Giles County Birth Records Search

Giles County birth records are official state documents maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The county was established in 1806 in southwestern Virginia, with Pearisburg as its county seat along the New River. Giles County is a narrow, mountainous county running along the New River Gorge between Craig and Mercer counties. Certified birth certificates for births in Giles County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. The New River Health District and the county courthouse in Pearisburg provide local assistance with birth certificate applications and historical research.

Giles County Circuit Court Clerk

The Giles County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, probate records, and court files from 1806. The clerk does not issue certified birth certificates. For births from June 14, 1912 to the present, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The courthouse holds historical birth and death registers from the 1853-1896 period on microfilm, which are the main official source for Giles County births from that era.

Giles County was formed from Montgomery, Monroe, and Tazewell counties in 1806. Monroe County is now in West Virginia following that state's separation from Virginia in 1863. For any birth that might have been recorded in one of those parent counties before 1806, researchers need to check Montgomery County (Virginia) records or Monroe County (West Virginia) records as appropriate. The Library of Virginia holds microfilm for Montgomery County. The West Virginia State Archives holds Monroe County records.

The county courthouse is on Main Street in Pearisburg. Records are open during regular business hours. The Giles County Historical Society holds additional materials about local families and the county's early settlement history. The New River Valley is one of the oldest river valleys in North America, and some families in Giles County trace their roots in the area back to the late 18th century.

The New River Health District serves Giles County and provides guidance for residents seeking certified birth certificates from the state vital records office.

The New River Health District serves Giles County and surrounding areas, providing application assistance and guidance for residents requesting birth certificates from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records.

New River Health District Birth Records

The New River Health District serves Giles County along with Floyd, Montgomery, and Pulaski counties and the city of Radford. The district provides birth certificate application forms and guidance on submitting requests to the state. It does not issue certified birth certificates. Applications go to the Office of Vital Records in Richmond.

The New River Health District also provides immunizations, maternal health programs, and other public health services. For Giles County residents who need a paper application form or guidance on the birth certificate process, the health district office is a convenient local resource. Residents in Pearisburg and the surrounding communities can get help with applications without traveling to Richmond.

Giles County Birth Records History

Giles County was established in 1806. Virginia's statewide birth registration law took effect in 1853. Birth registers from 1853 to 1896 are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Virginia ended registration in 1896, creating a gap until June 14, 1912. Church records from the Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations that served the county are the main alternatives for the gap period.

The county's mountainous terrain meant that some births in remote hollows were never registered even during the 1853-1896 period. Researchers should not assume that an absence of a record means a person was not born in Giles County. Family Bibles, church baptism records, and estate papers often supply birth information not found in the official registers. The Giles County Historical Society can help researchers identify which churches served specific communities in the county and whether records survive.

FamilySearch provides free online access to Virginia Birth Registers, 1853-1911, and Virginia Birth Records, 1912-2015, both including Giles County entries. Ancestry.com holds digitized Virginia birth records accessible free at Virginia public library branches including the Giles County Public Library in Pearisburg.

Fees and How to Request a Giles County Birth Certificate

All certified birth certificates for Giles County births are issued by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12 per copy under Virginia Code Title 32.1. Online orders can be placed through the state system or through VitalChek. Mail applications go to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000. Walk-in service is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Birth records are restricted for 100 years and require valid photo identification from eligible family members.

Nearby Counties

Giles County is in southwestern Virginia along the New River, bordered by several surrounding counties.