Palm Coast City Florida genealogy records help you trace family roots in Flagler County. Most of these records start after 1917 when Flagler County formed.
Before that, families lived in St. Johns or Volusia County. The city itself was built in the 1970s as a planned community. ITT Community Development Corporation bought the land in 1969. Retirees from northern states bought lots by mail. The town grew fast in the 1990s. It became a city on December 31, 1999. Today, Palm Coast has over 110,000 people. Many of those early buyers left property records, marriage files, and death notices. These papers now help family history researchers.
History of Palm Coast and Flagler County
The history of Palm Coast shapes what records you can find. The land was empty pine forest before 1969. No towns or farms existed in what we now call Palm Coast. The few people who lived in this area before 1970 had files in other counties. Records from those years are kept in St. Johns, Volusia, or Putnam County offices.
ITT Community Development Era
ITT Community Development bought 75 square miles of forest in 1969. They dug canals and built a road grid. They sold home lots through mail ads in cold states. Buyers from New York, New Jersey, and Ohio moved south. The first homes went up in the early 1970s. Property deeds from this sale still exist at the Flagler County Clerk’s office. These deeds name the original buyers. They often show both spouses. They may list previous homes in northern states.
1999 City Incorporation
Palm Coast became a city on December 31, 1999. Before that, Flagler County ran all local services. City records start in 2000. They include council meeting notes, city maps, and building permits. These files help trace who lived in which neighborhood. They also show when homes were built or sold.
Flagler County Formation
Flagler County formed on April 29, 1917. It split from St. Johns and Volusia counties. Bunnell became the county seat. All county records date from 1917 or later. If your family lived in this area before 1917, you need to check St. Johns or Volusia County files. Marriage licenses, deeds, and probate cases from that time are kept in those older counties.
Flagler County Clerk of Court Records
The Flagler County Clerk of Court keeps the main local records. The office sits at 1769 East Moody Boulevard in Bunnell. You can visit Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone number is (386) 313-4000. Most files from 1917 forward are open to the public. Florida’s public records law (Chapter 119) gives you the right to view and copy these files.
Property Deeds and Land Records
Land records are the most useful files for Palm Coast research. They show who bought each lot. They name the spouses who signed deeds together. They list the price paid. They show where previous owners lived. The ITT land sales from 1969 to 1999 created thousands of deeds. These deeds connect families to specific homes. You can search the clerk’s online system from home. The website is flaglerclerk.com. You can search by name, date, or legal description.
Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Marriage records date from 1917 onward. Each license shows the full names of the bride and groom. It shows their ages at the time of marriage. It lists their birthplaces. For people under 21, it may list parents’ names. These files help link two family lines together. The clerk keeps physical files in Bunnell. You can order copies online for a small fee. The fee is $3.00 for the first copy and $2.00 for each extra copy.
Probate and Estate Files
Probate files open when someone dies with or without a will. The court names an executor or administrator. The file lists all heirs. It names children, grandchildren, and sometimes siblings. It includes a will if one exists. It shows what the person owned at death. These files prove family ties. They also show where family members lived at the time. Files from 1917 forward are in Bunnell. Some older files may be in St. Johns or Volusia counties.
Court and Civil Records
Court records include divorces, lawsuits, and other civil cases. Divorce files from 1917 forward are in the clerk’s office. Each file shows the names of both spouses. It lists children from the marriage. It may show why the divorce happened. These files help break family ties. They also confirm when a couple stopped being married. Civil court files include name changes, adoptions, and child custody cases.
Florida State Archives and Statewide Records
The Florida State Archives sits in Tallahassee. The address is 500 South Bronough Street. The phone number is (850) 245-6700. The archives hold state-wide records and many Flagler County files. You can visit the research room Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Many of their files are now online.
Florida Birth Records
Florida started keeping birth records in 1865. Statewide records begin in 1917. Birth files from 1917 to 1920 are open. Records from 1921 to the present need proof of death or a direct family tie. The Florida Department of Health keeps certified copies. Their office is the Bureau of Vital Statistics. You can order birth certificates online or by mail. The cost is $15.00 per copy. The website is floridahealth.gov.
Florida Death Records
Florida death records start in 1877. Files from 1877 to 1969 are open to the public. Files from 1970 to the present need proof of relationship. Death certificates name parents. They show the cause of death. They list the burial place. They give the deceased’s age and birthplace. This makes them one of the best genealogy records. You can search the State Archives online index for free.
Florida Marriage and Divorce Records
Florida marriage records start in 1927. They show full names, ages, and birthplaces. Earlier marriage records from 1822 to 1927 are at the county level. Divorce records go back to 1927 at the state level. Palm Coast families who married in Florida will have records in the state system. You can search online indexes through the State Archives website.
Florida Census Records
Federal census records cover Florida every ten years from 1830. The 1940 census was released in 2012. The 1950 census was released in 2022. Each census lists every household member by name. It shows their age, birthplace, and occupation. It lists the head of household. It shows neighbors. Palm Coast did not exist before 1970, so early census records show families in other parts of Flagler County or in nearby counties.
Neighboring County Resources
Palm Coast sits between three older counties. Family history research often means checking all of them. Flagler County came from St. Johns in 1917. Part of the land came from Volusia County. Putnam County sits to the west. Records from before 1917 are in those counties.
St. Johns County Records
St. Johns County formed in 1821. It is the oldest county in Florida. The county seat is St. Augustine. Spanish colonial records from the 1500s and 1600s are kept there. The St. Johns County Clerk of Court sits at 4010 Lewis Speedway in St. Augustine. The phone number is (904) 819-3600. They keep marriage records from 1821. They keep land records from the Spanish land grant era. They also keep probate files from 1821 forward.
Volusia County Records
Volusia County formed in 1854. The county seat is DeLand. The Volusia County Clerk sits at 101 North Alabama Avenue in DeLand. The phone number is (386) 736-5890. They keep marriage records from 1854. They keep land records from the same year. They also have probate and court files. Many early Palm Coast settlers came from Volusia County towns like Daytona Beach.
Putnam County Records
Putnam County formed in 1849. The county seat is Palatka. Putnam sits west of Flagler County. Records there cover families who lived near the St. Johns River. The Putnam County Clerk of Court sits at 410 South State Road 19 in Palatka. The phone number is (386) 326-7600. They keep records from 1849 forward. These files help trace families who moved east to Palm Coast in the 1970s and 1980s.
Online Genealogy Databases
Online databases make research faster. You can search millions of records from your home. Some sites are free. Others charge fees. Knowing which site has which records saves time and money.
FamilySearch Records
FamilySearch.org is free. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints runs the site. It has the Florida census for 1830 through 1950. It has Florida death indexes from 1877 to 1969. It has Florida marriage indexes from 1822 to 1927. It has Flagler County marriage records. It also has international records. You need a free account to view most files. The site adds new records every month.
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com is the largest paid genealogy site. A subscription costs about $25.00 per month. The site has every U.S. census. It has Florida birth indexes from 1880. It has Florida death indexes from 1877. It has military records, immigration files, and newspaper archives. It also has user-built family trees. These trees may already include your Palm Coast relatives.
Find a Grave
Find a Grave is free at findagrave.com. Volunteers add cemetery records. The site has photos of gravestones. It has burial records for Flagler County cemeteries. It also has records for nearby counties. You can search by name and date. You can also search by cemetery. This helps when paper records are missing.
Florida GenWeb Project
The Florida GenWeb Project is free. It sits at flgenweb.org. Volunteers run the site. It has records for each Florida county. The Flagler County page links to local resources. It also links to nearby counties. The project started in 1996. It still adds new files each year.
Florida Historical Records and Newspapers
Old newspapers tell family stories. They show births, deaths, weddings, and trips. They also show land deals and court news. Florida has a strong newspaper history.
Florida Historical Newspapers
Florida newspaper archives start in the 1800s. The Florida Digital Newspaper Library is free. It sits at floridapapers.com. The site has papers from many Florida cities. Palm Coast papers are newer. The Flagler Tribune started in 1957. Older papers from Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and Palatka covered this area before 1970.
Chronicling America
Chronicling America is a free newspaper site. The Library of Congress runs it. The site has Florida papers from 1836 to 1922. You can search by name. The site has scanned images of original pages. This helps when you need exact wording from a death notice or wedding story.
Newspaper.com and GenealogyBank
Newspaper.com and GenealogyBank are paid sites. They have papers from all 50 states. They have more recent Florida papers. A subscription costs about $20.00 per month. These sites help when you need obituaries from the 1990s or 2000s. They also help with marriage and birth notices.
Specialized Records for Palm Coast Research
Some records help with specific groups. Military, church, and school records fill in gaps. They show lives between census years.
Military Records
Military records help trace men who served. They show age, height, and place of birth. They also show next of kin. Florida men served in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The National Archives holds most military files. The website is archives.gov. Pension files from the Civil War also help. Confederate records sit at the Florida State Archives.
Cemetery and Obituary Records
Cemetery records show burials in local plots. Flagler County has several active cemeteries. The main ones are in Bunnell and Flagler Beach. Find a Grave has photos of most markers. Funeral home records also help. The Flagler County Public Library keeps a local history file with obituaries from the 1960s forward.
Church Records
Church records show baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Many early Florida families were Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic. Church files sit at each church or at the state archives. Some church records go back to the 1800s. They help when civil records are missing.
Immigration and Naturalization Records
Immigration records help trace families who came from outside the United States. Most Palm Coast settlers came from northern states. But some came from Canada, the Caribbean, or Europe. The National Archives has passenger lists from 1820 to 1960. Naturalization records show when someone became a citizen. These files are at federal courts in Florida.
Visiting Local Research Facilities
You can visit several local places for research. Each one has different files. Knowing what each place holds saves time.
Flagler County Courthouse
The Flagler County Courthouse sits at 1769 East Moody Boulevard in Bunnell, Florida 32110. The phone number is (386) 313-4000. The clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can search deed records, marriage files, and probate cases there. You can use their public computers for free.
Flagler County Public Library
The Flagler County Public Library main branch sits at 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW in Palm Coast, Florida 32137. The phone number is (386) 446-6763. The library is open seven days a week. It has a local history room. The room holds newspaper files, family papers, and books on local history. Library staff can help with research questions.
Florida State Archives
The Florida State Archives sits at 500 South Bronough Street in Tallahassee, Florida 32399. The phone number is (850) 245-6700. The research room is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can view microfilm, original papers, and maps there. Staff can help find files.
Contact Information for Palm Coast Research
You can reach key offices for Palm Coast City Florida genealogy records through the links below. The Flagler County Clerk of Court office is the main local source. The Florida State Archives holds many statewide files. The Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics handles birth and death certificates. FamilySearch offers free online records. Use these resources to trace your family history in Palm Coast.
Flagler County Clerk of Court: 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, FL 32110 | Phone: (386) 313-4000 | Website: flaglerclerk.com
Flagler County Public Library: 2500 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Palm Coast, FL 32137 | Phone: (386) 446-6763
Florida State Archives: 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 | Phone: (850) 245-6700 | Website: floridamemory.com
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics: 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 | Phone: (904) 359-6900 | Website: floridahealth.gov
FamilySearch: familysearch.org
Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Coast Genealogy
These questions cover the most common needs for people tracing family in Palm Coast. The answers point you to the right records and offices. Each answer gives clear steps so you can move forward with your research.
What year did Palm Coast start keeping local records?
Palm Coast became a city on December 31, 1999. Local city records begin in 2000. Before that, all records were at the Flagler County level. Flagler County formed on April 29, 1917. County records go back to that year. For families who lived in the Palm Coast area before 1969, you need to check St. Johns County or Volusia County records. The land was empty pine forest before the ITT Community Development project started.
Where can I find Palm Coast marriage records from the 1970s?
Marriage records from 1917 to the present sit at the Flagler County Clerk of Court. The office sits at 1769 East Moody Boulevard in Bunnell. The phone number is (386) 313-4000. You can search the online index at flaglerclerk.com. The fee is $3.00 for the first certified copy and $2.00 for each extra copy. Many of these records are also on FamilySearch.org for free.
How do I find who built my grandparents’ house in Palm Coast?
Property deed records show who bought each lot. The Flagler County Clerk of Court keeps these records. Search by the property address or by the family name. Deeds from 1969 forward show the ITT Community Development sale. They also show later sales. Building permits sit with the Palm Coast Building Department. The city hall address is 160 Lake Avenue, Palm Coast, Florida 32164. The phone number is (386) 986-3700.
Can I get a Florida death certificate online?
You can order a Florida death certificate from 1877 to 1969 through the Florida State Archives. The website is floridamemory.com. For records from 1970 to the present, you need to order from the Florida Department of Health. The website is floridahealth.gov. The cost is $15.00 per certified copy. You can also order by phone at (904) 359-6900. You must show proof that the person died and prove your family tie.
What free records exist for Flagler County?
FamilySearch.org has Flagler County marriage records. The site also has Florida census records, death indexes, and military files. Find a Grave has burial records for local cemeteries. Chronicling America has Florida newspapers from 1836 to 1922. The Flagler County Public Library has a free local history collection. The Florida Digital Newspaper Library at floridapapers.com is also free.
How do I trace a family that moved to Palm Coast in 1985?
Start with property deeds at the Flagler County Clerk of Court. These show when a family bought their home. Next, check the local phone book from 1985. The Flagler County Public Library keeps old phone books. Then check the 1990 federal census. Records for the 1990 census are not yet public. Use city directories, voter records, and school records. School records sit at the Flagler County School Board office at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, Florida 32110.
Where can I find military records for Florida veterans?
The National Archives holds most U.S. military records. The website is archives.gov. Pension files, draft cards, and service records are all there. The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee holds Confederate records. It also holds Florida National Guard records. The Flagler County Veterans Services Office can help local families. It sits at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, Florida 32110. The phone number is (386) 313-4015.