West Palm Beach Family History
West Palm Beach genealogy connects families to the historic heart of Palm Beach County. Founded in 1894 by Henry Flagler as a commercial center for his railroad and resort, the city grew alongside its famous island neighbor. Flagler built the Royal Poinciana Hotel and brought workers and tourists by the thousands. Pioneer families established businesses and homes across the Intracoastal Waterway. Today their descendants find rich record collections in this cultural hub.
West Palm Beach Quick Facts
Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach
The Mandel Public Library maintains excellent genealogy resources. The library is at 411 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Staff there help researchers with family history questions. You can reach them at (561) 868-7700. The facility serves as a major research center for Palm Beach County. The historic building anchors the downtown district. Modern wings house computer labs. Reading rooms offer quiet study space.
The library offers free access to major genealogy databases. Ancestry Library Edition is available on site. This includes census records, military files, and immigration lists. HeritageQuest offers remote access with a library card. Fold3 provides military records. These tools help trace families who came to South Florida from across America and beyond.
Florida history is a special focus of the collection. You can find books on Palm Beach County's pioneer families. The library holds maps from the Flagler era onward. City directories list residents from the 1890s to the present. These track families as the city grew from a railroad town to a modern metropolis. Old phone books supplement the directories.
Newspapers on microfilm preserve local history. The library holds the Palm Beach Post and its predecessors. Some issues date to the 1890s. These papers contain birth notices, death records, and wedding announcements. You can read about the development of the Gold Coast. Obituaries provide names of family members and burial details.
Classes help researchers at all skill levels. Beginners learn the basics of family history. Advanced topics cover online databases and foreign records. Staff can guide you to materials for your specific research. The library's website lists current programs and hours.
Historical Society of Palm Beach County
The Historical Society of Palm Beach County preserves the region's rich heritage. The society is at 300 N. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Staff and volunteers help researchers explore local history. The collection covers Palm Beach County from its earliest days. This includes the stories of West Palm Beach families.
The Johnson History Museum houses exhibits and archives. You can see artifacts from the pioneer era. The collection includes items from Henry Flagler's projects. There are displays on agriculture and tourism. These put your family story in historical context.
Photographs form a major part of the archives. You can see West Palm Beach in its earliest days. Images show Clematis Street through the decades. There are photos of the original neighborhoods. You may find pictures of your ancestors. The visual record brings family history to life.
Manuscript collections include personal papers and business records. You can find documents from pioneer families. There are records of early businesses and organizations. Diaries and letters capture daily life. These sources add depth to genealogical research.
The society offers programs and events throughout the year. Lectures cover topics in local history. Special exhibits focus on different eras. Membership supports preservation work. Contact the society for research assistance.
Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Records
The Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller maintains official records. The clerk's office is in West Palm Beach, the county seat. You can visit in person or use online tools. Many records date to before West Palm Beach existed. Palm Beach County was created in 1909. Early documents reveal the Flagler era's impact. Land booms shaped the county's growth. Court records show how justice evolved.
Marriage licenses are a key resource. The clerk has records from the early 1900s onward. Each license names the bride and groom. It shows their ages and birthplaces. 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. Henry Flagler bought and sold vast tracts. Deeds track when pioneers claimed land. They follow sales through the decades. You can trace a lot from wilderness to developed property. Spouses named on deeds reveal married names of daughters.
Probate records offer rich family details. When a Palm Beach County resident died, their estate went to 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 cases may name ancestors as parties. Criminal files show legal troubles. Divorce records prove marriages that ended. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes guarantees public access.
Florida State Archives West Palm Beach Resources
The Florida State Archives holds records that include West Palm Beach families. The archives are in Tallahassee but offer online access. You can order copies by mail. State collections cover all 67 Florida counties.
Vital records are a major resource. The State Archives hold death certificates from 1877 onward. These name the deceased and their parents. They give cause of death and burial place. Birth records are more restricted. Older records are available for genealogy.
State census records fill gaps between federal counts. Florida took censuses in 1885, 1935, and 1945. These name every person in each household. They give ages and birthplaces. This helps track families between federal census years.
Visit the Florida State Archives at dos.fl.gov to explore their holdings. The site offers research guides. You can search databases for free.
Digital Tools for West Palm Beach Research
Online resources make genealogy research convenient. You can search from home at any hour. Many sites offer free access. Others charge for premium features.
FamilySearch.org offers free Florida records. The site has Palm Beach County marriages and deaths. You can view census images without cost.
Ancestry.com is the largest paid genealogy site. It includes all U.S. census records and Florida newspapers. Many libraries offer free access.
Find A Grave lists cemetery records for the area. Volunteers have photographed thousands of local graves.
Florida Vital Records for West Palm Beach Families
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains birth and death records. Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes governs these records. You can order copies for genealogy.
Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted. Death records less than 50 years old have similar limits. After these periods, records become public.
Visit the Florida Health website at floridahealth.gov for ordering details.
Vital records prove family relationships. Keep copies of all you find.
Palm Beach County Genealogy Records
West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County. Most official records are kept at the county level. The Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller maintains these files.