Pulaski County Birth Records Search

Pulaski 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 1839 in southwestern Virginia along the New River, with Pulaski as its county seat. The county is named for Count Casimir Pulaski, the Polish hero of the American Revolution. Certified birth certificates for births in Pulaski County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. The New River Health District and the county courthouse in Pulaski provide local assistance with applications and historical birth record research.

Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk

The Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, probate records, and court files from 1839. 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 Pulaski County births from that era.

Pulaski County was formed from Montgomery and Floyd counties in 1839. For births before 1839 in what is now Pulaski County, Montgomery County records are the primary starting point, though some areas of the county may also have been part of Floyd. The Library of Virginia holds both Montgomery and Floyd county records on microfilm. The courthouse at 45 Third Street NW in Pulaski holds deed books, will books, and court order books from 1839 forward.

Pulaski County sits in the New River Valley and has historically been tied to coal and rail industries. The county's Scots-Irish and German heritage is reflected in its surnames and church records. Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist congregations in the area kept records that can supplement courthouse materials. The New River Valley has active genealogical research communities. Virginia Tech's Special Collections library in nearby Blacksburg holds materials related to the broader New River Valley region.

The Pulaski County courthouse holds land, marriage, probate, and court records from 1839 that researchers use alongside birth registers for genealogical research in this southwestern Virginia county.

The Pulaski County courthouse provides access to records from 1839, with deed books, will books, and court order books from this New River Valley county that complement the birth register collection for genealogical research.

New River Health District Birth Records

The New River Health District serves Pulaski County along with Floyd, Giles, and Montgomery counties and the city of Radford in southwestern 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 New River Health District also provides immunizations, maternal health programs, and other public health services. For Pulaski County residents who need a paper application form or guidance on the birth certificate process, the health district office is the local resource.

Pulaski County Birth Records History

Pulaski County was established in 1839. 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, Presbyterian, and Methodist denominations that served the county are the main alternatives for both the pre-registration and gap periods.

Because Pulaski County was not formed until 1839, only a brief period before the 1853 registration law separates the county's founding from the start of statewide birth registration. Researchers looking for births in the Pulaski area before 1839 should consult Montgomery County records at the Library of Virginia. After 1853, Pulaski County birth registers are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia for the 1853-1896 period. The 1896-1912 gap requires using church records, family Bibles, and other substitute sources.

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

Fees and How to Request a Pulaski County Birth Certificate

All certified birth certificates for Pulaski 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

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