Radici Guides

Genealogical Research Guide for Marche: Archives, Administrative Changes, and Municipalities

The territory of Marche has a complex and fascinating administrative history, tied for centuries to the rule of the Papal States (through the legations of Urbino, Macerata, Camerino, and Ancona). With the Unification of Italy and subsequent reorganizations, the region was divided into provinces that have undergone changes over time, including the recent establishment of the province of Fermo (2004) and interregional boundary changes (such as the detachment of the municipalities of Montecopiolo and Sassofeltrio, which passed to the Emilia-Romagna region in 2021).

PROVINCES OF MARCHE AND THEIR CHANGES

1. Province of Ancona

The province of Ancona extends along the central coastal strip and the hilly hinterland. The State Archives of Ancona preserves important judicial, notarial, and administrative documentary collections from the Papal States.

List of Municipalities in the Province of Ancona (47):

Agugliano, Ancona, Arcevia, Barbara, Camerano, Camerata Picena, Castelbellino, Castelfidardo, Castelleone di Suasa, Castelplanio, Cerreto d'Esi, Chiaravalle, Corinaldo, Cupramontana, Falconara Marittima, Filottrano, Genga, Jesi, Loreto, Maiolati Spontini, Mergo, Monsano, Monte Roberto, Monte San Vito, Morro d'Alba, Numana, Offagna, Osimo, Ostra, Ostra Vetere, Poggio San Marcello, Polverigi, Rosora, San Marcello, San Paolo di Jesi, Santa Maria Nuova, Sassoferrato, Senigallia, Serra de' Conti, Serra San Quirico, Sirolo, Staffolo, Tre Castelli.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Changes (Ancona):

• Tre Castelli: Municipality established on January 1, 2014, through the merger of the municipalities of Ripe, Castel Colonna, and Monterado (Regional Law of Marche no. 18/2013).
• Ostra Vetere: Formerly named Montenovo, it changed its name to Ostra Vetere with Royal Decree of November 19, 1881, no. 582.

2. Province of Ascoli Piceno

The southern area of Marche is historically centered around Ascoli Piceno. The provincial jurisdiction underwent a significant territorial reduction in 2004 following the establishment of the new province of Fermo.

List of Municipalities in the Province of Ascoli Piceno (33):

Acquasanta Terme, Appignano del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno, Carassai, Castignano, Castorano, Colli del Tronto, Comunanza, Cossignano, Cupra Marittima, Folignano, Force, Grottammare, Maltignano, Massignano, Monsampolo del Tronto, Montalto delle Marche, Montedinove, Montefiore dell'Aso, Montegallo, Montemonaco, Offida, Palmiano, Ripatransone, Roccafluvione, Rotella, San Benedetto del Tronto, Spinetoli, Venarotta.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Changes (Ascoli Piceno):

• Establishment of Fermo: Many southern municipalities and those in the Tenna valley passed under the new autonomous province of Fermo in 2004. For population registry searches prior to the operational status of Fermo, the records for those municipalities can be found in the historical archives of Ascoli Piceno.

3. Province of Fermo

The Province of Fermo was established by Law of June 11, 2004, no. 147 (Official Gazette no. 138 of 06/15/2004), and became fully operational following the 2009 provincial elections, detaching 40 municipalities previously included in the province of Ascoli Piceno.

List of Municipalities in the Province of Fermo (40):

Altidona, Amandola, Belmonte Piceno, Campofilone, Falerone, Fermo, Francavilla d'Ete, Grottazzolina, Lapedona, Magliano di Tenna, Massa Fermana, Monsampietro Morico, Montappone, Monte Rinaldo, Monte San Pietrangeli, Monte Urano, Monte Vidon Combatte, Monte Vidon Corrado, Montefalcone Appennino, Montefortino, Montelparo, Moresco, Ortezzano, Pedaso, Petritoli, Ponzano di Fermo, Porto San Giorgio, Porto Sant'Elpidio, Rapagnano, Santa Vittoria in Matenano, Sant'Elpidio a Mare, Servigliano, Smerillo, Torre San Patrizio.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Changes (Fermo):

• Establishment of the Province: Law of June 11, 2004, no. 147 (O.G. no. 138 of 06/15/2004). Prior to 2009, the historical and civil status documentation for the Fermo municipalities fell under the jurisdiction of the State Archives and the Prefecture of Ascoli Piceno.

4. Province of Macerata

The hilly heart of the region, the province of Macerata corresponds largely to the ancient State of Camerino and the areas linked to the apostolic legation of Macerata and San Severino.

List of Municipalities in the Province of Macerata (55):

Apiro, Appignano, Belforte del Chienti, Bolognola, Caldarola, Camerino, Camporotondo di Fiastrone, Castelraimondo, Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Cingoli, Civitanova Marche, Colmurano, Corridonia, Esanatoglia, Fiastra, Fiuminata, Gagliole, Gualdo, Loro Piceno, Macerata, Matelica, Mogliano, Monte Cavallo, Monte San Giusto, Monte San Martino, Montecassiano, Montecosaro, Montefano, Montelupone, Morrovalle, Muccia, Penna San Giovanni, Petriolo, Pieve Torina, Pioraco, Poggio San Vicino, Pollenza, Porto Recanati, Potenza Picena, Recanati, Ripe San Ginesio, San Ginesio, San Severino Marche, Sant'Angelo in Pontano, Sarnano, Sefro, Serrapetrona, Serravalle di Chienti, Tolentino, Treia, Urbisaglia, Ussita, Visso.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Changes (Macerata):

• Corridonia: Historically named Paola and later Pausula, it took the name of Corridonia in honor of Filippo Corridoni with Royal Decree of January 15, 1931, no. 65.
• Fiastra: Municipality created in 2017 from the merger of the municipalities of Fiastra and Acquacanina.

5. Province of Pesaro and Urbino

Located in the northern area of Marche, the province brings together the territories of the ancient Duchy of Urbino and Montefeltro. It has recently undergone territorial changes both through municipal mergers and the detachment of two municipalities that passed to Emilia-Romagna.

List of Municipalities in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino (50):

Acqualagna, Apecchio, Borgo Pace, Cagli, Cantiano, Carpegna, Cartoceto, Colli al Metauro, Fano, Fermignano, Fossombrone, Fratte Rosa, Frontino, Frontone, Gabicce Mare, Gradara, Isola del Piano, Lunano, Macerata Feltria, Mombaroccio, Mondavio, Mondolfo, Monte Cerignone, Monte Porzio, Montefelcino, Montelabbate, Peglio, Pergola, Pesaro, Petriano, Piandimeleto, Pietrarubbia, Piobbico, San Costanzo, San Lorenzo in Campo, Sant'Angelo in Vado, Sant'Ippolito, Sassocorvaro Auditore, Serra Sant'Abbondio, Tavoleto, Tavullia, Terre Roveresche, Urbania, Urbino, Vallefoglia.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Changes (Pesaro and Urbino):

• Montecopiolo and Sassofeltrio: Detached from the province of Pesaro and Urbino (Marche) and merged into the province of Rimini (Emilia-Romagna) under Law of May 28, 2021, no. 84 (O.G. no. 131 of 06/03/2021). For genealogical research prior to 2021, the historical records for these municipalities are preserved in the original Marche collections.
• Vallefoglia, Colli al Metauro, Terre Roveresche, Sassocorvaro Auditore: Municipalities recently established through administrative merger processes between neighboring municipalities.

Synoptic Table of Administrative and Regulatory Changes in Marche