of a transaction, and find witnesses who often appear in the same family network. Abstracts and plats may also be available for certain parcels.
Clinton County Vital Records
Birth and death records for Clinton County events are available through the county health department for events from 1882 forward. Statewide registration of births began in 1907 and deaths in 1900. The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, can be reached at (317) 233-2700 or toll-free at (866) 601-0891. You can order online through VitalChek or request records by mail using IDOH forms.
Genealogy requests for vital records require proof that the person named on the record is deceased and was over 75 years old. This rule applies under Indiana law and covers both county and state-issued copies. The Indiana local health department map can help you find the Clinton County health office contact details. Bringing proper identification and any proof of relationship or genealogy eligibility will speed up the process when you visit in person.
Note: For events before 1882, check church records, cemetery transcriptions, and probate files at the county archives, as no official government registration existed.
Clinton County Historical Society
The Clinton County Historical Society and Museum is an independent nonprofit that holds local history collections not found at government offices. The museum is at 301 East Clinton Street, Frankfort, IN 46041. You can reach them at (765) 659-2030 or by email at cchsm@live.com. Their website at clintonhistorymuseum.org has additional contact and hours information.
Historical society collections often include donated family papers, photographs, newspaper clippings, and transcribed records that supplement official county sources. If you are researching a family that was prominent in Frankfort or Clinton County, the society may have materials that go beyond what you can find at the courthouse. Their staff and volunteers can also point you toward published county histories or genealogy guides specific to this area.
Clinton County was named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York and a major advocate of the Erie Canal. Understanding the county's origins can help with historical context when you read old deed descriptions or court documents that reference early township boundaries.
Indiana State Resources for Clinton County Genealogy
The Indiana State Library at 315 West Ohio Street in Indianapolis holds one of the Midwest's largest genealogy collections. Their reference desk is at 317-232-3689. County-specific research guides for Clinton County are available through the Indiana County Research Guides page. These guides tell you exactly what records exist, what years they cover, and where to find them.
The Indiana State Library provides county research guides that outline what genealogy sources are available for Clinton County. Indiana State Library genealogy resources
The library's collection includes family histories, cemetery transcriptions, and indexes to records for Clinton County and surrounding areas.
The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at (317) 591-5220 also holds older Clinton County records that have been transferred from local offices. Their online catalog at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov lets you search holdings before making a trip to Indianapolis. The Indiana Historical Society at (317) 232-1882 publishes indexes and research guides that can help you find primary sources tied to Clinton County.
Searching Clinton County Genealogy Online
Several free online tools cover Clinton County records. FamilySearch has a detailed Indiana genealogy wiki and indexes to Indiana vital records, census records, and church registers. Many Clinton County records have been microfilmed and indexed there at no cost. The Indiana Genealogical Society at indgensoc.org maintains county-level pages with links to databases and contact information for local researchers who specialize in that area.
The Indiana State Library's digital collection also includes some county records. DAR volunteers are available at the library on Wednesday afternoons and the second Saturday of each month to help patrons searching family history, including Clinton County lines. For a complete picture, combine online indexes with direct requests to the Clinton County Clerk, Archives, Recorder, and health department offices in Frankfort.
The Indiana County Research Guides page gives a structured overview of what genealogy sources exist for Clinton County and where to access each one. Indiana County Research Guides
These guides are updated by the state library and cover records at the county and state level for all 92 Indiana counties, including Clinton County.
Cities in Clinton County
Frankfort is the county seat and main city in Clinton County. No cities in Clinton County meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. All genealogy records for the county are accessible through the Frankfort offices listed on this page.
Nearby Counties
Clinton County borders several other Indiana counties. If your ancestor lived near a county line, records may appear in more than one county courthouse.