Rockland County, NY Local History Guide
This guide provides an overview of genealogy and local history resources for the Rockland County region in New York. It is intended to be accessible for individuals who are just beginning their genealogical research.
Rockland County is a region just north of New York City along the western coast of the Hudson River. It is home to six state parks in addition to its vibrantly diverse community.
Local History Institutions
The Historical Society of Rockland County
The Historical Society of Rockland Conunty is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for documents and artifacts relating to the history of Rockland County. The society owns and operates the Jacob Blauvelt House, built in 1832. The Historical Society is located at 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956.
The Blauvelt House is open for guided tours at 1, 2 & 3pm on Sundays (except in the months of March and November) and by appointment. Group tours (10 or more people) are also available by appointment by calling (845) 634–9629 or emailing info@rocklandhistory.org.
To view a virtual tour, visit: https://youtu.be/VK5xDXmMmRs
Libraries of Rockland County
The libraries of Rockland County offer a bevy of published sources, unpublished sources, and other records pertaining to historical inquiry. Speak with your local librarian to explore:
- Encyclopedias
- Ephemera (Postcards, Posters, Leaflets, Buttons, Tickets, Menus)
- Maps
- And more!
Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Library
Finkelstein Memorial Library (Spring Valley)
Rose Memorial Library (Stony Point)
Archives
The Rockland County Archives are responsible for developing policy related to the retention of records, and historical document collection & preservation. They are accountable for the maintenance and storage of active an inactive records generated by county departments.
On this website, you can browse land records and court records, explore the archives building, meet the archivist, and also browse an entire collection of artifacts with items dating back to the 1700s.
Core Genealogical Methods
Birth, marriage, and death certificates are among a category of records referred to as vital statistics. These vital statistics offer insight into individuals at a personal level. Click here for information pertaining to the vital statistics of Rockland County residents.
You may also check out FamilySearch’s guide to Rockland County, New York Genealogy.
Rockland County Census Research
QuickFacts is an easy-to-use application that provides tables, maps, and charts of frequently requested statistics from many Census Bureau censuses, surveys, and programs. Profiles are available for Rockland County through the link above. You can browse this data to view information pertaining to population estimates, race, housing, families & living arrangements, and more as it pertains to the demographics of the individuals residing in the county.
Religious records are very important for New York State research because New York vital records can be difficult to find. Religious records are the most common substitute used for New York State research. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society have developed a guide offering tips for finding the congregation your ancestor attended.
Newspapers
Lohud.com / USA Today offers the latest news from Rockland County, New York.
The Rockland County Times was founded in 1888 and is published every Thursday. It is the only countywide newspaper to provide coverage focused on Rockland County.
