Miami Ancestry Research Materials
Miami genealogy offers a unique window into South Florida's diverse past, and founded in 1896, this city draws families from Cuba, the Caribbean, Latin America, and across the United States. Its rapid growth from a small settlement to a major world city created a rich mix of cultures and records, and researchers tracing Miami ancestors find a blend of American and international sources. The city's position as a gateway to the Americas means many family stories pass through here, and understanding these records helps you discover your Miami roots through Miami-Dade County collections.
Miami Quick Facts
Miami-Dade Public Library System
The Miami-Dade Public Library System serves as a prime resource for family history research in South Florida, with the main library located at 101 W. Flagler Street in downtown Miami where special collections for genealogy researchers are housed and staff can be reached at (305) 375-2665 for questions about holdings. Special collections at the library focus on Cuban and Caribbean genealogy because many Miami families trace roots to these islands, and the library holds passenger lists and naturalization records showing when and how families arrived in the United States with some records in Spanish.
Census records form the backbone of Miami genealogy work, and the library provides access to federal census records from 1790 through 1950 where researchers can trace Miami households through the decades. The 1950 census is the most recent available to the public, and earlier census records show the city's growth from a small town to a major urban center. Microfilm and digital readers allow for easy viewing and printing of these documents.
Miami-Dade County Clerk Records
Miami-Dade County maintains official records for all residents of the city, and the county was established in 1836 as Dade County before being renamed Miami-Dade in 1997. The Clerk of Courts office holds marriage licenses, property deeds, and court records that span the entire history of the county, and researchers can access many records online or visit the courthouse in person. Marriage records in Miami-Dade date back to the 1800s, and the clerk maintains an index of all marriages performed in the county showing the names of the bride and groom along with the date and location of the ceremony.
Property records trace land ownership in Miami, and the county has seen dramatic development since the 1890s. Deed records show when families bought and sold land, and they can reveal married names of female relatives. Chain of title research follows property through multiple owners, and the clerk's online search tool makes finding these records easier than ever. Probate and estate files contain valuable family information because when Miami residents died, their estates often went through county court listing heirs and their relationships to the deceased while wills name family members and their inheritances.
Florida State Archives for Miami Research
The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee holds records that cover all of Miami-Dade County, and these collections supplement what is available locally while the archives preserve state-level copies of many records along with unique materials not found elsewhere. Researchers can visit in person or use online databases, and vital statistics records are a major resource at the state level where the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains birth and death records governed by Chapter 382 of Florida law.
Military service records document Miami veterans, and the state archives hold service cards for Florida soldiers with World War I and World War II records especially complete. Confederate pension applications include many early Miami families, and these files list service dates, units, and family members while widows' pension claims can prove marriages. Photographs and maps add depth to Miami family history through early photos of Miami streets and buildings along with Sanborn fire insurance maps showing detailed property layouts. Visit dos.fl.gov to explore their collections.
Digital Tools for Miami Genealogy
The internet has transformed how researchers access Miami family records, and many documents are now available online which allows research from anywhere in the world with both free and subscription sites serving Miami genealogy needs. FamilySearch.org provides free access to Miami records including census images and marriage indexes where many Miami church records are digitized, and the FamilySearch catalog lists microfilm available for ordering with new records added regularly.
Ancestry.com offers extensive Miami collections on this subscription site that has all census records and many city directories along with a newspaper collection including Miami papers, and user-submitted family trees can provide clues while DNA matching helps connect with distant relatives. Many libraries offer free in-library access to Ancestry.
Florida Vital Records for Miami Families
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains birth and death certificates for all Miami residents, and these records serve as primary sources for family history because the state began keeping vital records in earnest in the early 1900s. Birth certificates less than 100 years old have restrictions where only the person named or immediate family can obtain copies, but after 100 years birth records become public while death certificates follow a similar pattern with a 50-year restriction.
Ordering vital records requires proper documentation because requesters must prove their relationship to the person named, and the Florida Health website at floridahealth.gov provides ordering instructions with fees set by state law. Records can be ordered online, by mail, or in person.
Miami-Dade County Genealogy Resources
Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, and most official records for city residents are maintained at the county level where the Clerk of Courts and other county offices hold these documents, so researchers should explore both city and county resources for complete family history research.