Find Genealogy Records in Tippecanoe County

Tippecanoe County genealogy records are maintained at the county health department, the circuit court clerk, the Tippecanoe County Public Library, and the Tippecanoe County Historical Association, all in Lafayette, Indiana. Birth and death records go back to 1882, and marriage records at the clerk's office trace family history to the county's earliest years. This guide covers where Tippecanoe County family history records are held, how to request them, and what local and state resources can help complete your research.

Tippecanoe County Health Department Vital Records

The Tippecanoe County Health Department handles birth and death records for events that occurred in the county from 1882 forward. Their office is at 1950 S 18th Street, Lafayette, IN 47905, and the phone number is 765-423-9221. Indiana's statewide birth registration began in 1907 and death registration in 1900, so the county health department holds records for the window of years between 1882 and those state start dates that cannot be found through Indianapolis.

Certified birth and death certificates cost $15 each at the Tippecanoe County Health Department. Genealogy hard copies are also $15. These are county-specific fees that differ from the state schedule. You can find more detail about the records and ordering process at tippecanoe.in.gov/275/Birth-Death-Certificates. For genealogy requests, the person named on the record must be deceased and over 75 years old, consistent with Indiana access rules under Indiana Code 5-14-3.

The health department page shown below shows the county's vital records ordering process and fee schedule in detail:

The Tippecanoe County Health Department vital records page provides fee information and instructions for ordering birth and death certificates in Lafayette.

The county charges $15 for certified copies and $15 for genealogy copies, which differs from the state's base fee schedule for vital records.

Tippecanoe County Clerk Marriage and Court Records

The Tippecanoe County Circuit Court Clerk's office in Lafayette holds marriage records from the county's earliest years. Indiana's statewide marriage index starts in 1958, but the county clerk has records going back well before that. For genealogy researchers looking at ancestors who married in Lafayette or elsewhere in Tippecanoe County before the mid-twentieth century, the clerk's office at 765-423-9326 is the right place to call.

Court records at the clerk's office include probate and estate files that are useful for Tippecanoe County genealogy. When a resident died with property in the county, a probate case was opened. These files name heirs, document relationships, and record death dates with detail that a death certificate alone does not always provide. Civil records from the clerk's office can also reveal information about family disputes, guardianships of minor children, and other events that show up in family history research.

The recorder's office in Lafayette handles property deeds and mortgages. Land records in Tippecanoe County go back to the county's organization in the early 1800s. Tracking property ownership through deed records can help you confirm which family members lived together, who inherited land from whom, and when a family arrived in or left the county. These records are publicly accessible at the courthouse in Lafayette.

Under IC 5-14-3-4, confidential records become open 75 years after they are created. A wide range of older Tippecanoe County court and vital records are now available to researchers without restriction, covering the bulk of the county's early history.

Tippecanoe County Public Library Genealogy Resources

The Tippecanoe County Public Library at 627 South Street, Lafayette is a major genealogy resource for the county. Their phone is 765-429-0100. The library has a Family Memory Center with microfilm readers, local newspapers going back to the 1850s, and the Swezey Room of Indiana History, which contains more than 2,500 books on Indiana history and genealogy.

The Swezey Room collection is particularly useful for Tippecanoe County family history research. With over 2,500 volumes covering Indiana history, researchers have access to county histories, family genealogies, cemetery records, and reference works that support local family history work. Local newspapers at the library go back to the 1850s, which means you can search for obituaries, legal notices, and other family history mentions across more than 170 years of Tippecanoe County press.

The Family Memory Center with microfilm equipment allows researchers to view original microfilmed documents on-site. Many older Tippecanoe County records have been microfilmed for preservation, and the library provides the equipment and support to access those films. Bringing your family history questions to a librarian in the genealogy collection can help you find materials you might not discover on your own.

Note: Library hours and room availability can vary. Check with the Tippecanoe County Public Library directly before visiting for genealogy research to confirm current access to the Swezey Room and microfilm resources.

Tippecanoe County Historical Association

The Tippecanoe County Historical Association is located at 1001 South St, Lafayette, and their phone is 765-467-8411. The association maintains a research library that is open Thursdays from 1 to 5 pm and Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm. There is a $2 fee per researcher, and research assistance from staff costs a minimum of $10. This small fee helps support the organization's preservation work.

The Historical Association's library holds local history materials that go beyond what government offices keep. Documents, photographs, maps, and local records at the association can help you understand the context of your ancestors' lives in Tippecanoe County. The research assistance fee means you can get expert help navigating their collection, which is particularly useful if you are new to Lafayette-area genealogy and do not know which collections to start with.

The Tippecanoe County Historical Association website shown below provides information about their research library, hours, and genealogy resources:

Visit tippecanoehistory.org for details about the Tippecanoe County Historical Association's research library hours, fees, and collections available to genealogy researchers in Lafayette.

The association's Thursday and Friday research hours and $2 per-researcher fee make it an accessible local resource for Tippecanoe County family history work.

Indiana State Resources for Tippecanoe County Genealogy

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 that cover Tippecanoe County events. Their main number is (317) 233-2700. Online orders go through VitalChek. The 24/7 phone line is (866) 601-0891. Mail orders use Form 49607 for births and Form 49606 for deaths. State fees are $10 for a first birth certificate copy and $8 for a first death certificate copy, with $4 for additional copies from the same order.

The Indiana State Library holds county research guides including one for Tippecanoe County at in.gov/library. Their phone is 317-232-3689. The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at (317) 591-5220 holds transferred Tippecanoe County records for permanent research access. The Indiana Historical Society at (317) 232-1882 and the Indiana Genealogical Society are additional statewide resources. FamilySearch's Indiana Genealogy wiki lists digitized records relevant to Tippecanoe County research.

Cities in Tippecanoe County

Tippecanoe County is home to two qualifying cities with dedicated genealogy pages. Lafayette is the county seat and the largest city. West Lafayette is the second qualifying city in the county.

Nearby Counties

Tippecanoe County is in west-central Indiana and borders several other Indiana counties. Ancestors who lived near county lines may have records in neighboring offices. Check these county pages for additional genealogy resources.