Search Montgomery County Genealogy

Montgomery County in southwestern Virginia holds genealogy records from its formation in 1776 and offers one of the stronger record collections in the New River Valley region. Birth and death records from 1853 to 1871, marriage records from 1773, and land and court records going back to the county's founding are all held at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Christiansburg. Researchers tracing southwestern Virginia and Appalachian families will find this county archive a productive starting point.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk in Christiansburg maintains Montgomery County's genealogy records from 1773 to the present. Post-1913 records are available at the Montgomery County Office of the Circuit Court Clerk. The county seat of Christiansburg is the main location for in-person research. The clerk's office is the primary source for land records, marriage bonds, probate files, and court orders from this southwestern Virginia county.

The Montgomery County Government website at montgomerycountyva.gov provides county contact information and department links. Use this site to confirm the clerk's hours and phone number before your visit. Montgomery County is a moderately sized county in the New River Valley, with Christiansburg as the county seat and Blacksburg as the county's largest town.

The FamilySearch wiki for Montgomery County notes that the clerk has birth and death records from 1853 to 1871, marriage, divorce, probate, court, and land records from 1773. This includes records that predate the county's formal 1776 founding, reflecting records from the Fincastle County period before Montgomery was carved out. Post-1913 records are at the clerk's office in Christiansburg.

Note: Montgomery County was created from Fincastle County on December 31, 1776. For records predating 1776, search Fincastle County, whose records are largely held at the Library of Virginia.

Genealogy Records in Montgomery County

Montgomery County holds a broad range of genealogy records going back to the early frontier period. Land records from 1773 include grants and surveys from when the area was still frontier territory. Marriage records from 1773 are among the oldest in this part of southwestern Virginia. Birth records from 1853 to 1896 are available through the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics and at the clerk's office. Marriage records from 1854 to 1902 are available through the Montgomery County Marriage Index with images, which can be searched online.

The Library of Virginia holds Montgomery County records on microfilm. Their chancery records index covers Montgomery County cases from various periods. Chancery cases from this county often dealt with land disputes, inheritance matters, and creditor claims common to frontier and post-frontier communities. The case files frequently name family members in detail and provide genealogical context not found in deed or order books alone.

Statewide birth and death registration began in Virginia in 1912. The Virginia Department of Health holds vital records from that year forward. Earlier birth records from 1853 to 1896 are available through the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics records held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Memory portal provides free access to many digitized state records with coverage of Montgomery County materials.

Montgomery County men served in various regiments during the Civil War, and military pension records and service records can be useful supplements to the county's civil genealogy archive. These federal records are held at the National Archives and may be searchable through Fold3 and other platforms.

How to Search Montgomery County Records

Start online with the Library of Virginia and the FamilySearch wiki for Montgomery County. The FamilySearch wiki lists all available record types, date ranges, and links to digitized collections including the Montgomery County Marriage Index with images from 1854 to 1902.

For in-person research, visit the Circuit Court Clerk in Christiansburg. The public records room holds deed books, order books, marriage bonds, and probate files. Bring specific names and date ranges. The clerk's office can advise on copy costs and access procedures for older document volumes.

The county government portal is useful for confirming current office hours and clerk contact details before you visit or write for records.

Libraries and Research Resources

The Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library system serves county researchers. The main branch in Christiansburg holds local history and genealogy collections. The library has family files, local newspapers, and regional history publications that supplement the courthouse records. Staff can point you to resources specific to the New River Valley region.

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg also holds research resources relevant to Montgomery County history. The university's Special Collections library has materials related to the county and the broader New River Valley region. For genealogists with academic library access, this can be a useful supplement to the courthouse and public library collections.

The Virginia Genealogical Society has statewide resources covering southwestern Virginia counties including Montgomery. For cemetery records, Find A Grave documents many of Montgomery County's burial sites, including old frontier churchyards and family burial grounds from the county's early settlement period.

Montgomery County Record History

Montgomery County was created from Fincastle County on December 31, 1776 and named for Richard Montgomery, an American general killed at the Battle of Quebec in 1775. The county's formation during the Revolutionary War period means its earliest records date to a time of significant disruption, yet many survived. The records from 1773 forward reflect the county's transition from frontier territory to an organized Virginia county.

The county has a Civil War record that is also significant for genealogy. Montgomery County men served in various Confederate regiments and units during the war. Pension records, service records, and compiled military service records for these men are held at the National Archives and through Virginia's state archives. Researchers tracing Civil War ancestors from this county should check both federal and state military records.

The combination of early land records from 1773, the Montgomery County Marriage Index with images from 1854 to 1902, and the Library of Virginia's digital collections makes Montgomery County one of the better-documented counties in southwestern Virginia for genealogy purposes.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery County in southwestern Virginia. Each has its own genealogy records at the local Circuit Court Clerk.