St Petersburg City Florida genealogy records help you trace family roots in Pinellas County and across the Gulf Coast. Founded in 1888, St Petersburg grew fast during the 1900s.
Many early settlers came from northern states and from other parts of Florida. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and church records all connect to this city’s history. This page lists the best places to search these records online and in person.
Pinellas County Vital Records and Court Documents
Pinellas County holds the main set of official records for people who lived in St Petersburg. The county was created in 1912 from parts of Hillsborough County. Most older records stayed with the new county clerk. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps marriage licenses, divorce decrees, probate files, and land deeds. Researchers can view many of these records at the clerk’s office or online through the official records search tool.
Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Marriage licenses for St Petersburg start in the early 1900s. The Pinellas County Clerk’s office keeps both paper files and digital images. Each record lists the bride’s full name, the groom’s full name, the marriage date, and the officiant. Older books from before county formation are held in the Pinellas County Records Department. FamilySearch has a microfilm index for many of these books from 1912 to 1975.
- Search online at the Pinellas County Official Records site
- Visit the Clerk’s Records Center at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
- Order copies by phone at (727) 464-7000
- Request a long-form certificate through the mail with valid photo ID
Divorce Decrees and Court Filings
Divorce records from Pinellas County Circuit Court show family splits and remarriages. Files include the petition, the final decree, and sometimes custody papers. These records matter for tracing women’s maiden names after a second marriage. The Clerk of Court keeps files from 1912 to the present. Older files from before 1912 sit with the State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee.
Probate and Estate Files
Probate records name heirs, list property, and show family ties. St Petersburg estates often included beachfront lots, citrus groves, or small businesses. Estate packets hold the will, the inventory, and the final distribution. These files can name daughters, sons, brothers, and sisters. Pinellas County Probate Court records start in 1912. The Florida State Archives has older Hillsborough County files that cover the area before Pinellas split off.
Property Deeds and Land Records
Land records trace who lived where in St Petersburg. The 1920s land boom brought many northern buyers. Deed books show buyers, sellers, price, and a legal land description. Each sale can reveal a wife’s name, a former owner, or a mortgage. Researchers can search the Pinellas County Clerk’s online database by name or by parcel number.
Florida State Vital Statistics Office
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics sits inside the Florida Department of Health. This office keeps state-level copies of all Florida birth and death events. Birth records older than 100 years become public. Death records older than 50 years become public. After that, only legal family members can order them. The Bureau also handles marriage and divorce records for the whole state.
Birth Certificate Records
Florida started statewide birth registration in 1917. Pinellas County birth records from 1917 forward are on file with the state. Early certificates give the child’s name, date of birth, parents’ names, and the attending physician. Each record helps link one generation to the next. Researchers can order copies from the Florida Department of Health website.
Death Certificate Records
Florida death records from 1917 forward sit with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Each death certificate lists the deceased’s name, age, birth date, parents’ names, and cause of death. Burial location often appears on the form. For St Petersburg, many early deaths took place at Mound Park Hospital or at local funeral homes. Researchers should request these through the state vital records office.
Florida Adoption Records
Florida adoption files are sealed under state law. Adult adoptees can request a non-certified copy of their own file through the court that handled the adoption. Birth parents and adult children of deceased adoptees may also qualify under set rules. Pinellas County Circuit Court handles local adoptions for St Petersburg families.
Census Records for St Petersburg
Census records form the backbone of family history research. They list every person living at each address every ten years. St Petersburg shows up in federal census records starting in 1900. Earlier censuses from 1840 to 1880 cover Florida as a whole but did not list St Petersburg because the town did not exist yet. The 1885 Florida state census is the earliest record that names local residents.
Federal Census Schedules 1900 to 1950
The 1900 census is the first to show St Petersburg residents by name. It lists street addresses for many city dwellers. The 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 censuses all include St Petersburg households. Each schedule gives name, age, birth place, occupation, and family ties. The 1950 census was released to the public in 2022 and is now searchable on MyHeritage and the National Archives.
Florida State Census Records
Florida took state censuses in 1855, 1865, 1867, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905. The 1885 and 1895 censuses are the most useful for St Petersburg’s earliest settlers. These records list heads of household only. FamilySearch has free images for many of these state census years.
Soundex and Index Tools
The Soundex system groups names that sound alike. The National Archives created Soundex indexes for the 1880 to 1900 federal censuses. The 1910 to 1940 censuses also have Soundex indexes. These tools help find a family when the spelling changed over time. FamilySearch and Ancestry both offer Soundex searches.
St Petersburg Public Library Collections
The St Petersburg Public Library system serves as a top local source for genealogy research. The main library sits in downtown St Petersburg. The genealogy room holds books, maps, and microfilm for Pinellas County and the rest of Florida. Library staff can guide new researchers through local holdings. Most collections are free to use during open hours.
Mirror Lake Library Genealogy Room
The Mirror Lake Library, built in 1916, sits at 280 5th Street North. The Special Collections room holds census microfilm, city directories, and local history books. Patrons can use the microfilm readers free of charge. A small fee applies to printed copies. The library also keeps a vertical file of family history notes and obituaries clipped by local volunteers.
City Directories
St Petersburg city directories started in the 1910s. Each yearly directory lists every adult resident by name, home address, and job. Spouses appear in parentheses. Widows appear under their husband’s name with the note “widow.” These books fill in the gaps between census years. The library keeps printed directories from 1914 to 1990 on the genealogy room shelves.
Local Newspapers on Microfilm
The St Petersburg Evening Independent ran from 1906 to 1986. The St Petersburg Times, renamed Tampa Bay Times in 2012, started in 1884. Both papers covered births, marriages, deaths, and social events. The Mirror Lake Library holds microfilm for both titles. Researchers can scan page by page or use the Tampa Bay Times online archive at tampabay.com.
Florida State Archives in Tallahassee
The State Archives of Florida, located in Tallahassee, holds the largest set of state-level genealogy records. The archive covers all 67 Florida counties. Records include colonial-era papers, territorial files, state land grants, Confederate pension files, and WWI and WWII service records. Many of these files are now on microfilm and online through the Florida Memory project.
Military Service Records
Florida soldiers who served in World War I and World War II have service cards on file at the State Archives. Each card lists the soldier’s name, birth place, and next of kin. Confederate veterans from Florida also have pension application files. The Bureau of Land Management also kept bounty land warrant files for earlier wars.
Confederate Pension Files
Florida paid pensions to Confederate veterans and their widows starting in 1885. Each file holds a sworn statement of service, marriage proof, and witness letters. Pinellas County residents who served are listed in these files. The State Archives has a name index for every Florida Confederate pensioner.
State Land Office Records
Florida issued land patents before statehood in 1845 and after. The State Land Office tract books record every sale and grant. Researchers can trace early land claims through these books. The archives have a name index by county for tracts issued between 1822 and 1960.
Church and Cemetery Records
Church records and cemetery records often go back further than state vital records. Many St Petersburg churches kept their own baptism, marriage, and burial logs. Local cemeteries list burials from the 1880s forward. Both sources can confirm family ties and fill in missing details.
Pinellas County Churches
Early St Petersburg churches include St. Mary’s Catholic Church (founded 1890), First Baptist Church (founded 1891), and Trinity Lutheran Church. Each kept its own records. Some of these churches donated older logbooks to the State Archives. FamilySearch has microfilm copies of many Florida church records from 1780 to 1980.
Cemetery Surveys and Burial Indexes
The Pinellas County Genealogy Society published burial indexes for major local cemeteries. Greenwood Cemetery, Royal Palm Cemetery, and Woodlawn Memorial Park all have printed indexes. These indexes give name, birth date, death date, and plot number. Online databases at FindAGrave and BillionGraves also hold thousands of St Petersburg gravestone photos.
Online Genealogy Databases
Online databases make it possible to search St Petersburg records from home. Each site holds a different mix of records. Most allow free searches, though full access may need a paid account. Many Florida public libraries offer free in-library use of paid sites like Ancestry and Fold3.
FamilySearch Free Collections
FamilySearch.org is a free service run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The site holds census images for all U.S. years, Florida county marriages, Florida death indexes, and Florida naturalization records. The FamilySearch catalog lists every microfilm set the archive owns, with links to digital images when available.
Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry.com holds the largest U.S. record collection online. Subscribers can view Florida birth indexes, Florida death indexes, Florida marriage indexes, U.S. census records, and city directory images. The Ancestry Library Edition is free at any participating Florida public library, including all St Petersburg Public Library branches.
MyHeritage and FindMyPast
MyHeritage holds the 1950 U.S. census and a large set of Florida newspaper images. FindMyPast focuses on British and Irish records but also carries U.S. naturalization indexes. Both sites offer a free trial period. Together they fill gaps that FamilySearch and Ancestry may not cover.
Contact Information and Visiting Hours
Researchers can reach the main record offices by phone, by mail, or in person. The Pinellas County Clerk of Court handles marriage, divorce, probate, and land records. The Florida Department of Health handles birth and death certificates. The State Archives of Florida handles older state records and military files. The St Petersburg Public Library handles local genealogy collections.
Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-7000
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231
Phone: (904) 359-6900
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
St Petersburg Public Library, Mirror Lake Branch
280 5th Street North, St Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 893-7724
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
State Archives of Florida
500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 245-6719
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people ask the same questions when they start family research in St Petersburg. These answers cover the most common points. Use them as a starting point for your own search. Always confirm facts with the original record when you can.
How far back do St Petersburg birth records go?
St Petersburg birth records begin in 1888 for city-level files held at the Pinellas County Health Department. Statewide birth registration in Florida started in 1917. Birth records older than 100 years are open to the public. Newer records require proof of direct family relationship and valid photo ID before the state will release a copy.
Where can I find old St Petersburg newspapers?
The St Petersburg Evening Independent (1906 to 1986) and the St Petersburg Times (1884 to present) sit on microfilm at the Mirror Lake Library. The Tampa Bay Times, the paper’s current name, has a paid online archive. Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank also hold scanned images of both papers for select years. Each death notice or wedding story can name parents, siblings, and hometown.
Can I search Pinellas County marriage records for free?
Yes. The Pinellas County Clerk of Court runs a free online search tool at its official records portal. The tool covers marriage licenses from 1912 to the present. For license images before 1972, you can view scanned books online. The FamilySearch catalog also has microfilm indexes that link to those same images.
What Confederate records are at the Florida State Archives?
The State Archives of Florida holds Confederate pension application files for every Florida veteran and widow. Each file includes a sworn service statement, marriage proof, and witness letters. The archives also holds Confederate muster rolls and Florida unit histories. Most files are on microfilm, and name indexes cover each file.
Are St Petersburg naturalization records online?
Some are. FamilySearch has naturalization indexes for Pinellas County from 1907 to 1991. The National Archives at Atlanta holds federal court naturalization files for the Florida panhandle and southern Georgia. Ancestry and Fold3 also carry scanned images of these papers. Many local records sit with the Pinellas County Clerk of Court.
How do I get a death certificate for a St Petersburg ancestor?
Start with the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death records over 50 years old are open to the public. You can order a copy online, by mail, or in person. The certificate will show the death date, the burial place, and the names of the parents. For a faster lookup, search the Florida Death Index on FamilySearch first to find the record number.
What is the best free site for Florida genealogy?
FamilySearch.org is the top free site for Florida genealogy. It holds census images, county marriage indexes, state death indexes, church records, and cemetery indexes. The Florida Memory project at floridamemory.com is another strong free site that holds photos, maps, and state archive records. Both sites allow free account creation and free at-home search.