Grant County Genealogy

Grant County genealogy records reach back to 1893, the year of the Cherokee Outlet land run. The county seat is Medford, a small town in north-central Oklahoma where the courthouse holds marriage licenses, land deeds, probate files, and court records from the territorial era forward. Grant County was originally called "L" County in Oklahoma Territory before getting its permanent name in honor of President Ulysses S. Grant. Researchers tracing family roots through the Cherokee Outlet settlers will find some of the oldest records in the state here. Online tools and the local historical society offer extra help for people searching from a distance.

Grant County Courthouse Records

The Grant County Courthouse in Medford is the central place for genealogy records. County Clerk Rachelle McCaleb manages land records and other filed documents. The Court Clerk keeps marriage, divorce, probate, and court case files. All of these date back to 1893.

The courthouse is at 112 East Guthrie, Suite 102, in Medford. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach the County Clerk at (580) 395-2274 or by email at rmccaleb@grant.okcounties.org. Copy fees are standard Oklahoma rates. The first page costs $1.00 and each extra page is $0.50. Add $0.50 to $1.00 for certification. Mail requests should include the names, dates, type of record you want, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment.

Grant County also has military records on file. Families often filed veterans' discharge papers at the county clerk's office for safekeeping. These can show a person's age, birthplace, and physical description, which helps with genealogy work.

How to Search Grant County Records

Online searching is the easiest way to start your Grant County genealogy research. The Grant County land records portal on OKCountyRecords.com has indexed data and scanned images from May 1993 forward. New records get added in real time. You can search by name, party type, instrument type, date range, or legal description.

The Oklahoma State Courts Network covers court records in Grant County. Search by name or case number to find divorce filings, probate cases, and civil matters. This tool is free and covers all 77 counties in the state. For vital records, the OK2Explore portal lets you search birth and death indexes. Birth and death records for Grant County start in 1908. Marriage records go back to 1893 at the courthouse.

FamilySearch has Grant County probate records and land records on microfilm. You can access these through the Enid Oklahoma FamilySearch Center or the Ponca City Oklahoma FamilySearch Center, both of which serve the Grant County area. The Grant County OKGenWeb page is another free resource with volunteer-compiled data.

Grant County Online Record Tools

The Grant County land records search provides access to deeds, mortgages, and other instruments recorded in the county since 1993.

This portal lets you view unofficial copies for free. Certified copies require a fee and can be obtained from the County Clerk. For records older than 1993, visit the courthouse or submit a mail request.

The Grant County OKGenWeb page pulls together cemetery records, census data, and family files submitted by volunteers.

This free site can save you a trip to the courthouse by giving you names, dates, and leads to follow up on. Check it before you start ordering records.

Grant County Land and Cherokee Outlet Records

Land records are central to Grant County genealogy. The county was settled during the Cherokee Outlet land run of September 16, 1893. Thousands of people raced to claim land that day. The original homestead claims and federal patents are some of the most important genealogy documents for this area.

The Bureau of Land Management General Land Office has the original federal land patents online. You can search by name or legal description. Once the federal patent was issued, all later transfers were recorded at the Grant County Courthouse. The County Clerk has land records from 1893 forward. These include deeds, mortgages, and other real property instruments. For the period before 1993, the paper records are at the courthouse. From 1993 onward, they are available online through OKCountyRecords.com.

Under Oklahoma's Open Records Act, Title 51, Sections 24A.1 through 24A.33, land records and most other county documents are open to the public. You can request them without giving a reason.

Grant County Historical Society and Local Help

The Grant County Historical Society is at 109 North 1st Street, Medford, OK 73759. Call (580) 395-3332 or email 1893LRHC@gmail.com. They run a museum and keep records useful for family research.

Several funeral homes in the area also hold historical records that can help with genealogy. Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service and Lanman Funeral Home both serve Medford. Wilson Funeral Home is in Pond Creek. Funeral home records sometimes have details about a deceased person's family that you won't find anywhere else. These are especially useful when official death records are missing or incomplete.

At the state level, the Oklahoma Historical Society holds microfilm and manuscripts for Grant County. The Oklahoma Genealogical Society publishes a journal with transcribed records. The Gateway to Oklahoma History has digitized newspapers from the area. The National Archives at Fort Worth keeps federal census schedules, military service records, and other documents that cover Grant County residents. Oklahoma vital records are managed under Title 63, Section 1-323 of state law.

Cities in Grant County

Grant County includes Medford, Pond Creek, Wakita, Deer Creek, Nash, and other small towns. All genealogy records for these communities are kept at the Grant County Courthouse in Medford. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Grant County. Ancestors who settled in the Cherokee Outlet may have moved between these north-central Oklahoma counties.