Page County Birth Records Search
Page 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 1831 in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley between the Massanutten Mountain and the Blue Ridge, with Luray as its county seat. Page County is known for Luray Caverns and its setting in one of the most scenic parts of the Shenandoah Valley. Certified birth certificates for births in Page County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. The Lord Fairfax Health District and the county courthouse in Luray provide local assistance with applications and historical birth record research.
Page County Overview
Page County Circuit Court Clerk
The Page County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, probate records, and court files from 1831. 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 primary official source for Page County births from that era.
Page County was formed from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties in 1831. For births before 1831 in what is now Page County, both Rockingham and Shenandoah county records may be relevant depending on which side of the county the family lived. The Library of Virginia holds records for both parent counties on microfilm. Page County courthouse records from 1831 forward include deed books, will books, and court order books.
Page County's location in the Page Valley between two mountain ridges created a community somewhat isolated from the main transportation corridors. German and Scots-Irish settlers who came into the Shenandoah Valley through Pennsylvania often had distinct naming traditions. Researchers should check for variant spellings of surnames common in the German Reformed and Lutheran communities that settled this area. The Page County Public Library in Luray holds local history and genealogy materials.
The Page County courthouse in Luray holds land, marriage, probate, and court records from 1831 that researchers use alongside birth registers for genealogical research in this Shenandoah Valley county.
The Page County courthouse in Luray provides access to records from 1831, with deed books, will books, and court order books from this Shenandoah Valley community complementing the birth register collection for genealogical research.
| Office | Page County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 120 Luray, VA 22835 |
| Phone | (540) 743-4064 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Lord Fairfax Health District Birth Records
The Lord Fairfax Health District serves Page County along with Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties and the city of Winchester in northwestern Virginia. The district provides birth certificate application forms and guidance on the state submission process. It does not issue certified birth certificates. Applications go to the Office of Vital Records in Richmond.
The Lord Fairfax Health District also provides immunizations, maternal health programs, and other public health services. For Page County residents who need a paper application form or guidance on the birth certificate process, the health district office is the local resource.
| Office | Lord Fairfax Health District |
|---|---|
| Phone | (540) 722-3480 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Page County Birth Records History
Page County was established in 1831. 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 Lutheran, German Reformed, Baptist, and Methodist congregations that served the county are the main alternatives for both the pre-registration and gap periods.
Page County's German-heritage communities kept church records in German through much of the 19th century. The Lutheran and German Reformed congregations in the area maintained baptism registers, some of which have been transcribed and published by genealogical societies. Researchers should be aware that pre-1831 records for families in the Page Valley need to be searched in both Rockingham and Shenandoah county records, as the boundary between those counties ran through the area.
FamilySearch provides free online access to Virginia Birth Registers, 1853-1911, and Virginia Birth Records, 1912-2015, both including Page County entries. Ancestry.com holds digitized Virginia birth records accessible free at Virginia public library branches. The Shenandoah Valley Genealogical Society holds materials relevant to Page County research.
Fees and How to Request a Page County Birth Certificate
All certified birth certificates for Page 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
Page County is in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley between Massanutten Mountain and the Blue Ridge, bordered by several surrounding counties.