Woburn Residents Directory
Woburn is a city of about 41,000 people in Middlesex County with one of the deepest record collections in Massachusetts, stretching all the way back to 1640. The Woburn residents directory draws from city clerk records, annual census data, and county sources that cover the broader region. Searching for resident information here starts at City Hall on Common Street, where the clerk maintains vital records spanning nearly four centuries without a single catastrophic loss. Middlesex County offices and state databases provide additional layers for anyone looking to search the Woburn residents directory in detail.
Woburn Overview
Woburn City Clerk Office
The Woburn City Clerk office is at City Hall, 10 Common Street. William C. Campbell, CMC, serves as the City Clerk. The phone number is (781) 932-4450 and you can also reach the office at wcampbell@ci.woburn.ma.us. This is the primary source for vital records in Woburn and the starting point for most residents directory searches in the city.
Office hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday from 9 AM to 7 PM with extended hours, and Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM. The Thursday late hours give you an extra window if weekday mornings do not work. For marriage licenses, you need to arrive at least one hour before closing: Monday through Wednesday by 4:15 PM, Thursday by 6:45 PM, and Friday by 12:45 PM.
| Office | Woburn City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | William C. Campbell, CMC |
| Address | City Hall, 10 Common Street Woburn, MA 01801 |
| Phone | (781) 932-4450 |
| wcampbell@ci.woburn.ma.us | |
| Hours | Mon-Wed 9-4:30, Thu 9-7, Fri 9-1 |
Woburn stands out for its record fees. Certified copies cost just $3.00 each. That is the lowest rate in Massachusetts and well below the $10 or more that most cities charge. The low cost makes it practical to pull multiple records without a large bill adding up. The clerk also provides Justice of the Peace and notary services at City Hall.
Woburn Historical Directory Records
Woburn has kept records since 1640. That is close to 400 years of continuous record-keeping. The city has never suffered a catastrophic loss from fire, flood, or other disaster, which means the collection is remarkably complete. Birth, death, and marriage records from the 1600s through the present day are on file at City Hall. For anyone doing genealogy or deep historical research through the Woburn residents directory, this depth is hard to match anywhere in the state.
Records from the 1800s and earlier may be fragile. The clerk staff handles searches on these older documents rather than letting the public handle them directly. There is usually no charge for staff-assisted genealogy searches unless they get extensive. Some older records are mixed in with restricted files, so the staff will pull what is publicly accessible and flag anything that requires special permission.
For records from before 1900 for births and deaths, or before 1890 for marriages, the clerk recommends consulting the "Woburn Record" compiled by Hon. Edward F. Johnson. This published volume covers the town's earliest vital records and is available at the Woburn Public Library. It is a useful companion to the original files at City Hall and can save time if you are looking for something from the colonial period.
Note: Records from the 1800s may contain restricted and open records mixed together, so staff review is required before copies can be made.
Woburn Residents Census Data
Woburn conducts an annual census under M.G.L. c.51 §4. Every household gets a form each year. The city compiles the responses into a street listing that shows names and addresses sorted by road. This is a core piece of the Woburn residents directory because it gives you a current snapshot of who lives where.
Under M.G.L. c.51 §6, the street list is public for anyone age 17 and up. You can get a copy from the City Clerk. Prices typically run $15 to $25. The census feeds into voter registration, so residents who skip the form may get flagged. This tie means the list captures most adults in the city. Combined with the deep historical records Woburn holds, the annual census connects past and present in a way few other cities can match.
Woburn Public Records Requests
Massachusetts law under M.G.L. c.66 §10 requires the city to respond to public records requests within 10 business days. You can submit a request to the City Clerk at City Hall, by mail, or by email. The range of documents available goes well beyond vital records. Permits, inspection reports, meeting minutes, licensing files, and correspondence tied to specific addresses or people are all fair game.
State fee rules apply. Copies cost $0.05 per page. The first two hours of staff time are free. After that, up to $25 per hour. Most simple Woburn residents directory requests will fall under the free threshold. The state public records portal also covers state-level agencies that may hold records about Woburn residents.
Woburn Directory Resources
The Massachusetts public records request guide explains how to submit formal requests to state agencies and local offices including the Woburn City Clerk.
The state guide walks you through the process step by step. It covers what you can request, how fees work, and what to do if a request gets denied. For Woburn residents directory searches that extend beyond city records into state-level databases, this is a practical starting point for understanding your rights under the public records law.
Middlesex County Records
Woburn falls within the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds district. The Middlesex South Registry maintains property records including deeds, mortgages, liens, and land court filings. You can search their online portal for free by name or address. Property records are a strong secondary source for the Woburn residents directory because they link owner names to specific addresses and show ownership history over time.
Juror lists offer another public data source. Under M.G.L. c.234A §15, prospective juror lists are public records drawn from resident data. These lists can help verify who lives at a given address in Woburn. Between property records, juror lists, the annual census, and the clerk's vital records going back to 1640, Woburn has an unusually rich set of sources for residents directory searches.
Middlesex County Directory
Woburn sits in Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts. The county maintains deed records, court filings, and probate files that extend beyond what the city clerk holds. For a full breakdown of county-level sources, visit the Middlesex County page.
Nearby Cities
Cities and towns near Woburn maintain their own residents directory records. If you are looking for someone who may have moved in the area, these pages cover the same record types and search methods.