Towson, Maryland Genealogy Records
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County and home to the Baltimore County Circuit Court, which holds genealogy records for all Baltimore County communities. Birth, death, marriage, land, and probate records for Towson and all of Baltimore County are maintained at the courthouse in Towson and at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.
Towson Overview
Baltimore County Circuit Court
The Baltimore County Circuit Court at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 is the primary record-keeping office for all Baltimore County genealogy records. Land records, marriage licenses, civil case files, and other recorded documents are maintained here. Because Towson is the county seat, all county-level records are centered at this location. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Marriage licenses for Towson and all Baltimore County residents are issued at this courthouse. Both parties must bring government-issued birth certificates, a 48-hour waiting period applies, and the license is valid for six months in Baltimore County only. All Baltimore County land records are free online through MDLandRec.net at mdlandrec.net. It is important to note that Baltimore City and Baltimore County are separate jurisdictions with separate courts, even though they share the Baltimore name.
| Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-887-2601 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
| Website | courts.state.md.us/clerks/baltimorecounty |
Birth and Death Records for Towson Residents
Vital records for Towson residents are part of the Baltimore County system. The Maryland State Archives holds birth records from 1898 to 1921 and death records from 1898 to 2011 for Baltimore County. 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 Baltimore County entries. Church records from Baltimore County's many early congregations can document births and deaths before civil registration began. For recent vital records, contact the Maryland Department of Health at 410-764-3038 or visit health.maryland.gov/vsa.
Baltimore County Public Library
The Baltimore County Public Library main branch is at 320 York Road, Towson. This branch has an extensive local history collection for Baltimore County research, including historical newspapers, city directories, and genealogical reference materials. The library provides access to genealogy databases at all branch locations throughout the county.
The Baltimore County Public Library main branch in Towson has a strong local history collection and genealogy database access for Baltimore County research.
Historical Society of Baltimore County
The Historical Society of Baltimore County at 9811 Van Buren Lane, Cockeysville (near Towson) maintains historical records and manuscripts for Baltimore County. Their holdings cover the county from the colonial period forward and include family papers, photographs, and local history materials not found at state repositories.
The Historical Society of Baltimore County holds local manuscripts, family papers, and historical photographs for Baltimore County genealogy research.
The Baltimore County Genealogical Society also provides resources for county-wide research. The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, is the primary repository for older Baltimore County records. Call 410-260-6400 or search at msa.maryland.gov. The research guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov lists Baltimore County records by type and period.
Using the Maryland State Archives for Towson Research
The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, holds Baltimore County records going back to 1659. Baltimore County is one of Maryland's oldest counties with a very deep record base at the MSA. Under Maryland Code, General Provisions sections 4-101 and following, most public records are open to inspection. Death records are public after 10 years, birth records after 100 years, and marriage and land records have no restrictions. The Reclaim The Records collection at archive.org includes over 5 million free Maryland vital records accessible without a login.
Nearby Cities
Towson is in central Baltimore County, north of Baltimore City. Researchers working on Towson families may also need to check Baltimore City records if family members lived in the city.