Hillsborough County Florida genealogy records give researchers a clear path to ancestors who lived along Tampa Bay since the 1830s. The county was created on January 25, 1834, and it covers the city of Tampa, the port towns on the bay, and rural farming areas inland.
Records cover birth, death, marriage, land, court, military, and immigrant files. Many of these records are available online for free through state and federal sites. Local archives hold paper books that go back more than 180 years. This page lists what each office holds and how to order copies of vital records.
Why Hillsborough County Records Matter for Research
Records in this county cover people who shaped Florida’s west coast over more than 180 years. Tampa started as a small fort town near the mouth of the Hillsborough River in 1824. The 1880s brought a railroad and a cigar industry that changed the city forever. Immigrants arrived from Cuba, Spain, Italy, and the American South in large numbers. Veterans from the Seminole Wars, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and both World Wars settled here. Black families formed strong communities in Central Avenue, East Tampa, and the port areas near the wharves. Each group left documents that sit in local and state archives today, ready for family history research.
Historical Background of the County
The county began in 1834 with Fort Brooke as the main settlement. Spanish land grants from the early 1800s still affect property records today in some parts of the county. The 1840s saw the first handwritten marriage books filed at the new county courthouse. The Civil War brought Union naval activity to the port of Tampa. After 1880, Tampa became a cigar capital and immigration grew fast from Cuba, Spain, and Italy. The building of bridges to Pinellas County in the 1920s created new suburbs and new families in the records. Each growth period created new records at the county clerk’s office.
Record Types Held by Local Offices
The county clerk holds marriage licenses from 1846, court cases, deeds, mortgages, probate files, and some naturalization papers. The state holds birth and death certificates after 1917 and 1877. Federal courts hold immigration and naturalization files for Tampa residents. The state archives in Tallahassee hold Confederate pension files and Spanish land grants. Each office has its own rules about who can view files, who can order copies, and what fees apply for researchers tracing their ancestors.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates for Hillsborough County are filed with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Bureau is part of the Florida Department of Health. Birth records start around 1917 statewide for most Florida counties. Death records start around 1877 across the state. These files hold full names, dates, places, and parent names that researchers need to build a family tree. The Bureau is the only official source for certified copies used for legal purposes.
How to Order Birth and Death Copies
Researchers can order copies through VitalChek online or by mail to Jacksonville. Each request needs a valid photo ID and a small fee paid by check, money order, or credit card. The Bureau sends back certified copies that work for legal and family research purposes. Standard mail orders take three to four weeks. Online orders through VitalChek are faster but cost more for the same record. Researchers should state the full name, date, and place of the event when ordering.
Access Rules for Vital Records
Florida law keeps birth records private for 125 years from the date of birth. Death records stay private for 25 years from the date of death. Qualified applicants include the person named on the record, parents, adult children, grandparents, and legal representatives. A signed application and ID copy are needed for any request. Older records are open to the public for viewing at the state library in Tallahassee.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage licenses from 1846 to 1927 stay only at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts office in Tampa. State copies start from June 6, 1927. Divorce records stay at the Clerk’s office in the court files for the 13th Judicial Circuit. These records cover more than 175 years of family events in the Tampa area. Researchers can view paper books in person or order copies through the clerk’s online portal.
Marriage License Books at the Clerk
Early books were handwritten and show full names, ages, birthplaces, and parent names. Witnesses often were family members or close friends from the same ethnic community. Records show couples from Cuba, Spain, Italy, and the American South who settled in Tampa. Each book has an index at the front or back for fast searching by name. The handwritten pages have been scanned and indexed by volunteers for many years.
Divorce Cases in Circuit Court
Divorce files sit in the 13th Judicial Circuit records. Files hold petitions, decrees, and sometimes custody papers. They span from the late 1800s to today. Older files need a written request and a small fee for staff to pull them from storage. Modern files from 1980 forward sit in the courthouse computer system for fast lookup by case number or party name.
Land Records, Probate Files, and Homesteads
Property records begin in the 1830s with Spanish and U.S. government grants. The Clerk’s office holds deed books, plat maps, and homestead files. These records show how families owned and passed down land across many generations. Researchers can use land records to prove where an ancestor lived at a specific date.
Deed Books and Grantor Indexes
Researchers can search by name using grantor and grantee indexes. The books list the price, acreage, and neighbors’ names. Many early deeds show cigar factory sites, farm lands, and riverfront lots along the Hillsborough River. The indexes sit at the front desk of the records room in Tampa. Staff can help researchers find the right book and page for a specific transaction.
Probate and Estate Files
Probate files include wills, inventories, and heir lists. These files name children, spouses, and siblings of the deceased. They give clues about family wealth, slaves owned, and land holdings at the time of death. Older files may sit in storage and need a 24-hour request to view at the clerk’s office.
Homestead Records
Florida homestead exemption files start in the 20th century. They confirm home ownership and family residence. They help prove residency for voting and school records. The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser holds these files at 601 E. Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Tampa. Researchers can search by owner name and parcel number.
Census, Obituaries, and Cemetery Records
Federal census records cover Hillsborough County every ten years from 1840 to 1950. State census records exist for certain years between 1855 and 1945. Obituaries appear in Tampa newspapers from the 1850s to today. Cemetery records list burials at local sites in Tampa and nearby towns. These three record types help fill gaps between official vital records.
Federal and State Census Records
Federal records are free at the National Archives and FamilySearch. State records for 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1935, and 1945 are online at FamilySearch. Each census lists every household member by name, age, and birthplace. These are key tools for tracing families between other vital records. The 1890 census for Florida was mostly destroyed by fire, but some fragments remain.
Obituary Searches in Local Papers
Tampa Tribune and Tampa Bay Times archives cover local deaths from the late 1800s to today. Many papers are on newspapers.com and genealogybank.com for a fee. Free indexes exist at the Tampa Bay History Center on the waterfront. Death notices list family members, funeral homes, and burial sites for each person.
Cemetery Records in the Tampa Area
Major sites include Oaklawn Cemetery, Centro Asturiano Cemetery, and Garden of Memories. Find A Grave has free indexes with photos for most plots. The Tampa Bay History Center holds paper files and plat maps for each cemetery. Plot owners often bought family sections that hold many generations in one place.
Military Records and Service Files
Hillsborough County men served in every major U.S. conflict. Records include service cards, pension files, and burial logs. These files help link a name on a tombstone to a service unit and a date of service. Many soldiers from other states settled in Tampa after their service ended.
Confederate Pension Applications
The State Archives of Florida holds Confederate pension files in Tallahassee. They list unit, rank, and family data. They cover soldiers and widows who applied between 1885 and 1950. These files give full names, ages, and company details that other records miss. Researchers can view scanned copies on the archives website.
Spanish-American War and Later Conflicts
Military service records sit at the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri. Florida Memory has indexed cards for state service in World War I. World War I draft cards show physical descriptions and next of kin for men aged 18 to 45. World War II enlistment files give serial numbers, addresses, and assignments for each soldier.
Immigration and Naturalization Records
Tampa was a major port for immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Federal court records hold naturalization files. Passenger ship manifests show who arrived and where they came from at the port. The cigar industry brought thousands of Cuban, Spanish, and Italian workers to the Tampa area over many years.
Naturalization Files at Federal Court
The Tampa Federal Courthouse holds declarations of intention and final papers. Many were filed between 1900 and 1950. Files include country of origin, date of arrival, and witness names. Some files hold photos and physical descriptions of the immigrant. Records sit at the National Archives in Kansas City for older files.
Passenger Ship Manifests for Tampa
Tampa and Key West passenger lists sit in NARA microfilm collections. Ancestry.com and FamilySearch have indexes and images. Researchers can search by name, age, and ship name. These records show travel from Cuban ports like Havana, Spanish ports like Barcelona, and Italian ports like Naples in the early 1900s.
Florida State Archives and Online Databases
The State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee holds county records. Florida Memory hosts free digital items. FamilySearch and Ancestry.com hold large indexed collections for Hillsborough County. Each site gives researchers different tools to find their family history in the Tampa area.
State Archives of Florida Collections
The archives hold Confederate pensions, Spanish land grants, and territorial papers. Researchers can visit the reading room or search the online catalog from home. Items cover the period from 1821 to today. Many records have been scanned and put online for free viewing by anyone with a web connection.
Florida Memory Digital Collection
Florida Memory at floridamemory.com holds photos, documents, and newspapers. Items include Tampa cigar workers, pioneer portraits, and early maps of the bay area. The site is free to use and has a search box for names, places, and topics. Photos often name the people in the picture.
FamilySearch and Ancestry.com Databases
FamilySearch has free Florida record images for anyone with a free account. Ancestry.com holds the same records plus city directories and school yearbooks. Both sites let researchers save records to a family tree for future reference. Search results can be filtered by county, year, and record type.
Contact Information for the Clerk’s Office
Researchers can visit the Hillsborough County Clerk’s office in downtown Tampa. The office sits at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Phone: (813) 276-8100. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Website: hillsclerk.com. The records room is on the second floor of the main building.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller |
| Street Address | 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Main Phone | (813) 276-8100 |
| Public Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Records Site | hillsclerk.com |
| State Vital Records | Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jacksonville |
| State Archives | State Archives of Florida, Tallahassee |
| Local History | Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa |
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people ask similar questions about Hillsborough County Florida genealogy records. The answers below cover the most common points from researchers who start their family search in this part of the state. Each answer gives a clear starting point for the next step in research.
How far back do marriage records go in Hillsborough County?
Marriage records in Hillsborough County start in 1846 at the Clerk of Courts office. Early books are handwritten and kept at the records room in Tampa. State copies start from June 6, 1927. Researchers should visit the local office for the oldest files. The office staff can pull books from storage with a one-day notice for hard-to-find entries. The clerk’s online portal lets you order copies of records from 1927 forward. The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee also holds microfilm copies of some early books for backup research.
Where can I find free Florida birth records for genealogy?
Birth records less than 125 years old stay private under Florida law. Free indexes appear on FamilySearch for many years after 1917. Certified copies cost a fee through VitalChek or by mail to Jacksonville. Researchers can also view microfilm copies at the State Library in Tallahassee for a small fee. The State Library has copies of birth records from 1917 to the present on microfilm. Researchers can also check the USGenWeb project for transcribed birth records from early Tampa newspapers.
What cemetery records are available for Tampa families?
Local Tampa cemeteries include Oaklawn, Centro Asturiano, Garden of Memories, and Myrtle Hill. Find A Grave has free indexes with photos for most plots. The Tampa Bay History Center holds paper files and plat maps for each cemetery. Centro Asturiano covers many Spanish immigrants from the cigar era. Oaklawn is the oldest public cemetery and has many pioneer markers. Some smaller family burial plots on old homesteads are also on file with the local historical society.
How do I find my Civil War ancestor from Florida?
Search Confederate pension files at the State Archives of Florida. They list unit, rank, and family data. Service records sit at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Union records are rare for Florida, but some sailors served on blockading ships in Tampa Bay. Florida did not have major Civil War battles, but many men served in Virginia and Tennessee units. The USGenWeb Florida site has transcribed rosters of Florida regiments for quick reference.
Can I search immigration records for Tampa arrivals?
Yes. Tampa passenger manifests sit at the National Archives. They are indexed on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. Tampa was a major port in the early 1900s for Cuban, Spanish, and Italian workers. Records show ship name, age, last residence, and the name of a relative in the new country. Key West was also a port of entry for many immigrants to Florida. Manifests from 1906 to 1954 are indexed and available for search by name.
Are divorce records public in this county?
Divorce cases sit at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts. Files include petitions and decrees. Older files need a staff request and a small fee. Modern files from 1980 forward sit in the courthouse computer system for fast lookup by case number or party name. Researchers can view case files in person at the records room. Sensitive details like minor children’s names may be redacted in modern files under Florida privacy laws.
What records exist for African American families in Hillsborough?
African American families appear in census records, Freedmen’s Bureau records, church books, and cemetery files. The Tampa Bay History Center has community archives and oral histories. Black newspapers like the Florida Sentinel-Voice list births, deaths, and family events from the 1940s forward. Records for slavery-era families appear in plantation papers and early court documents. Mt. Olive Cemetery and Beulah Cemetery hold many records for Tampa’s Black community and are indexed at the Tampa Bay History Center.