Stark County Birth Records Lookup
Stark County birth records are spread across multiple offices. The Stark County Health Department covers most of the county, but Canton, Massillon, and Alliance each run their own health departments with separate vital records. Where the birth took place determines which office has the record. The Stark County Probate Court holds the oldest files from 1867 to 1908. Some of those original volumes are now stored at the University of Akron and the Stark County District Library. This page explains each office and how to get the birth certificate you need.
Stark County Birth Records at a Glance
Stark County Health Department Records
The Stark County Health Department is at 3951 Convenience Circle N.W., Canton, Ohio 44718. Phone: (330) 493-9904. This office covers birth records from 1908 to now for all of Stark County except births in Canton, Massillon, and Alliance. Those three cities have their own health departments.
Here are the city offices that handle births within their limits:
- City of Canton Health Department: 420 Market Ave., North, Canton, Ohio 44702. Phone: (330) 489-3231
- City of Massillon Health Department: 611 Erie St. S., Massillon, OH 44646. Phone: (330) 830-1710
- City of Alliance Health Department: 537 East Market Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601. Phone: (330) 821-7373
If you are not sure which office has your record, try the county health department first. They can usually point you in the right direction. All four offices can issue certified copies. Fees are set by Ohio law. For births before December 20, 1908, contact the Stark County Probate Court instead.
Stark County Birth Certificate Resources
The Stark County government website has a FAQ page about birth certificates that lists all four health department offices and their contact details.
This page also explains when to contact the probate court for older records.
Stark County Probate Court Birth Records
The Stark County Probate Court Records Division is at 501 Citizens Building, 110 Central Plaza, South, Canton, Ohio 44702-1413. Phone: (330) 451-7753. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM except legal holidays. The court holds birth records from 1867 to 1908 in original volumes 1 through 8. Death records from the same period fill volumes 1 through 5.
Many of the court's oldest records have been moved to preservation sites. Birth and death record volumes are now stored at the University of Akron Archival Services. You can reach them at 330-972-7670. Other historical records are at the Stark County District Library, where the Archives and Genealogy Division can help with research. The library records are available on request. The probate court keeps an online index and provides access to public records during business hours.
The court's records page lists which volumes are held at the University of Akron and which are at the District Library.
Order Stark County Birth Records Online
Online ordering is available through VitalChek for the Stark County Health Department. Birth certificates are available for births in Stark County from 1908 to now, but not for births in Alliance, Canton, or Massillon. If the birth was in Alliance or Canton, select Ohio Vital Records on the VitalChek site. For Massillon, pick the Massillon City Health Department or Ohio Vital Records.
VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of the base cost. They take major credit cards and offer standard and expedited shipping.
Ohio State Birth Records for Stark County
The Ohio Department of Health has all Stark County birth records from December 20, 1908 to now, regardless of which city the birth happened in. The state fee is $21.50 per copy. Online orders take about three weeks. The state office at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228 also takes walk-in requests from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
The state office is a good option if you are not sure whether the birth happened in Canton, Massillon, Alliance, or elsewhere in Stark County. They have everything in one system. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state collects a five-dollar surcharge on each copy for the general fund.
Birth Record Research in Stark County
FamilySearch has a Stark County genealogy page with links to Ohio County Births from 1841 to 2003, the Ohio Birth Index from 1908 to 1998, and marriage collections. The Ohio History Connection lists Stark County among counties with indexed birth records from 1867 to 1908.
The University of Akron Archival Services holds the original probate court birth ledgers. This makes them a key resource for Stark County genealogy research in the pre-1908 period. The Stark County District Library's Genealogy Division also has records and can help with research. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies carry the same legal weight as originals.
Nearby Counties
Stark County is in northeastern Ohio. Check these neighboring county pages for related records:
Cities in Stark County
Stark County's largest city is Canton, which has its own health department and a dedicated birth records page on this site.
Other communities include Massillon, Alliance, Louisville, and North Canton. Massillon and Alliance have their own health departments for birth records within city limits. All other areas use the Stark County Health Department.