Find Genealogy Records in Florissant

Florissant genealogy records are held at the St. Louis County courthouse in Clayton and at several research institutions serving the north St. Louis County area. Florissant is part of St. Louis County, not St. Louis City, so all official birth, death, marriage, land, court, and probate records for Florissant residents are at the county level in Clayton rather than at city offices in St. Louis.

Records Are Kept at St. Louis County

Florissant residents' genealogy records are held at St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds at 41 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105, phone 314-615-7100, handles marriage licenses and land records for county residents going back to 1876 when the city and county separated. Marriage records begin in 1876 and land records also date from that year. For records before 1876, you need to look at the original St. Louis County records from before the separation, which are held at the Missouri State Archives and at the St. Louis County Historical Society.

The Circuit Clerk in Clayton holds court, divorce, and probate records for St. Louis County going back to 1876. Probate files are especially useful for genealogists because they name heirs, document property distribution, and often contain family details not found in other records. For researchers tracing Florissant families going back through the 1900s, the Clayton courthouse is the right starting point. Florissant itself has a long history as one of Missouri's oldest settlements, predating the county separation, so older records require research in the pre-1876 St. Louis County records.

Florissant's origins as a French colonial settlement in the 18th century give it one of the longest documented histories of any city in Missouri. Family researchers with deep roots in Florissant may find relevant records in Spanish and French colonial archives, Catholic church registers, and pre-American period documents held at the Missouri State Archives and specialized repositories. These sources go back to the 1700s and cover families who lived in the area long before the United States took possession of the region.

Note: The St. Louis County Health Department holds birth certificates from 1920 onward and death certificates from 1980 onward for current vital records requests.

Vital Records in Florissant

For certified copies of birth and death certificates, contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records at 930 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO, phone (573) 751-6387. Certified copies cost $15.00 each. State-level birth and death records are available from 1910 onward. For records before 1910, the Missouri State Archives holds St. Louis County vital records on microfilm. The county clerk maintained limited birth and death records from 1883 to 1893 during Missouri's early registration period.

Death certificates from 1910 through 1969 are free to search at Missouri Digital Heritage. St. Louis County is heavily represented in this database given the county's large population. If you know an ancestor died in Florissant or elsewhere in St. Louis County between 1910 and 1969, this is the fastest free search option. The Missouri State Archives at 600 W. Main St., Jefferson City, phone (573) 751-3280, holds St. Louis County microfilm going back to the early county period.

Florissant and St. Louis County Research Resources

The St. Louis County Library at 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131, phone 314-994-3300, serves the county and holds a substantial genealogy collection. The library provides in-library access to Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online. Local history materials covering north county communities including Florissant, local newspapers on microfilm, and genealogy reference books are available. The library's website lists genealogy resources and branch locations throughout the county.

The St. Louis Genealogical Society at P.O. Box 43296, St. Louis, MO 63178, phone 314-647-8547, is one of the most active genealogical societies in Missouri. The Society publishes research guides, indexes, and databases covering St. Louis City and County. Their resources are relevant for Florissant researchers because the St. Louis area genealogy community covers both the city and county comprehensively. The Society holds regular meetings and workshops and accepts research inquiries by mail and email.

The St. Louis County Historical Society at 41 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105, phone 314-615-1808, holds archives specifically related to St. Louis County. For Florissant researchers, the county historical society is worth contacting for records specific to north county communities and the county's pre-1876 history.

Florissant Historical and City Resources

The City of Florissant at florissantmo.com provides local government contact information. The city's website can help with current municipal services, but official genealogy records are maintained at the St. Louis County level. Florissant has a City Heritage Museum and various historical preservation efforts connected to its status as one of Missouri's oldest French colonial settlements. The Valley Historical Society of Florissant maintains local historical collections that may include photographs, community records, and family files specific to the Florissant area going back to the colonial period.

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine at 1 Rue St. Francois in Florissant is one of the oldest churches in Missouri and holds Catholic parish registers going back to the late 1700s and early 1800s. For families with deep Catholic roots in Florissant, these church registers can document births, marriages, and deaths from the pre-statehood era when civil records did not exist. Contacting the Shrine directly about access to historical registers is worthwhile for researchers with ancestors in the early French settlement period.

Online Records for Florissant Residents

Missouri Digital Heritage holds St. Louis County death certificates from 1910 to 1969 and other records free of charge. FamilySearch at familysearch.org has indexed St. Louis County census records from 1850 through 1940 and has also indexed some earlier Catholic church records from the Florissant area that predate the census period. Both sites are free. The Missouri State Archives holds St. Louis County microfilm and can assist with research requests.

Missouri Case.net at courts.mo.gov/casenet covers court cases from November 2003 onward. For older court records, contact the St. Louis County Circuit Clerk in Clayton. The St. Louis County MOGenWeb site is a volunteer resource with transcribed records and family histories, and the Missouri State Genealogical Association at mosga.org can help connect you with genealogical expertise for the St. Louis area.

The City of Florissant website provides current city contact information, while official genealogy records for Florissant residents are held at the St. Louis County level in Clayton.

St. Louis County holds marriage records from 1876 onward, while older Florissant records from the French colonial period are in church registers and pre-separation county archives.