Hocking County Birth Records
Hocking County birth records are kept in two places in Logan, Ohio. The health department on Chieftain Drive has certificates from 1908 forward, while the courthouse records center holds older entries from 1867 to 1908. The county seat is Logan, where both offices sit within a short drive of each other. Walk-in, mail, and phone requests are all accepted. This page explains the costs, hours, and steps for getting Hocking County birth certificates from each office, plus genealogy resources for deeper research.
Hocking County Birth Records at a Glance
Hocking County Courthouse Birth Records
The Hocking County Courthouse is at 1 East Main St., Logan, OH 43138. The actual records sit in the Court House Records Center at the Huls Building basement, 51 E. Main St., Logan, OH 43138. Call 740-380-2457 to reach the records center. The first search is free. Each extra assisted search costs $5.00 per name. Plain copies are $0.25 per page.
Birth records from 1867 to 1908 are in Books 1 through 4. Births from 1909 to 1943 are in separate volumes. Certified copies of pre-1908 birth records cost $10.00 each. Death records from 1867 to 1908 are also on file here. If you need a record for a passport or for any birth after 1908, you must go to the health department on Chieftain Drive instead. The courthouse cannot issue those.
The courthouse phone number is (740) 385-3022 for general questions about Hocking County records.
Hocking County Birth Certificate Resources
The Hocking County Courthouse records page shows what is on file, the fee schedule, and how to contact the records center in the Huls Building.
This page lists the free first search, the $5.00 per name charge for additional searches, and the $10.00 certified copy fee for pre-1908 birth records.
Hocking County Health Department Birth Certificates
The Hocking County Health Department on Chieftain Drive, Logan, OH 43138 holds birth and death certificates from 1908 to now. Their phone number is 740-380-3030. This office can issue certified birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio after December 20, 1908. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get your copy.
You can also order from the Ohio Department of Health online for $21.50 per copy. The state office at 4200 Surface Road in Columbus processes online orders within five business days, with delivery taking about three weeks by mail. They accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Mail orders from the state go to PO Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098.
Birth Record Research in Hocking County
The Ohio History Connection holds probate court birth records for Hocking County. They can fill copy and research requests for the 1867 to 1908 period. This is helpful if you can't visit Logan in person. FamilySearch has digitized several Hocking County collections including Birth Certificates from 1867 to 1930, Registration and Correction of Birth Records from 1941 to 1988, and Returns of Birth and Death Packets from 1856 to 1857.
The OnGenealogy Ohio birth records page lists additional online resources for Hocking County. The Hocking County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society can be reached at PO Box 115, Rockbridge, OH 43149-0115. The Logan-Hocking County District Library at 230 East Main Street, Logan, Ohio 43138 (740-385-2348) also has local genealogy materials.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of vital records have the same legal weight as originals in court. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state mandates minimum fees for certified copies and requires a five-dollar surcharge per copy for the general fund.
Note: Hospital-issued birth records are not certified copies and cannot serve as legal identification.
Nearby Counties
Hocking County borders several Ohio counties. These pages may help if your birth record search crosses county lines:
Cities in Hocking County
Logan is the county seat and the largest community in Hocking County. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated birth records page. Other communities include Laurelville, Carbon Hill, and Buchtel. For birth records in any of these areas, contact the Hocking County Health Department or the courthouse records center in Logan.