Greensville County Birth Records Search

Greensville 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 1781 in southern Virginia near the North Carolina border. Emporia, which serves as the county seat, is an independent city separate from Greensville County. The county surrounds Emporia on three sides. Certified birth certificates for births in Greensville County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. The Crater Health District and the county courthouse provide local assistance with birth certificate applications and historical research.

Greensville County Circuit Court Clerk

The Greensville County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, probate records, and court files from 1781. 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 Greensville County births from that era.

Greensville County was formed from Brunswick County in 1781. For any births before 1781, Brunswick County records are the starting point. The Library of Virginia holds Brunswick County records on microfilm. Because Emporia is an independent city, births within the city limits are recorded separately from Greensville County births. If you are unsure whether a birth occurred in the city or the county, check both record series or contact the Office of Vital Records for guidance.

The county courthouse is located in Emporia, the independent city that serves as county seat despite being administratively separate. Records are available during regular business hours. The Greensville County Public Library in Emporia also holds local genealogy resources. Researchers tracing African American families in Greensville County should look at the Virginia Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866, which is available free on FamilySearch and covers Greensville County entries.

The Greensville County courthouse holds land, marriage, probate, and court records from 1781 that are useful alongside birth registers for Greensville County genealogical research.

The Greensville County courthouse in Emporia provides access to records from 1781, including deed books, will books, and court order books that complement the birth register collection for genealogical research.

Crater Health District Birth Records

The Crater Health District serves Greensville County along with Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex counties and the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, and Petersburg. 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 Crater Health District also provides immunizations, maternal health programs, and other public health services. For Greensville County residents who need a paper application form or guidance, the health district office is the local resource. Phone: (804) 862-8980.

Greensville County Birth Records History

Greensville County was established in 1781. 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 and Methodist congregations that served the county are the main alternatives for the gap period.

Greensville County has a significant African American genealogical heritage. The county had a large enslaved population before the Civil War, and the Virginia Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866, on FamilySearch is a key resource for researchers tracing Black families in the county from that period. After emancipation, Freedmen's Bureau records for this area are held at the National Archives and can provide birth and family information not found in state vital records. The Library of Virginia can help identify which Bureau office served Greensville County.

FamilySearch provides free online access to Virginia Birth Registers, 1853-1911, and Virginia Birth Records, 1912-2015, both including Greensville County entries.

Fees and How to Request a Greensville County Birth Certificate

All certified birth certificates for Greensville 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

Greensville County is in southern Virginia near the North Carolina border, surrounded by several counties.