ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

St. Louis County, Missouri: A Genealogical Overview

St. Louis County is a major metropolitan center in eastern Missouri, rich in history that spans from its origins as a French colonial fur-trading outpost to its modern identity as a sprawling suburban hub. For genealogists, research in this area presents a unique and critical challenge: understanding the administrative separation of St. Louis County from the City of St. Louis in 1876. The “Great Divorce,” as it is known, fundamentally split the region’s record-keeping, and successfully tracing ancestry here requires knowing which entity holds the records for a specific time and place.

I. County Formation and Evolution

The most important event in the county’s administrative history is the 1876 separation from the city. This event dictates the location of nearly all genealogical records.

  • 1812: County Formed: St. Louis County was established on October 1, 1812, as one of the five original counties of the newly created Missouri Territory.
  • Parent Entity: It was formed from the pre-existing District of St. Louis, which was an administrative unit under the French and Spanish colonial governments and the subsequent U.S. Territory of Louisiana. The earliest colonial-era records (pre-1804) are generally found under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Lieutenant Governor of Upper Louisiana, based in St. Louis.
  • The Great Divorce of 1876: In 1876, the citizens of the City of St. Louis voted to separate from the county, establishing the City as a constitutionally independent entity with the dual status of both a city and a county.
    • Impact on Records: This is the crucial takeaway for researchers. Generally, records for events occurring before 1876 for the entire original territory (both current city and county) are held by the City of St. Louis. After 1876, records were kept separately. If an event happened within the city limits, its records are with the City; if it happened in the county, its records are with the County.
  • Name Origin: The county takes its name from the original settlement of St. Louis, founded in 1764 by French fur trader Pierre Laclède and named in honor of King Louis IX of France.
  • County Seat History: The City of St. Louis served as the county seat until the 1876 separation. Afterward, the newly separate St. Louis County established a temporary seat in Kirkwood before selecting a central location named Clayton in 1877. Clayton has remained the county seat ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was a center of the Mississippian culture, whose people built the monumental Cahokia Mounds directly across the Mississippi River. Later, the area was the territory of the Osage and Missouri tribes.
  • Colonial Settlement: The city of St. Louis was founded in 1764 by the French as a private fur trading post. Despite being secretly ceded to Spain in 1762, it remained under French culture and administration until formally transferred in 1770. This French and Spanish Creole heritage formed the city’s foundational culture.
  • American Expansion and Immigration: After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, American pioneers from states like Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee began to establish farms in the fertile lands of the county. The mid-19th century saw a massive influx of German and Irish immigrants, who dramatically shaped the region’s demographic, political, and cultural landscape.
  • Suburban Growth: Following the 1876 separation, St. Louis County remained largely rural for decades. The post-World War II era, however, brought an explosion of suburban development, and the county grew into a vast area of independent municipalities surrounding the central city.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section is divided to reflect the critical City/County records split. Always verify the location of an ancestor’s residence before assuming where their records will be.

  • St. Louis County Courthouse (Post-1876 County Records): For events occurring within St. Louis Countyafter the 1876 separation. Located at 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105.
    • Recorder of Deeds: Holds County land records and marriage licenses issued after 1876.
    • Probate Court: Holds County wills, administrations, and guardianship files after 1876.
  • City of St. Louis Repositories (Pre-1876 and City-Only Records): For events occurring anywhere in the combined area before 1876, or within city limits after 1876.
    • St. Louis City Hall, Room 127, 1200 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103: The Recorder of Deeds holds all land and marriage records for the entire territory before 1876, and for the City only after 1876.
    • Civil Courts Building, 10 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101: Holds court and probate records, following the same pre/post-1876 split.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: City registration began sporadically in the 1850s and became more consistent by the 1880s; County registration began later. For official records, contact the St. Louis City Health Department or the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. Statewide registration began in 1910.
    • Marriage Records: This is the most common point of confusion. All marriage licenses issued before 1876 are held by the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds. After 1876, records are held by the City or County, depending on where the license was issued.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • St. Louis County Library Headquarters: The Special Collections department is a nationally recognized center for genealogical research, holding extensive microfilm, databases, and book collections.
    • St. Louis Genealogical Society: One of the largest and most active societies in the U.S., offering immense resources, publications, and expertise.
    • Missouri Historical Society: Located in Forest Park, this is a premier archive for regional history, with vast collections of manuscripts, photographs, and historical artifacts.
    • St. Louis Public Library (Central Library): Features a robust History and Genealogy Department with significant collections.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • St. Louis City (east)
    • St. Charles County (northwest)
    • Franklin County (southwest)
    • Jefferson County (south)
    • It is also bordered by the Missouri River to the north and the Mississippi River to the east, across which are Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois.

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