Orangetown, New York Genealogy

Orangetown genealogy records include birth records from 1872, death records from 1881, and marriage records from 1921, all held by the Orangetown Town Clerk. The Town of Orangetown sits in the southeastern part of Rockland County, bordering New Jersey and the Hudson River. Rockland County has one of the strongest county archives in the region, with digitized marriage records, naturalization papers, estate files, and land deeds going back to 1798. The village of Nyack sits within Orangetown and has its own clerk with village-level vital records. Between town, village, county, and state sources, Orangetown family research can go back well into the 1800s.

Orangetown Town Clerk Vital Records

The Orangetown Town Clerk maintains birth records from 1872 to 1923, death records from 1881 to 1913, and marriage records from 1921 to 1926. The marriage records are especially useful because they include parents' names and birthplaces. The town clerk is Sam DeZago.

The office is at 26 West Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962. You can visit in person or send a mail request. Include the full name, date or rough date, and the type of record you need. Fees are typically $10 to $20 per copy.

The date ranges for Orangetown vital records are narrower than some other towns. For records outside these ranges, check the Rockland County Archives and the NYS Department of Health. Birth certificates from 1881 on are also indexed in the state vital records microfiche.

Nyack Village Records for Orangetown Genealogy

The Village of Nyack sits within the Town of Orangetown and has its own clerk with village-level vital records. If your ancestors lived in Nyack specifically, the village clerk may hold birth, death, and marriage records that differ from what the town clerk has.

Nyack was a busy river village and later a hub for artists and writers. Church records, cemetery records, and local newspapers from Nyack can fill in details that government records miss. The Nyack Library and local historical organizations are worth checking for family research in this part of Orangetown.

Rockland County Archives for Orangetown Genealogy

The Rockland County Archives is a major resource for Orangetown genealogy. The archives holds federal and state census records from 1855 to 1920 for Orangetown and the other Rockland County towns. Marriage records from 1908 to 1935 are digitized. Marriage licenses from 1926 to 1935 are digitized too. Naturalization oaths from 1836 to 1896 cover 1,828 records on microfilm. Naturalization papers from 1812 to 1991 total 24,718 records.

The archives also has Orange County deeds from 1703 to 1798 (before Rockland split off from Orange County), Rockland County deeds from 1798 to 1936, mortgages from 1798 to 1948, will indexes from 1798 to 1957, Surrogate Court estate files from 1800 to 1939, wills from 1798 to 1965, court records from 1798 to 2001, and tax and assessment rolls from 1855 to 1964.

A search kiosk at the archives lets you look up naturalization records, marriage records, grantor and grantee indexes, wills, surrogate court records, court indexes, and judgments. The archives is at the Pomona Health Complex, Building S, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970. Phone is (845) 364-3670.

Rockland County Clerk Genealogy Records

The Rockland County Clerk holds court records from 2002 to the present, land records from 1798, mortgages from 1931, naturalization records from 1907 to 1960, and declarations of intent from 1884 to 1929. Deed and mortgage transcriptions from 1798 are indexed and searchable online. The office is at 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. Phone is (845) 638-5070.

The Rockland County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1798 to the present. Wills, estate files, and letters of administration can show family connections that other documents miss. The court is at 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. Phone is (845) 483-8300.

For broader Rockland County genealogy research, the county historian and local historical societies can provide referrals and guidance.

The New City Library Rockland Room is another useful resource for Orangetown genealogy. The room has local histories, genealogies, census materials, maps, and newspapers on microfilm from 1847 to the present. Telephone books from 1883 are on file. The Rockland County Messenger from 1847 to 1898 can turn up obituaries, marriage notices, and other family details. The library is at 220 North Main Street, New City, NY 10956. Phone is (845) 634-4997.

Church records from Orangetown-area congregations are another avenue for genealogy. Many families attended local churches that kept baptismal, marriage, and burial registers. These records can go back further than government files and include details like godparents, maiden names, and birthplaces. Cemetery transcriptions for Orangetown burial grounds may be available through FamilySearch or local genealogy groups.

State Resources for Orangetown Genealogy

The New York State Archives in Albany holds vital records indexes on microfiche for births from 1881, marriages from 1881, and deaths from 1880. These cover Orangetown and all of Rockland County. Index entries give names, dates, places, and state file numbers.

The NYS Department of Health has Orangetown vital records from 1881 on. Fees start at $22 for a three-year search. Processing takes eight months or longer. The town clerk and county archives are usually faster options.

The New York State Census was taken in 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These records sometimes include details the federal census did not, such as years of residence and more household information.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free. Over 10 million records include Orangetown deaths with names, dates, ages, and file numbers.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Families in Rockland County and the lower Hudson Valley moved between towns regularly. Check these nearby places for records on your Orangetown ancestors.