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Tuesday, February 18th
In 1996, The USGenWeb Project was known as the Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database Project. The idea was to provide a single place to go for genealogy data related to all counties in Kentucky. As time went on, the project expanded and genealogists decided to create a similar set of pages for all US states, thus becoming USGenWeb. It is an ever evolving platform that has been recognized by Family Tree Magazine, FamilySearch, Education World, and Global Information Network.
Volunteer-run
Although USGenWeb isn't the prettiest website, we are all about the heart of this organization that is free for all users and run by a group of volunteers (btw - they are always looking for more help). These people work to make it possible for people to have free genealogical resources to learn more about their families. How cool is that? Through this platform you can find a variety of county and state resources including maps, photos, historical documents, transcriptions, helpful links, and more.
Ongoing project
USGenWeb is an ongoing project with endless opportunities for more information on their site. They rely on volunteers and people submitting information and making in-depth pages about the counties of other states to make this a comprehensive research tool. What you see there today may be different next year if they get more submissions. Because of this, some states and counties may have more information than others.
Free to use
Since USGenWeb is free for all users, there is no need to register, login, or provide any identifiable information. To get started, you just select a state from their dropdown menu that you're interested in and you'll unleash hundreds of links and state-level documents. Truth be told, you'll kind of need to know what exactly you're looking for before coming here. This is a non-profit website, so don't expect high-level organization or presentation. It can be a bit confusing to identify exactly what would be helpful here unless you go in already knowing what to search for.
No user ratings
When it comes to finding ratings about USGenWeb, they really don't exist. The Better Business Bureau hasn't rated them and there aren't user reviews either. However, this isn't necessarily the type of site people leave reviews for. USGenWeb requires nothing of its users, so you come looking for something and whether you find it or not, you move on having lost nothing.
Nothing to lose
There's no reason not to utilize USGenWeb if you are looking for information specific to an area of the United States. Whether it be finding a name from a cemetery, checking obituaries, learning about the history of a city, or even getting involved yourself with one of the ongoing special projects, USGenWeb is a neat tool that exists just to serve people looking for family information. However, it's definitely not a well-rounded genealogy website where you can create your family tree, take a DNA test to connect you with living relatives, or connect with others who are working on the same lineage, though: you'll need one of our higher-ranked services to do all of that.
Everyone on earth seems to have an innate, yearning desire to deeply understand who they are and where they came from. One of the most exciting ways to dive into this is through genealogy. Learning about ancestors on both sides of the family, what areas of the world they lived in, and stories from their lives can give an indescribably profound sense of pride and self-worth to an individual.
Genealogy has become a fast growing hobby for people of all ages since it is easier than ever. No longer do you need to go to government agencies for vital documents or "cemetery hop” while trying to learn names and death dates of family members. It used to be a complex puzzle trying to trace your family lineage, but now there are incredible companies that have compiled billions of records and made it possible for people to easily create their own family tree.
Through genealogy websites you can not only learn the names of the people in your family tree, but you can usually see pictures of them and view any documents that are attached to their records. You could spend days pouring over journal entries, news articles, and contributions from other family members about an ancestor. To learn about the people who paved the way for your existence is remarkable and will likely teach you more about yourself than you can imagine.
These online genealogy platforms provide you with instant access to vast databases of historical records, DNA databases, and family trees from the comfort of your own home. This accessibility makes genealogical research much more feasible for people with varying levels of experience and resources.
Once you find an online platform that gives you all the resources you need to do your own genealogy, you'll understand why this pastime is so addicting for people. Incredible things have transpired for people who have looked for lost family members and been able to reconnect through genealogy work. All it takes through most companies is to set up an account and get started.
When deciding which online genealogy service to spend your time and energy with, take the following things into consideration:
Ready to research your genealogy? Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best places for you to get started on your personal family tree. We know this information will help you make life-changing discoveries that give you a deeper sense of who you are and an appreciation for those who came before you.
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