Baker County, Oregon Genealogy
This article is about a northeast Oregon county. For other uses, see Baker.
Guide to Baker County, Oregon ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Baker County, Oregon | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of Oregon, United States Genealogy | |
![]() Location of Oregon in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | September 22, 1862 |
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County Seat | Baker City |
Courthouse | |
Address | Baker County Courthouse 1995 Third Baker City, OR 97814 |
Website: www.bakercounty.org | |
Named for: Edward Dickinson Baker | |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Historical Facts
- 3 Resources
- 3.1 Biography
- 3.2 Cemeteries
- 3.3 Census
- 3.4 Church History and Records (rural only)
- 3.5 County Records
- 3.6 Court Records
- 3.7 Directories
- 3.8 Emigration and Immigration
- 3.9 Gazetteers
- 3.10 Genealogy
- 3.11 History
- 3.12 Land and Property
- 3.13 Maps
- 3.14 Migration
- 3.15 Military History and Records
- 3.16 Newspapers
- 3.17 Obituaries
- 3.18 Pensions
- 3.19 Probate Records
- 3.20 Rivers and Waterways
- 3.21 Taxation
- 3.22 Vital Records
- 4 Societies, Libraries and Museums
- 5 Websites
- 6 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Edward Dickinson Baker, a senator from Oregon who was killed at Ball's Bluff, a battle of the Civil War in Virginia in 1861. The County is located in the northeast area of the state. [1]
Baker County, Oregon Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1871 | 1862 | 1905 | 1862 | 1862 | 1862 | 1845 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Baker County Court House as of June/July 2010.
Baker County Court is structured differently. Check the County Records Inventory link for addresses for location of records (left column).
This courthouse has the reputation of being the cleanest county record depository in the state of Oregon.
- Record Loss: Some will books were lost in a county clerk's office fire in 1890s. One early marriage register is missing (covering 1862-1877) (as of 15 August 2012).
A wiki article describing an online collection is found at
Oregon, Baker County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Named for U.S. Senator Edward Dickinson Baker of Oregon, who was killed at the United States Civil War, 1861-1865 in the Civil War.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
- 1890s Some will books were lost in a county clerk’s office fire in the 1890s.
- One early marriage register missing (as of 2005).
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
22 September 1862: Baker county was created from Wasco County. [3]
14 October 1864: Union County set off.
17 February 1887: Malheur County set off.
1 February 1901: The Panhandle area between the Powder River and the Wallowa Mountains was returned from Union County, forming the northeast corner of Baker County.
For animated maps illustrating Oregon County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Oregon County Boundary Maps" (1843-1975) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[4]
Cities
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Towns
Unincorporated Communities
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Ghost Towns
Defunct Post Offices[edit | edit source]
- Anthony
- Arthur
- Audrey
- Augusta
Trivia Tidbits[edit | edit source]
Information about localities, too small or too brief to describe in separate pages. Exception to this are Post Offices. > Trivia Tidbits
Resources[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney counties WorldCat 5436806; FHL
([Spokane, Washington]: Western Historical Publishing Company, 1902).
Heavy on history (prehistoric to time of publication), heavy on biographies of prominent men, but little of genealogies.
Also available in other forms:
- Baker County Biographies USGenWeb Archives Project
- WorldCat 24186308
- eBook - HeritageQuestonline.com (LAR)
Thirty-one years in Baker County: a history of the county from 1861 to 1893; Isaac Hiatt WorldCat 841884; FHL
(Baker, Oregon: Baker County Historical Society and the Powder River Sportsmen's Club, 1970).
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
ORGenWeb | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
ORGenWeb Archives | FamilySearch Places | |
Tombstone Project | ||
ORGravestones | ||
Billion Graves | ||
See Oregon Cemeteries for more information. |
- Baker County, Oregon: reprints of records published in the Oregon Genealogical Society quarterly, volumes 21-22. 1982-1984 FHL 1049531
- Oregon Metro
- Oregon Genealogy Cemeteries
Census[edit | edit source]
Federal[edit | edit source]
Note: 1870, 1880, 1890 and 1900 censuses, the Panhandle of Baker County enumerations can be found in Union County when it was part of Union County.
- 1870 - the area between Baker City, Haines and the Blue Mountains, generally known as Wingville, was overlooked and not enumerated.
- Baker County 1870 Census USGenweb Archives Project
- Eastern Oregon 1870 U.S. Census: Baker County, Grant County, Umatilla County, Union County FHL
- 1880 - the portion that later became Malheur County (all the places south of the Malheur River including what is now Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, Owyhee, etc.) was not enumerated.
- Baker County 1880 Census USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1890
- 1900
- 1910
- 1920
- 1930
Militia[edit | edit source]
State[edit | edit source]
- 1905
Church History and Records (rural only)[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
County Records[edit | edit source]
- 1862-1950 - Oregon, Baker County Records, 1862-1950 at FamilySearch — index
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- Widow's pension applications and ledger, Baker County, Oregon, 1913-1936 FHL
(Baker County Court, State of Oregon, 2001)
Directories[edit | edit source]
- Eastern Oregon directory, 1899-1900: a complete directory of Umatilla, Union and Baker counties; with the Portland business directory FHL Collection
- Baker City (Oregon) city directories, 1908-1935 FHL Collection
- Baker (Baker County, Oregon) city directory: including Baker County residents, rural routes, also a buyers' guide and a complete classified business directory, 1959- FHL Collection
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- Ellis Island Passenger Arrival Records, 1892-1924, listing passengers who stated they are going to Baker County, Oregon
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
Biography, History
- The History of Baker County; Baker County Historical Society, pub. 1986. WorldCat 15218008; FHL Collection
([S.l.]: Baker County Historical Society (OR), 1986)
Little of biography and local history, more of family genealogies. - Centennial pioneer families of Baker County, 1976 FHL Collection
History[edit | edit source]
Also see: Biography, Genealogy
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
- Married Women's Separate Property in Baker County Original text from Works Progress Administration's booklet, USGenWeb Archives Project
- Baker County Land and Deed Records USGenWeb Archives
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Hometown Locator for Baker County
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Early migration routes to and from Baker County, Oregon for European and African American settlers included:
- Snake River
- Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon[5]
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- 1861-1865 - Oregon, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1919-1920 - Oregon, World War I, County Military Service Records, 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — index
- 1921-1938 - Oregon, World War I, Veteran State Aid Applications, 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — index and images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Newspaper clippings USGenWeb Archives Project
- Oregon Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Baker County Obituaries USGenWeb Archives Project
Pensions[edit | edit source]
Court records for the widows pensions
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Note: some will books were lost from a small fire in the county clerk's office before 1900.
Online Records
- 1833 – 1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- Baker County wills USGenWeb Archives Project
Rivers and Waterways[edit | edit source]
Details about the rivers and waterways where farms and settlements are often found along them. >> Rivers and Waterways
Taxation[edit | edit source]
- Baker County, [Oregon], assessment tax rolls, 1892-1897 FHL
- Baker City (Oregon) city directories FHL microfilm 2309792 Item 1
Tax lists are for Baker, Grant and Union counties 1908-1909, listed as last part of the volume.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Record of births and deaths: record of physicians, midwives and undertakers, 1916-1929 #FHL
See also How to order Oregon Vital Records, order electronically online or download an application for Oregon Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.
Birth Records[edit | edit source]
- 1860 - 1952 - Oregon Births, 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — index
Delayed Birth Certificates
- Birth Certificates USGenWeb Archives
Birth Registers
Marriage Records[edit | edit source]
- 1826-1975 - Oregon, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1849-1884; 1991-2006 - Oregon Marriage Index, 1849-1884; 1991-2006 at FamilySearch — index and images; collection is incomplete.
- Extractions of early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index
- Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection
Death Records[edit | edit source]
- Baker County Deaths USGenWeb Archives Project
- Record of deaths, Baker County, Oregon, 1905-1911 FHL
Societies, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
Baker County Historical Society
Box 83
Baker City, OR 97814
Website
Baker Heritage Museum
2480 Grove St.
Baker City 97814-2719
541-523-9308
Website
E-mail:www.bakerheritagemuseum.com
Baker County Public Library
2400 Resort St
Baker City, OR 97814
541-523-5419
Website
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Baker County, OR History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- Oregon Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Baker County, ORGenWeb Project
- Baker County, USGenWeb Archives
- Linkpendium
- Oregon, Baker County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Baker, Oregon" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_County,_Oregon accessed 27 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Baker County, Oregon . Page 572-574 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 563-564.
- ↑ WorldCat 50140092; FHL CollectionHandybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002)
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Baker County, Oregon ," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_County,_Oregon, accessed 12 September 2018.
- ↑ Jim Tompkins, "The Oregon Trail 1841-1848 Map V" in Oregon Trail Landmarks at
(accessed 18 July 2011).
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