St Lucie County Florida genealogy records cover a wide range of documents that help researchers trace family roots along Florida’s Treasure Coast. The county formed in 1905 from parts of Brevard County.
Fort Pierce serves as the county seat. Port St. Lucie is now the largest city in the region. Researchers can locate birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, court files, land deeds, and cemetery entries. Many records stay at the county level. Others sit in state archives in Tallahassee. Some papers are digitized. Others need a visit to a courthouse or library. This page covers all main record types, where to find them, and how to order copies.
St. Lucie County Background and Historical Context
St. Lucie County sits on Florida’s east coast between Indian River and Martin counties. The area was part of Brevard County before 1905. Records for ancestors who lived there before 1905 stay in Brevard County files. The county was named for Saint Lucy of Syracuse. Early settlers farmed pineapples, citrus, and cattle. The Indian River and the railroad shaped early life. Many families came in the 1880s and 1890s. Some stayed through the hard freezes of the 1890s. Others moved south after the freezes. This pattern affects where early records sit.
County Formation and Early Settlement
St. Lucie County was created by the Florida Legislature in 1905. The state constitution at that time allowed new counties to form from older ones. Brevard County lost its southern portion when St. Lucie formed. Early court sessions took place in Fort Pierce. The first courthouse was a wooden building. It burned in 1908. Records from before the fire were lost. Records from 1908 forward survive at the Clerk of Court office.
Record Coverage Timeline
Florida began statewide birth and death records in 1917. Marriage records became statewide on June 6, 1927. Before these dates, records stay at the county level. Federal census records cover the area as part of St. Lucie County starting in 1910. Earlier census entries list residents under Brevard County. This timeline matters for anyone tracing families back more than a century.
Why Brevard County Records Matter
Ancestors who lived in the St. Lucie region before 1905 appear in Brevard County records. Marriage bonds, probate files, and land deeds from that era sit in the Brevard County Clerk of Court office. Researchers should check both counties. Some families moved back and forth across the county line. The Indian River Lagoon formed part of the boundary in early years.
St. Lucie County Clerk of Court Records
The St. Lucie County Clerk of Court holds many local records. The office follows Florida’s public records law under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Researchers can view marriage licenses, probate files, land deeds, and court cases. Records date back to 1905 when the county formed. Some older papers exist on microfilm. The Clerk’s office keeps digital indexes for many record types. Staff members help visitors search old files. The office address is 201 S. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. The phone number is (772) 462-6900. The website is stlucieclerk.com.
Marriage License Records
Marriage records from June 6, 1927 to the present sit at the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Earlier marriage records stay at the St. Lucie County Clerk of Court. The Clerk’s office holds marriage bonds, licenses, and certificates from 1905 forward. These records list the bride and groom, their ages, parents’ names, and the officiant. Some papers include witnesses. Researchers can search the Clerk’s online index from home. Older books require a visit to the Fort Pierce office.
Probate and Estate Files
Probate records show how a deceased person’s estate was divided. These files name heirs, list property, and detail debts. They often reveal family relationships. Researchers can find wills, letters of administration, and inventory records. St. Lucie County probate files date back to 1905. The Clerk’s office indexes these files by name. Older cases sit in storage. Staff retrieve them on request. Researchers should bring as much information as possible when requesting files.
Land Deeds and Property Records
Land records trace property ownership through generations. The Clerk’s office holds deeds, mortgages, and liens. Records begin in 1905 for St. Lucie County. Spanish land grants from the 1820s sit at the State Archives. Federal land patents from the 1800s sit at the Bureau of Land Management. Researchers can trace a family’s land through tax rolls, deeds, and plat maps. The Clerk’s online system searches by name or parcel number.
Court Case Files
Court records cover civil and criminal cases. They name plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses. Divorce decrees sit in civil court files. Adoption papers also sit in court records. Some adoption files stay sealed by Florida law. Researchers can request access through the Clerk. Older criminal records may have historical value. They often list occupations and addresses. Researchers should call ahead before visiting to confirm file availability.
Florida State Vital Records for St. Lucie County
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps statewide birth and death records. The office sits in Jacksonville. Birth records start in 1917 for all Florida counties. Death records also begin in 1917. Florida law keeps birth records confidential for 125 years. Death records without cause of death are public. The cause of death stays private for 50 years. Researchers can order certified copies online or by mail. The Bureau works with VitalChek for credit card orders.
Birth Certificate Access
Florida birth certificates less than 125 years old stay confidential. Only specific people can order them. Eligible requesters include the person named on the record, parents, adult children, legal guardians, and authorized representatives. Each requester must show valid identification. Spouses can order records with proof of marriage. The Bureau accepts driver’s licenses, passports, and state IDs. Orders take several weeks to process. Rush service costs extra.
Death Certificate Records
Death records from 1917 forward sit at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The fact of death is public. The cause of death stays private for 50 years. Researchers can order a death record without cause of death at any time. Genealogists often need these records to confirm parent-child links. Death certificates list the deceased’s name, age, birth date, and parents. They also list burial information.
Marriage Records Statewide
Florida marriage records from June 6, 1927 to the present sit at the state level. Earlier records stay at the county where the license was issued. State marriage records include the bride and groom’s full names, ages, and birthplaces. They list parents’ names for both parties. The officiant’s name also appears. Researchers can search the statewide index through the Bureau’s online system.
Ordering Certified Copies
Certified copies of vital records have legal standing. They work for passports, legal matters, and dual citizenship applications. The Bureau charges a fee for each certified copy. Standard processing takes four to six weeks. Rush service takes three to five business days. Researchers can order online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Mail orders require the proper form, a check or money order, and a photocopy of identification.
Florida State Archives and Historical Documents
The State Archives of Florida sits in Tallahassee. The building is the R.A. Gray Building at 500 S. Bronough Street. The archives hold records useful for St. Lucie County researchers. Records before 1905 appear under Brevard County. The archives also hold statewide records. Confederate pension files, World War I service cards, and voter registration rolls sit here. Spanish land grants from the 1820s also sit in Tallahassee.
Confederate Pension Files
Confederate pension applications list veterans who lived in Florida after the Civil War. Many ex-soldiers moved to the St. Lucie area in the 1880s and 1890s. Pension files name wives, children, and parents. They list birthplaces and death dates. Widows filed for continued benefits. These files often contain letters from family members. They reveal personal details and family connections.
World War I Service Records
Florida’s World War I service cards document men who served from 1917 to 1919. The cards list next of kin, birthplaces, and physical descriptions. Some men from St. Lucie County served in Florida units. Their service cards sit at the State Archives. Researchers can search the online catalog by name. The archives also hold photographs of many service members.
Voter Registration Rolls
Voter registration rolls from 1867 to 1868 list freedmen and white residents after the Civil War. These records help African American genealogy researchers. They list names, ages, and former owners. Some 1890s voter rolls also survive. Researchers can search the archives catalog for these files. The rolls name residents of early precincts that later became part of St. Lucie County.
Spanish Land Grants
Spanish land grants date from 1821 when Florida became a U.S. territory. These grants went to settlers with Spanish connections. Few people lived in the St. Lucie area at that time. The grants cover land along the Indian River. Researchers can view scans online through the State Archives website. The records name grantees, witnesses, and acreage.
Census Records for St. Lucie County
Census records help researchers track families every ten years. Federal census records cover the entire United States. St. Lucie County residents first appear under their own county name in 1910. Earlier records list them under Brevard County. Census records list names, ages, birthplaces, and occupations. They also show neighbors. Neighbors often had family ties or shared backgrounds.
Federal Census Coverage
Federal census records survive for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. The 1890 census was destroyed by fire in 1921. St. Lucie County appears separately starting in 1910. Researchers can search census records at FamilySearch.org for free. Ancestry.com also hosts census images with a subscription. Many libraries offer free access to Ancestry through their websites.
1940 Census Details
The 1940 census was released to the public in 2012. It lists every household member with detailed information. The record shows income, education, and employment. The 1940 census also lists where each person lived in 1935. This helps researchers track migration patterns. St. Lucie County had about 11,000 residents in 1940. Most lived in Fort Pierce or on small farms.
State and Territorial Censuses
Florida took state censuses in 1885, 1935, 1945, and 1955. The 1885 census lists Florida residents five years before the federal census. Some records sit at the State Archives. Territorial censuses from 1825, 1830, and 1840 list early settlers. The 1830 census lists heads of household in the St. Lucie area under St. Johns County.
Newspapers and Obituary Sources
Newspapers provide details not found in vital records. They list births, marriages, deaths, and social events. Local papers covered Fort Pierce and the surrounding region. Obituaries often name survivors and funeral homes. Wedding announcements describe ceremonies. Local columns mention visitors and social calls. These details add color to family histories.
Fort Pierce News Tribune
The Fort Pierce News Tribune started in the early 1900s. It covered local news, society events, and agriculture. The paper ran under different names over the years. The current paper is TCPalm. Back issues sit on microfilm at the State Library in Tallahassee. The St. Lucie County Library also has microfilm readers. Some issues are digitized on newspapers.com.
Online Newspaper Archives
Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank, and Chronicling America host Florida newspapers. Chronicling America offers free access to papers from 1836 to 1922. Florida papers from this era sit in this database. Researchers can search by name or place. Subscription sites like Newspapers.com have more recent issues. Many libraries offer free access to these databases for cardholders.
Obituary Research Methods
Researchers should search obituaries with a full name and date range. They should also try alternate spellings. Old newspapers had many spelling errors. Obituaries often list the deceased’s birth date, parents, and spouse. They sometimes list burial information. Researchers should save copies of all obituaries. They add context to vital records.
Cemetery and Church Records
Cemetery records list burials by name and date. They often show birth and death dates. They sometimes list family relationships. Church records cover baptisms, marriages, and burials. Florida churches kept these records before the state began keeping vital records. African American churches kept records for freedmen after the Civil War.
Find a Grave and Cemetery Records
Find a Grave at findagrave.com hosts millions of cemetery records. Volunteers photograph headstones across the country. Researchers can search by name and location. St. Lucie County cemeteries include the Fort Pierce Cemetery, White City Cemetery, and local churchyards. The site lists photos and transcriptions. BillionGraves is another free cemetery site with GPS-tagged photos.
Church and Religious Records
Church records sit at individual churches or denominational archives. The Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach holds records for St. Lucie County Catholic churches. Episcopal, Methodist, and Baptist churches also kept records. African American churches kept records for their congregations. Researchers should contact churches directly for baptism, marriage, and burial records.
African American Genealogy Sources
African American genealogy research uses Freedmen’s Bureau records, voter registration rolls, and church records. The Freedmen’s Bureau helped formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. Records sit at the National Archives. Records list names, locations, and former owners. Slave schedules from 1850 and 1860 list enslaved people by name under the slaveholder. These records sit at the National Archives too.
Online Research Platforms
Online platforms make research faster. FamilySearch offers free access to many Florida records. Ancestry.com hosts the largest collection of U.S. records. MyHeritage and FindMyPast add British and European records. Free sites include FamilySearch, Find a Grave, and Chronicling America. Researchers should start with free sites before paying for subscriptions.
FamilySearch Florida Collections
FamilySearch.org hosts Florida birth, death, and marriage indexes. The site also has Florida census records, probate files, and naturalization records. Users can search by name, date, and place. FamilySearch has free digital images of many records. Researchers can view records at home or at any FamilySearch Center. The site also has a wiki page for St. Lucie County.
Ancestry.com Florida Records
Ancestry.com hosts Florida records with a subscription. The site has Florida census images, vital records indexes, and immigration records. Ancestry also has Florida newspaper archives. The site offers DNA testing through AncestryDNA. Users can build family trees online. Many libraries offer free Ancestry access through their websites.
Free and Subscription Databases
Free databases include FamilySearch, Find a Grave, BillionGraves, and Chronicling America. Subscription databases include Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, Newspapers.com, and Fold3. Fold3 has military records useful for veterans. Researchers should pick one paid site at a time. Most sites offer free trial periods. They should cancel before the trial ends if they don’t want to keep the subscription.
St. Lucie County Genealogy Research Tips
Good research starts with home sources. Family Bibles, letters, photos, and old documents hold clues. Researchers should talk to older relatives. They may remember names, dates, and places. They may have photos or papers. These items provide leads for further research. Official records verify family stories.
Starting Your Research
Begin by writing down what you know. List names, dates, and places. Add source citations for every fact. Check home sources first. Then move to census records, vital records, and local histories. Build your family tree one generation at a time. Verify each link with original records. Save copies of all documents.
Working with the Clerk’s Office
Call the Clerk’s office before visiting. Ask what records exist for your time period. Ask about search fees and copy costs. Bring photo identification. Bring pencils, paper, and a camera. Plan to spend several hours. Older records may need staff time to retrieve. Be patient with staff. They help many researchers.
Building a Research Log
A research log tracks every search. List the date, place, and source. Record what you found. Note items you need to check later. A log helps you avoid repeating searches. It shows what sources you have used. It helps you pick the next step. Researchers should keep logs in a notebook or spreadsheet.
Contact Information and Resources
Researchers need correct addresses and phone numbers for the offices that hold records. The St. Lucie County Clerk of Court sits at 201 S. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. The phone number is (772) 462-6900. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The website is stlucieclerk.com. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics sits at 1217 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The phone number is (904) 359-6900. The State Archives of Florida sits at 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. The phone number is (850) 245-6700. The State Library of Florida sits in the same building. The St. Lucie County Library System has branches in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, and Tradition. The main branch sits at 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. The phone number is (772) 462-2787.
FAQ
The following questions cover common topics that researchers ask about St. Lucie County genealogy records. Each answer gives clear steps and practical advice. These questions come from real research situations. The answers help researchers plan their next steps.
Where do I find St. Lucie County birth records before 1917?
Florida did not keep statewide birth records before 1917. Some counties kept records. St. Lucie County formed in 1905. Early birth records for this area are rare. Researchers should check church records for baptisms. Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist churches kept baptism registers. These records often list birth dates. They also name parents. Researchers can contact churches directly. The State Archives of Florida holds some church records on microfilm. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has microfilm copies of many Florida church records. FamilySearch.org has some of these records online. Researchers can also check local newspapers for birth announcements. The Fort Pierce News Tribune printed birth notices in the early 1900s.
How do I order a Florida death certificate for genealogy?
Researchers can order death certificates through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Bureau accepts online orders through VitalChek. VitalChek accepts credit cards. The standard fee is set by Florida law. Rush service costs extra. Mail orders require the proper form, a check or money order, and a photocopy of identification. The form sits on the Bureau’s website. Researchers should list the deceased’s full name, date of death, and county of death. They should also list their own relationship to the deceased. The fact of death is public. The cause of death stays private for 50 years. Researchers can order a record without the cause of death at any time. Processing takes four to six weeks for standard orders.
What records survive for St. Lucie County before 1905?
Records before 1905 sit in Brevard County files. St. Lucie was part of Brevard until 1905. Researchers should check the Brevard County Clerk of Court office. They should also check the State Archives of Florida. Spanish land grants from the 1820s sit in Tallahassee. The 1830 and 1840 federal censuses list St. Lucie area residents under St. Johns County. The 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900 censuses list them under Brevard County. Researchers can view these records at FamilySearch.org. They can also view them at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Many records have been digitized and sit online.
Can I view St. Lucie County records online for free?
FamilySearch.org hosts many Florida records for free. The site has census records, vital records indexes, and probate files. Users can create a free account. Find a Grave and BillionGraves offer free cemetery records. Chronicling America offers free newspaper archives from 1836 to 1922. The State Archives of Florida offers free online catalogs. Researchers can search these catalogs before visiting. The Clerk of Court website offers some online searches. Many records require an in-person visit. Researchers should check multiple free sites before paying for subscriptions.
How do I trace African American ancestors in St. Lucie County?
African American genealogy research uses specific records. The Freedmen’s Bureau helped formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. These records sit at the National Archives. They list names, locations, and former owners. Slave schedules from 1850 and 1860 list enslaved people by name under the slaveholder. The 1867 to 1868 voter registration rolls list freedmen who registered to vote. These rolls sit at the State Archives. African American churches kept baptism, marriage, and burial records. The AME Church and Baptist churches kept detailed records. Cemetery records at Find a Grave list African American burials. Researchers should contact churches directly for records.
What Confederate records exist for St. Lucie County?
Florida Confederate pension files sit at the State Archives of Florida. Many Confederate veterans moved to Florida after the war. They settled in the St. Lucie area in the 1880s and 1890s. Pension files list the veteran’s name, unit, and service dates. They also list wives, children, and parents. Widows filed for benefits after the veteran’s death. These files often contain letters. They reveal family relationships and personal details. Researchers can search the archives catalog online. They can view records at the R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee. The archives also have Confederate military service records. These records list enlistment dates and units.
Where can I find St. Lucie County land records from the 1800s?
Spanish land grants from the 1820s sit at the State Archives of Florida. Researchers can view scans online. Federal land patents from the 1800s sit at the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM website has a free database. Researchers can search by name. St. Lucie County deeds from 1905 forward sit at the Clerk of Court office. Deeds before 1905 sit in Brevard County files. Tax rolls from the 1800s sit at the State Archives. Plat maps sit at the Clerk’s office. Researchers should check multiple sources. Land records often show family relationships and migration patterns.