History

History of the Recorder's Office

Since the very beginnings of our state, it has been the County Recorder who has had the important task of keeping the vital records pertaining to ownership of real estate and all encumbrances or liens upon it. Without the work of the County Recorder in recording, safekeeping, and organizing all documents in a competent and logical manner, it would be impossible to purchase land and be assured of a clear title or to lend money with confidence the land is securely on record with the Stark County Recorder.

The practice of recording real estate documents is based on law in England, which traveled to the New World with the colonists. Public land registrars were appointed in colonial America to keep accurate records. A system of registration was necessary to prove the rights of persons who first made claims to property.

In 1787 the Northwest Territory was formed, encompassing all lands north and west of the Ohio River. A Recorder's office was established in each county. Ohio became a state in 1803 and although the state constitution did not provide for a Recorder's office, the first state legislature mandated that a Recorder be appointed in each county by the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1829 the Recorder's office became an elected position and in 1936 the term was established at four years. It is thanks to the founding fathers of Ohio that the Stark County Recorder's office is able to continue to house so many historical documents, such as land patents signed by a few of our presidents such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe and guarantee Stark County's land documents from its beginning in 1809.

Stark County Recorder Jamie Walters continues to take on the task of keeping and maintaining accurate land records that are current, legible, and easily accessible. An important aspect of the Recorder's work is to record, image, and index each document so that it is readily available. As the recorder completes this detailed process, it is possible for persons searching land records to find the documents necessary to establish a "chain of title" (history of ownership) and ensure that any debts or encumbrances against a property are evident. These invaluable records are utilized by the general public, attorneys, historians, genealogists, and land title examiners.