Jefferson County Birth Records
Jefferson County birth records go back to 1876, further than most Ohio counties. The General Health District in Steubenville keeps all birth and death certificates. Each certified copy costs $28.00. The Vital Statistics Division is on the 6th floor of 500 Market Street, where walk-ins are welcome during office hours. Online ordering runs through VitalChek. This page covers the fees, hours, ordering methods, and genealogy resources for finding Jefferson County birth certificates.
Jefferson County Birth Records at a Glance
Jefferson County Health Department Records
The Jefferson County General Health District (JCGHD) maintains all birth and death certificates for the county. Birth records start in 1876 and death records in 1908. The Vital Statistics Division is at 500 Market Street, 6th Floor, Steubenville, OH 43952. Call (740) 283-8530 for questions.
Office hours vary by day. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday the office is open 8:15 AM to 3:45 PM. Wednesday hours are 10 AM to 4:45 PM. Friday hours are 8:15 AM to 2:45 PM. Plan your visit around these times if you want walk-in service. Walk-ins get immediate attention. Once payment is received for mail orders, the certificate usually ships the next business day.
Each certified copy costs $28.00 for both birth and death certificates. Birth records are issued as certified abstracts unless you need a full copy for dual citizenship, international marriage, legal proceedings, or genealogy. If you need the full certificate for one of those reasons, let the office know when you place your request.
Jefferson County Birth Certificate Resources
The Jefferson County Health Department website shows the birth and death certificates page with fees, hours, and ordering info.
This page lists the $28.00 fee, the different office hours for each day of the week, and the note about certified abstracts versus full certificates.
The VitalChek page for Jefferson County provides online ordering with expedited processing for birth certificates from 1876 to now.
VitalChek charges $28.00 per copy plus their processing fee. Payment is by credit or debit card, and orders process faster than mail requests. The fax number for the health department is 740-283-8536.
Jefferson County Historical Birth Records
Jefferson County has birth records going back to 1876, which is earlier than the 1908 statewide mandate. The Ohio History Connection holds probate court birth records for the county. Their digitized collections include Delayed Birth Records from about 1867 to 1956, Birth Records from 1895 to 1906, and Birth Records from 1867 to 1908. These can be accessed through their archives for copy and research requests.
Death certificates are filed in the county where the person was pronounced dead, not where they lived. So if someone from Jefferson County died in a neighboring county, the death certificate would be on file there instead.
Birth Record Research in Jefferson County
FamilySearch has digitized several Jefferson County birth record sets that you can browse for free. The "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003" collection covers Jefferson County with both an index and images. Delayed birth records from 1867 to 1956 are also in the FamilySearch set. These delayed registrations were filed years after the actual birth, often when someone needed proof of citizenship or for Social Security purposes.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets fee requirements for certified copies. A five-dollar surcharge per copy goes to the state general fund. The $28.00 fee at the Jefferson County Health Department is on the higher end for Ohio counties, but the office processes orders quickly and has records going back further than most.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies carry the same legal weight as originals in all Ohio courts. Anyone can request a birth record by submitting an application and paying the fee. Ohio vital records are public records.
Note: Hospital birth records are not certified and will not work for passport or ID applications.
Nearby Counties
Jefferson County is on Ohio's eastern border with West Virginia. These neighboring Ohio counties have their own birth record pages:
Cities in Jefferson County
Steubenville is the county seat and the largest city in Jefferson County. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated birth records page. Other communities include Toronto, Wintersville, Mingo Junction, and Smithfield. All birth record requests for these areas are handled by the Jefferson County General Health District in Steubenville.