Arenac County Civil Records

Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are kept at the office of the Arenac County Clerk.   Early records of each have been microfilmed and are available through Family History Centers operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Note that area records prior to 1883 will be found in Bay County.

Births: 

Many early births prior to 1900 were unrecorded.   For early births, baptism records may be a more reliable source.  Prior to 1885, remote areas were served by visiting pastors who passed through only occasionally to baptize the young and conduct marriages.  Records of these births and baptisms are likely not to be found.   Michigan state law restricts access to birth records for a period of 110 years.

On-line data:	Michigan Births - 1867-1902 - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	Arenac County - Selected Extractions from Book 1 - Contributed by Greg Knopp
	Arenac County - Births - at usgwarchives.org (no charge)
	Approx. 900 Bay County Births (includes Arenac County townships) from 1882.   Visit www.familysearch.org - select region = "North America" and Batch = "C734606"

Marriages: 

Of the Arenac County records, marriages recorded in Books One and Two have been microfilmed.  Book One consists of about 10 pages covering the period 1883-1887.   Book Two covers the period 1887-1952.  The index covers a longer period of time.

On-line data:	Michigan Marriages - to 1850 - index at Ancestry.com (fee - membership required)
	Michigan Marriages - 1851-1875 - index at Ancestry.com (fee - membership required)
	Michigan Marriages - 1868-1925 - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	Arenac County - Extractions from Book 1 - Complete - Contributed by Greg Knopp
	Arenac County - Selected Extractions from Books 1 & 2 - Contributed by Greg Knopp
	Arenac County - Selected Extractions - Contributed by Jennifer Selbrede
	Arenac County - Dibean Marriage Index Files - Selected extractions at usgwarchives.org (no charge)     search these files using the "archives search" on the home page

Deaths: 

Deaths recorded in Books One and Two of Arenac County records have been microfilmed.  Book One consists of a small number of early death records and other death records, largely from the 1930's, of deaths occurring outside the county.    Book Two covers the period 1883 through about 1933.  The index covers a longer period of time.

Many early deaths were unrecorded, even as late as 1920.

On-line data:	Michigan Deaths - 1867-1897 - GENDIS at mdch.state.mi.us (no charge)
	Michigan Deaths - 1867-1897 - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	Michigan Deaths - 1971-1996 - index at Ancestry.com (fee - membership required)
	Arenac County - Extractions - Miscellaneous - Contributed by Alicia Zacek
	Arenac County - Extractions from Book 2 - Contributed by Greg Knopp - #'s 1-22
	Arenac County - Extractions from Book 2 - Contributed by Greg Knopp - Deep River Twp. - Pages 162-163 (1917-20)

Census: 

Census records for 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 are available on microfilm at many genealogical libraries.  Prior to 1883, Arenac County was a part of Bay County. 

On-line data:	1860 - Transciption - Arenac Twp. (Bay County) - Contributed by Kay Mason
	1870 - Transciption - Arenac Twp. (Bay County) - Contributed by Kay Mason
	1880 - Census - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1880 - Extractions - 1880 - Deep River Twp. - Contributed by Vicki Bonasse
	1890 - Civil War Veteran Schedules - Contributed by Doris Demet
	1900 - Census - index and images at familysearch.org (no charge)
	1900 - Transcription - Adams Twp. - Contributed by Connie Shaw
	1900 - Extractions - Deep River Twp. - Contributed by Vicki Bonasse
	1910 - Extractions - Deep River Twp. - Contributed by Vicki Bonasse
	1920 - Extractions - Deep River Twp. - Contributed by Vicki Bonasse

1900 Census - Heads of Household:   Contributed by Greg Knopp

Adams Township
Arenac Township
AuGres Township
Clayton Township
Deep River Township
Lincoln Township
Mason Township
Moffatt Township
Standish Township
Turner Township
Whitney Township

If you have a library card from a major library, you may have at-home access to census index and image data through HeritageQuest.  Check your library's website for further information.

Your contributions will make this page a valuable resource to others. 
Send submissions to county coordinator Greg Knopp.

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If so, please contact county coordinator Greg Knopp.

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