Canton Township Obituaries and Death Records
Canton Township death records and obituaries are filed through Wayne County and searchable through the Canton Public Library, which holds the Canton Observer archive from 1974 to 2019 along with major genealogy database subscriptions. With about 98,000 residents, Canton Township is one of the fastest-growing communities in Wayne County. The Wayne County Clerk at waynecounty.com/clerk handles certified copies, while the Canton Public Library provides free access to local newspaper obituaries and national genealogy databases.
Canton Township Overview
Wayne County Clerk Death Records Canton
Death records for Canton Township residents are filed through the Wayne County Clerk at 201 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit. The website is waynecounty.com/clerk. Under MCL 333.2882, any person can order a certified death certificate in Michigan without a family connection. The fee is $24 for the first copy and $7 for additional copies ordered at the same time.
Canton Township is an unincorporated charter township in Wayne County, so all official vital records go through the county system. There is no separate township vital records office. For legal purposes such as settling estates or transferring property, certified copies from the Wayne County Clerk are the required document. The canton public library provides obituary research tools for genealogy purposes, as described below.
| Office | Wayne County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Website | waynecounty.com/clerk |
| First Copy Fee | $24 |
| Additional Copies | $7 each |
Canton Public Library Obituary and Genealogy Resources
The Canton Public Library at cantonpl.org holds the Canton Observer archive from 1974 to 2019. The Canton Observer was the township's local newspaper and published obituary notices for Canton residents throughout that period. This 45-year archive is the primary local newspaper resource for Canton Township death and obituary research. The library holds the physical archive and can help researchers locate specific issues or obituary notices from any year in the range.
The Canton Public Library also provides in-library access to Ancestry Library Edition and MyHeritage. These subscription databases give researchers access to Michigan death records, national obituary collections, and genealogy records far beyond what any single county holds. The Ancestry Library Edition includes digitized Michigan death records, cemetery indexes, and newspaper obituary databases. MyHeritage has complementary international records that are useful for Canton families with immigrant roots. Both are free to use at library computers during open hours.
The Canton Historical Society holds cemetery records and township histories that can supplement the newspaper and database resources. Canton's historical records document the township from its rural period before the post-WWII suburban expansion, which is useful for families with long roots in the area. The historical society's materials are separate from the library collection and may require direct contact for access.
The Canton Public Library shown above holds the Canton Observer archive from 1974 to 2019 and provides free access to Ancestry Library Edition and MyHeritage for Canton Township death record and obituary research.
Note: The Canton Observer archive at the library covers 1974 to 2019. For obituaries before 1974, the Wayne County resources and statewide Michigan databases are the primary sources.
Canton Township History and Death Records
Canton Township grew dramatically in the late 20th century as suburban development spread west from Detroit through Wayne County. Before that growth, the area was predominantly farmland, and the historical record reflects a much smaller, rural community. "Canton's Country Schools" documents the township's early educational history, and school records from that era sometimes contain family information relevant to death record research. The Canton Historical Society holds these and other materials from the pre-suburban period.
Most Canton Township death records from before the modern era are held at the Wayne County level or in the state archives. Public Act 194 of 1867 established statewide death registration in Michigan, so records from the early township period are in the state system. The free Michiganology database at michiganology.org covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952, which includes the early township period for Canton. The GENDIS system at michiganology.org/gendis covers earlier records.
Public Act 73 of 2006 restricts free online images of death records to those older than 75 years. For deaths within that window, the Wayne County Clerk and MDHHS in Lansing are the official sources. MDHHS at 517-335-8666 charges $34 for the first copy and $16 for additional copies. VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles online orders for a $12.95 service fee.
Wayne County Death Records
Canton Township is in Wayne County. All death records for Canton residents go through the Wayne County Clerk. For full county-level fees, procedures, and resources, visit the Wayne County obituary records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Wayne County cities also have death records and obituary resources.