PASCO COUNTY, FL HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Pasco County, Florida: A Genealogical Overview

Located on the west-central coast of Florida, Pasco County is an integral part of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Once a vast landscape of citrus groves, cattle ranches, and timber operations, it has transformed into a dynamic region known for its Gulf Coast communities, growing suburbs, and retirement destinations. Its history is a story of pioneer resilience, agricultural boom and bust, and rapid post-war development.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Pasco County’s formation from a single parent county is the first step for locating the correct records for early ancestors in this region.

  • 1887: County Formed: Pasco County was established on June 2, 1887, by an act of the Florida Legislature.
  • Parent County: It was created entirely from the southern third of Hernando County. All records for this geographic area prior to June 2, 1887, are located in Hernando County records.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Pasco County has not been partitioned to form other counties; its boundaries have remained stable since its creation.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for Samuel Pasco (1834-1917), a popular U.S. Senator from Florida who was serving in the U.S. Senate at the time of the county’s formation.
  • County Seat History: The temporary county seat was established in Dade City. After an election to determine the permanent location, Dade City was officially chosen and has remained the county seat ever since. A government center was later opened in New Port Richey to serve the populous western part of the county.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was anciently inhabited by the Tocobaga and Timucua peoples. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Seminole people inhabited and hunted in the region, and several significant forts from the Second Seminole War were located within its present-day boundaries.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: While some settlers arrived following the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, significant non-native settlement began after the Civil War. The early economy was dominated by the “three C’s”: cattle, cotton, and citrus. The arrival of the railroad in the 1880s connected the area to national markets, fueling a boom in citrus and lumber industries. Communities like Dade City grew along the railroad, while coastal towns like New Port Richey were later developed as winter resorts in the 1910s and 1920s.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Pasco County.

  • Courthouse:
    • Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller: Located at the Pasco County Courthouse, 38053 Live Oak Avenue, Dade City, FL 33523. This office is the primary repository for county records including probate (wills and estates), civil and criminal court cases, and land records (deeds). Marriage licenses from 1887 to the present are also held here. A major branch office is located at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Florida was required by law beginning in 1917, though some counties kept records earlier. Official certificates are held by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. For deaths prior to 1917 or unrecorded births, researchers should consult church records, newspapers, and cemetery records.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from June 1887 to the present are held by the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Pasco County Libraries System: The libraries throughout the county have local history resources. The New Port Richey Public Library (5939 Main St, New Port Richey) maintains a dedicated Genealogy and Local History Room with significant collections.
    • West Pasco Historical Society: Located at 6431 Circle Blvd, New Port Richey, FL 34652. This is a crucial resource for the history and families of the western side of the county.
    • Pioneer Florida Museum & Village: Located at 15602 Pioneer Museum Rd, Dade City, FL 33523. Focuses on the pioneer history of the region and has historical artifacts and structures.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Hernando County, FL
    • Sumter County, FL
    • Polk County, FL
    • Hillsborough County, FL
    • Pinellas County, FL

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks