Embedded Files
Start Your Research Here
Start Your Research Here
The Protect Rural Florida Research Hub is built to help people find reliable, free or low-cost resources for researching Florida communities, families, land, history and public records.
The Protect Rural Florida Research Hub is built to help people find reliable, free or low-cost resources for researching Florida communities, families, land, history and public records.
Whether you are tracing family history, looking into an old property, researching a forgotten community, trying to understand a local concern or just curious about the place you call home, this is a place to start.
Whether you are tracing family history, looking into an old property, researching a forgotten community, trying to understand a local concern or just curious about the place you call home, this is a place to start.
What are you looking for?
What are you looking for?
Choose a Research Path
Choose a Research Path
Family History & Genealogy
Family History & Genealogy
Find records, archives, newspapers and other resources that can help trace Florida families and local connections.
Cemeteries, Graves, Churches & Schools
Cemeteries, Graves, Churches & Schools
Find burial records, historic cemeteries, church history, school records and other community landmarks.
Property, Development & Government Records
Property, Development & Government Records
Research property ownership, proposed development, public meetings, budgets, permits and other government information.
Local History & Forgotten Communities
Local History & Forgotten Communities
Research towns, settlements, schools, churches, businesses and communities that may no longer appear on modern maps.
Historic Maps, Aerials & Land Records
Historic Maps, Aerials & Land Records
Compare old maps and aerial photographs, track property history and better understand how land has changed over time.
Environmental Records, Water & Permits
Environmental Records, Water & Permits
Find environmental records, contamination information, water data, permits and other resources related to land and natural resources.
Statewide Resources
Statewide Resources
Start with statewide and regional resources that can help you research Florida history, families, land, property, public records, environmental information and historic places. Some records are still kept locally, so your county offices and library may be the next stop.
Florida Memory
State Library and Archives collections including photographs, historical records, maps, manuscripts and other Florida material.
UF Digital Collections
Historic photographs, maps, newspapers, aerial imagery and other digitized Florida collections. Their geographic search can also search by location and aerial imagery.
Florida Master Site File
Florida’s official inventory of recorded historic and cultural resources, including historic structures, cemeteries, archaeological sites, bridges, districts and survey reports. The general public can request information from staff, though sensitive archaeological-location information is restricted.
Florida DEP Public Records & OCULUS
Environmental records including permits, regulated facilities, contamination information, water-related records and other Florida Department of Environmental Protection documents.
Florida Department of Revenue Property Tax Data Portal
Statewide property tax and parcel-related data that can help with broader property research and comparing information across counties.
Don’t Forget Local Records
Don’t Forget Local Records
County Clerk of Court
Deeds, mortgages, plats, court records, official records and other locally filed documents.
Property Appraiser
Parcel information, ownership records, property details, legal descriptions and assessed values.
County or City Planning & Zoning
Development applications, zoning changes, land-use records, comprehensive plans and related documents.
County Library
Local history collections, newspapers, genealogy resources, yearbooks, archives and staff who may know where harder-to-find records are kept.
Local Historical Society or Museum
Photographs, family files, oral histories, maps and community-specific collections that may not be available online.
County Commission or City Clerk
Meeting agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions, budgets and public records.
How to Use the Research Hub
How to Use the Research Hub
Start with what you already know
A name, address, cemetery, road, business, family member or old photograph can be enough to begin.
Use more than one source
Old records can be incomplete or wrong. Maps, newspapers, property records, family stories and government documents are strongest when they are compared together.
Pay attention to old names
Roads, towns, schools and communities often changed names or disappeared entirely. Try alternate spellings and older place names when you get stuck.
Keep track of where you found it
Save links, screenshots, dates and source information as you research. It will save you a huge headache later.
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