Pembroke Pines Family History Research
Pembroke Pines genealogy offers a unique look at South Florida's planned communities and family roots. Incorporated in 1960, this Broward County city grew from dairy farms into one of Florida's largest municipalities. Families came seeking opportunities in the post-war boom. Many stayed for generations. Their stories live on in local records.
Pembroke Pines Quick Facts
Broward County Library Pembroke Pines Branch
The Broward County Library System serves Pembroke Pines residents through its branch at 955 NW 129th Avenue, where staff members help researchers access genealogy materials including census records, immigration lists, military files, and local history documents that span decades of South Florida growth. You can reach them at (954) 357-6750 for assistance with family history questions. This location connects you to one of Florida's largest public library systems.
Your library card unlocks major genealogy databases from home. Ancestry Library Edition is available on library computers. This includes census records and immigration lists. HeritageQuest offers remote access for census and military records. Both help you trace families who came to South Florida from other states and countries.
The library holds materials on Florida and local history. You can find books about Broward County's development. Old maps show how Pembroke Pines grew from rural land. City directories list residents from the 1960s onward. These track families as the city expanded westward. Staff can help you locate materials at the main library in Fort Lauderdale.
Newspapers on microfilm cover the area's history. The library provides access to the Sun Sentinel and earlier papers. These contain birth notices, wedding announcements, and obituaries. You can read about local events that shaped the community. News stories mention families and their activities. Obituaries name survivors and their relationships.
Broward County Clerk of Courts Records
The Broward County Clerk of Courts maintains official records for Pembroke Pines families at their office in Fort Lauderdale, where you can visit in person or use online tools to access many records dating to before Pembroke Pines existed, helping trace families who lived in the area when it was unincorporated. Researchers find details about property transfers across generations. The archives contain valuable information for genealogists.
Marriage licenses are available through the clerk. Broward County has kept these records since 1915. Each license names the bride and groom. Ages and birthplaces appear on the documents. Some list parents or previous spouses. You can search the clerk's online index from home. This finds marriages without visiting the office.
Property deeds show land ownership through time. Broward County boomed after World War II. Deeds track when families bought lots in new subdivisions. They name spouses who released dower rights. This reveals married names of daughters. You can follow a parcel from raw land to developed property. The online records search makes this easier.
Probate records offer rich family details. When a Broward County resident died, their estate went through probate. These files name all heirs and their relationships. Wills list children and grandchildren. Estate inventories show what families owned. This reveals how they lived in different eras.
Court records add context to family stories. Civil lawsuits may involve ancestors as parties. Criminal cases show legal troubles. Divorce records prove marriages that ended. All of these paint a picture of family life. The clerk maintains records with public access guaranteed by Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.
State Archives Resources for Pembroke Pines
The Florida State Archives holds records that include Pembroke Pines families, located in Tallahassee but offering online access where you can order copies by mail, with state records covering all 67 Florida counties including Broward County and its history. Researchers find death certificates from 1877 onward that name the deceased and their parents while giving cause of death and burial location. Free online indexes help you find these documents.
Florida took state censuses in 1885, 1935, and 1945. These name every person in each household. They list ages and birthplaces. This helps track families between federal census years. The 1945 census captures Pembroke Pines just before incorporation. You may find farming families who later became city residents.
Visit the Florida State Archives at dos.fl.gov to explore their holdings. The site offers research guides for beginners. You can search databases for free. Staff answer questions by email.
Digital Tools for Pembroke Pines Research
Online resources make genealogy research convenient. You can search records from home at any hour. Many sites offer free access. Others charge for premium features.
FamilySearch.org offers free Florida records. The site has Broward County marriages and deaths. You can view census images without cost. Users build family trees to share research.
Ancestry.com is the largest paid genealogy site. It includes all U.S. census records and Florida newspapers. The site has school yearbooks from Broward County. You can find military records and passenger lists.
Florida Vital Records for Pembroke Pines Families
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains birth and death records as part of the state health department where Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes governs these records, and you can order copies for genealogy purposes with some records open to anyone while others have restrictions based on age. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted. Only the person named or their heirs can obtain copies. Death records less than 50 years old have similar limits.
Visit the Florida Health website at floridahealth.gov for ordering details. The site explains what identification you need. It describes how to prove heirship if required.
Vital records prove family relationships. Birth certificates name both parents. Death certificates may list parents, spouse, and children. These documents help join lineage societies.
Broward County Genealogy Records
Pembroke Pines is part of Broward County. Most official records are kept at the county level. The Broward County Clerk of Courts maintains these files.