Pulaski County Genealogy Records Search

Pulaski County genealogy records are maintained at the county health department and the clerk's office in Winamac, Indiana. Birth and death records go back to 1882, and marriage records at the clerk's office date from the county's earliest years. Located in northwest Indiana, Pulaski County has a solid base of vital records and court documents for family history research. This guide explains how to search Pulaski County genealogy records through local offices and Indiana's statewide resources.

Pulaski County Health Department Vital Records

The Pulaski County Health Department in Winamac holds certified copies of birth and death records for events that took place in Pulaski County from 1882 to the present. This is the primary local source for Pulaski County genealogy involving vital events. Indiana's statewide birth registration started in 1907 and death registration in 1900. For births between 1882 and 1907, and deaths between 1882 and 1900, the Pulaski County Health Department holds the only official records.

Pulaski County is a largely rural county in northwest Indiana, drained by the Tippecanoe River. Its settlement history reaches back to the 1830s, and families with roots here can trace ancestry through multiple generations using county vital records. The health department in Winamac issues certified copies for genealogy and legal purposes. For genealogy requests, the person named on the certificate must be deceased and over 75 years old. This rule applies to all Indiana counties.

Contact the Pulaski County Health Department before visiting Winamac to confirm current hours, fees, and whether appointments are required for genealogy searches. The Indiana local health department map provides current contact details for the Winamac office. Smaller county health departments sometimes have limited staff and may need advance notice for genealogy requests, so a call first is worth the time.

Clerk's Office and Marriage Records in Pulaski County

Marriage records for Pulaski County are held at the County Clerk's Office in Winamac. The clerk maintains marriage licenses going back to Pulaski County's founding in 1839. The state marriage index begins in 1958, so for any Pulaski County marriage before that year, the county clerk is the only official source. Even after 1958, the original documents stay at the county courthouse in Winamac.

Court records at the Pulaski County Clerk's Office can fill important gaps in family history research. Probate filings, estate inventories, guardianship papers, and civil case files from the 1800s frequently contain family information not found in birth and death records. An estate inventory often lists surviving children, widows, and heirs. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, court records are public documents and can be accessed by any member of the public. If your ancestor owned land or went through probate in Pulaski County, those records may still be in Winamac.

The Indiana State Library's county research guides include a guide for Pulaski County. Available at in.gov/library/collections-and-services/genealogy/indiana-county-research-guides/, this guide lists record types, date ranges, and repositories. Reviewing it before contacting county offices helps you target your research efficiently and avoid unnecessary trips to Winamac.

Note: The Indiana Genealogical Society maintains county resources at indgensoc.org that may include compiled indexes to Pulaski County marriage records and other vital records not available online through official channels.

Indiana State Vital Records and Statewide Resources

The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, holds statewide birth records from 1907 and death records from 1900. Their main phone is (317) 233-2700 and the toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 operates around the clock. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Mail orders use Form 49607 for births and Form 49606 for deaths. A first-copy birth certificate is $10 and a death certificate is $8.

The Indiana State Library genealogy division at 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, holds more than 40,000 print items including county histories, family genealogies, cemetery transcriptions, and military pension records. The library covers northwest Indiana counties like Pulaski County with collections that are useful for multi-generation genealogy research. Their reference desk at 317-232-3689 can help point you toward Pulaski County holdings.

The state library's genealogy resources are shown below:

The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division holds county research guides and a large family history collection that covers Pulaski County and surrounding northwest Indiana counties.

One-on-one consultations available on the second Saturday of each month allow Pulaski County researchers to get in-person guidance from library genealogy staff.

Indiana Archives and Historical Society

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) at 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, (317) 591-5220, may hold older Pulaski County court records transferred from the county over the years. The State Archives at IARA stores records of permanent historical value, including naturalization papers and early court filings from northwest Indiana counties. Their online catalog at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov lets you search before traveling to Indianapolis.

The Indiana Archives portal is shown here:

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration stores transferred historical records from Pulaski County and provides an online catalog for pre-visit research at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov.

Under IC 5-14-3-4, records that were classified as confidential become open to the public 75 years after creation. This opens many older Pulaski County records to genealogy researchers working on deep family history.

The Indiana Historical Society at 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, (317) 232-1882, holds photographs, manuscripts, and maps from Indiana counties including Pulaski County. The FamilySearch Indiana Genealogy wiki is a free starting point with links to digitized records and indexes for Pulaski County. Some Pulaski County records have been microfilmed and may be accessible online before you need to visit Winamac.

Remote Record Ordering Options

If you cannot travel to Winamac, remote ordering options are available for Pulaski County vital records. The state toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 takes phone orders 24/7. Mail orders go to the Indiana Department of Health in Indianapolis. Online orders process through VitalChek, shown here:

The VitalChek portal allows online ordering of certified Indiana vital records including Pulaski County birth and death records, with credit card payment and direct mail delivery.

VitalChek adds a convenience fee above the state base costs, but provides a practical remote option for Pulaski County researchers who live outside the Winamac area.

Cities in Pulaski County

Pulaski County's communities, including Winamac, Francesville, and Medaryville, all file genealogy and vital records at the county health department and clerk's office in Winamac. No city in Pulaski County meets the 25,000 population threshold for a separate city page. All Pulaski County records are handled at the county level.

All Pulaski County city records are filed at the county offices in Winamac.

Nearby Counties

Pulaski County is in northwest Indiana. Ancestors who lived near county lines may have filed records in a neighboring county. Check these nearby county pages for additional genealogy resources.