Find Genealogy Records in Bowie, Maryland

Genealogy records for Bowie, Maryland are maintained through Prince George's County, which handles civil records for the city and all other county communities. Birth, death, marriage, land, and probate records for Bowie residents are held at the Prince George's County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro and at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.

Prince George's County Handles Bowie Records

All genealogy records for Bowie residents go through Prince George's County. The Circuit Court Clerk in Upper Marlboro holds land records, marriage licenses, and civil case files for the county. Prince George's County records go back to 1696, giving Bowie researchers access to a long record base at the Maryland State Archives. Bowie itself was established in the 1870s as Huntington City along the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad and incorporated in 1916.

The Prince George's County Genealogical Society, based in the Bowie area (mailing address PO Box 819, Bowie, MD 20718), is a key local resource for county-wide family history research. The society holds local research materials and provides assistance to researchers working on Prince George's County families.

Prince George's County Circuit Court

The Prince George's County Circuit Court at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 maintains all civil records for Bowie residents. Land records, marriage licenses, and civil case files are held here. Marriage licenses for Bowie residents are issued in Upper Marlboro. Both parties must bring government-issued birth certificates, a 48-hour waiting period applies, and the license is valid for six months in Prince George's County only.

All Prince George's County land records are free online through MDLandRec.net at mdlandrec.net. Free account registration is required. The Maryland Judiciary case search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us lets you search Prince George's County civil records from home.

The City of Bowie website provides local government services. Genealogy records for Bowie residents are held through Prince George's County at the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro.

Birth and Death Records for Bowie Residents

Vital records for Bowie residents are part of the Prince George's County system. The Maryland State Archives holds birth records from 1898 to 1921 and death records from 1898 to 2011. The Maryland Department of Health handles records after those dates. The Maryland Death Index at the MSA covers statewide deaths from 1898 to 2010, searchable at msa.maryland.gov.

FamilySearch has Maryland Deaths and Burials from 1877 to 1992, which includes Prince George's County entries. Church records from Prince George's County congregations can document births and deaths before civil registration began in 1898. For recent vital records, contact the Maryland Department of Health at 410-764-3038 or visit health.maryland.gov/vsa.

Prince George's County Genealogical Society

The Prince George's County Genealogical Society is based in the Bowie area and serves as a key resource for county-wide genealogy research. Their holdings include research materials, indexes, and family files specific to Prince George's County. This is a good first contact for researchers working on Bowie area families.

The Prince George's County Genealogical Society maintains research materials and provides assistance to researchers working on Prince George's County and Bowie area families.

The Prince George's County Historical Society also maintains county-wide historical records. The Bowie Branch Library at 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie, is part of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System and has local history resources. The Bowie Historical Society has information about the city's local history since its founding in the 1870s. Visit bowiehistory.org for more about the city's historical records.

Using the Maryland State Archives for Bowie Research

The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, is the primary repository for Prince George's County genealogy records from the colonial period through the mid-20th century. Call 410-260-6400 or search at msa.maryland.gov. The research guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov lists Prince George's County records by type. The Reclaim The Records collection at archive.org includes over 5 million free Maryland vital records. Under Maryland Code, General Provisions sections 4-101 and following, most public records are open to inspection.

Nearby Cities

Bowie is in Prince George's County near Anne Arundel County to the east and south. Researchers working on Bowie families may also need to check Severn and other Anne Arundel County community records.