Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy

United States

Arizona

Cochise County

Guide to Cochise County, Arizona ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Arizona Online Genealogy Records

Cochise County, Arizona
Map
Location in the state of Arizona, United States Genealogy
Location of Arizona in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	February 1, 1881
County Seat	Bisbee
Courthouse
Address	100 Quality Hill Road Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone: (520) 432-8570

County Information

Description

The County was named from the legendary Chiricahua Apache war chief Cochise. The County has Bisbee as its seat and the County was created February 1, 1881. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

Cochise County, Arizona Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Major Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1887	1881	1887	1881	1866	1880	1830
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in July 1909. General compliance by 1926

County Courthouse

Cochise County Courthouse
P O Box CK,
Bisbee, Az 85603
Phone 520-432-9200

Clerk Superior Court has marriage divorce, probate and court records
County Records has land records

"The main office in Bisbee is the records repository. We are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for government holidays. Many of our older records are stored in an upstairs Archives Section. There may be a wait of up to an hour when asked to retrieve these records so please be prepared for this."

"Cochise County, Clerk of the Superior Court" Marriage, Divorce and Probate Records
100 Quality Hill
P.O. Box CK
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Phone: 520-432-8570
Fax: 520-432-4850

The Clerk of the Superior Court officially maintains all civil, domestic, criminal, juvenile and probate records. The Clerk takes and transcribes all court minutes for all court proceedings; is the Registrar of Probate matters; issues and records marriage licenses.

Cochise County Recorder Land Records and Voting
1415 Melody Lane Bldg. B
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Phone: (520) 432-8350
Fax: (520) 432-8368

"Instruments recorded include real estate transactions, mortgages, deed of trust, family trusts, personal property, tax liens, mining locations, subdivision plats, records of survey, military discharges, official appointments of office, and other documents required to be made of public record. The second major duty concerns elections since the County Recorder is also the registrar of voters for the county. This involves maintaining the county register, conducting early voting, verifying petition signatures, lists for political parties and candidates, and jury lists."

History

“Cochise County is one of only three counties in the State without an Indian Reservation. The County is comprised of 6,251 square miles, with the City of Bisbee serving as the County seat since 1929.” From creation of the county till 1929, Tombstone AZ was the county seat.

Arizona Genealogy and History, Cochise County History.

Parent County

• Until 1821 -  New Spain controlled the land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
  
• In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Cochise County, Arizona. Some records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
• 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded a small part of northeast Cochise County in present day Arizona. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of Dona Ana County was expanded to include some land in present day Cochise County Arizona. But most of the land that later became Cochise County still belonged to Mexico. Look for records in the Mexico Archives and Dona Ana County.
• 30 Dec 1853 - The US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including most of the land in present day Cochise County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory, it became non-county land. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. This county included all the land in present day Cochise County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
• 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
• 10 Nov 1864 - Arizona created Pima County. This county is named for the Pima Indians. It included all the land in present day Cochise County. Look for records in Pima County.

• 1 February 1881- Cochise County was created from Pima County. This county named for Cochise, the great Apache warrior who had died seven years before. Look for records in Cochise and Pima counties.

Boundary Changes

14 Mar 1968 - Cochise County gained a very small amount of land from Santa Cruz County when the boundary was redefined to run along the east line of range 18 east. Look for records in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties.

See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

For animated maps illustrating Arizona county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arizona County Boundary Maps" (1852-1993) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities

Populated Places

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:

Cities
Benson Bisbee (county seat) [1]	Douglas Sierra Vista	Tombstone Willcox
Towns
Huachuca City
Unincorporated communities
Babocomari Bakerville Benson Junction Bisbee Junction Black Bear Spring Bledsoe Boquillas Calumet Campstone Cazador Chamiso Chiricahua Cochise Corta Junction Curtiss	Dos Cabezas Double Adobe Escalante Crossing Fenner Forrest Grizzles Orchard Hereford Highland Park Hookers Hot Springs Kansas Settlement Lewis Springs Lowell Luzena Manzoro Olga	Paul Spur Pomerene Portal Ramsey Raso Rileys El Encinar Sierra Vista Estates South Bisbee Sunsites Taylor Place Tintown Tully Vanar Wheeler Place Yellow Hammer Mill
Census-designated places
Bowie Bradberry Buckeye Mill Dragoon Elfrida Fry	Hereford AKA Nicksville or, Sierra Vista Southeast McNeal Mescal Miracle Valley Naco Palominas	Pirtleville San Simon St. David Sunizona Whetstone
Ghost towns
[ Apache] Black Diamond Cascabel Charleston Contention City Cottonwood Courtland Dragoon Springs Ewell Station Fairbank Fort Bowie	Fort Newell Fort Rucker Galeyville Garces Gleeson Hamburg Hilltop Johnson Middlemarch Millville Palmerlee	Paradise Pearce Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate Reef Russellville Starks Sunnyside Tres Alamos Warren Webb

Neighboring Counties

• Graham County, Arizona
• Greenlee County, Arizona
• Pima County, Arizona
• Santa Cruz County, Arizona
• Hidalgo County, New Mexico

Resources

Biographies

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Biographical Index Search

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Cochise, Arizona online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com AZGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Arizona Gravestones Billion Graves
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Billion Graves Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project Arizona Cemetery Records FamilySearch Places
See Arizona Cemeteries for more information

The following web sites may have additional information on Cochise County cemeteries.

• Interment.net Arizona cemetery records by County.

Census

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	6,938	—
1900	9,251	33.3%
1910	34,591	273.9%
1920	46,465	34.3%
1930	40,998	−11.8%
1940	34,627	−15.5%
1950	31,488	−9.1%
1960	55,039	74.8%
1970	61,910	12.5%
1980	85,686	38.4%
1990	97,624	13.9%
2000	117,755	20.6%
2010	131,346	11.5%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Early School Census Records from the Cochise Genealogical Society.

1864 Territorial Census (A-Z) from the Cochise Genealogical Society.

• Names Beginning With: A, B, C, D-F, G, H-K, L, M-Mi, Mo-O, P-Ri, Ro-Rz, S, T-W, X-Z

The 1890 Territorial Great Register (A-Z) from the Cochise Genealogical Society.

• Names Beginning With: A-E, F-K, L-R, S-Z

Paper copies of specific pages of the Federal population census can be ordered through the National Archives in Washington, DC either online (using NARA's Microfilm Catalog) or you can download the NATF Form 82, print it, and send it through the mail.

How to Use NARA's Census Microfilm Catalogs

Census	Roll Number	Microfilm Publication Number
Eighth census of the United States, 1860, New Mexico Territory	712	M653
Ninth census of the United States, 1870, Arizona Territory	46	M593
“Microfilmed indexes for the 1880 and 1900-1930 censuses use the soundex indexing system.”
Tenth census of the United States, 1880, Pima County		T735
Eleventh census of the United States, 1890 (“A Department of Commerce fire in 1921 destroyed most of the 1890 census.”	-	-
Twelfth census of the United States, 1900, Cochise County (Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, and Maricopa (part: EDs 23--25 and ED 26, sheets 1--10) Counties)	45	T623
Thirteenth census of the United States, 1910, Cochise County (Apache & Cochise Counties)	38	T264
Fourteenth census of the United States, 1920, Cochise County (EDs 20-33, 130, 34, 131, 35-37)	46-47	M1549
Fifteenth census of the United States, 1930, Cochise County	55-56	T626

For tips on accessing Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy census records online, see: Arizona Census.

Churches

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Arizona denominations, view the Arizona Church Records wiki page. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Ward and Branch Records: Bisbee, Douglas, Miramonte, Pomerene, St. David, San Pedro and Whitewater.
List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court System

Justice Court No. 1 (Bisbee)
207 N. Judd Dr., Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Phone: 520-432-9540

Justice Court No. 2 (Douglas)
661 G Ave., Douglas, Arizona 85607
Phone: 520-805-5640

Justice Court No. 3 (Benson)
126 W. 5th Street, Ste. 1, Benson, Arizona 85602
Phone: 520-586-8100

Justice Court No. 4 (Willcox)
450 S. Haskell Ave., Willcox, Arizona 85644
Phone: 520-384-7000

Justice Court No. 5 (Sierra Vista)
100 Colonia De Salud, Ste. 108, Sierra Vista, Arizona
Phone: 520-803-3800

Justice Court No. 6 (Bowie)
201 N. Central Ave., Bowie, Arizona 85605
Phone: 520-847-2303

Superior Court Divisions I-III (Bisbee)
100 Quality Hill, 1st Floor, Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Phone: 520-432-8520

Superior Court Division IV (Sierra Vista)
100 Colonia De Salud, Suite 108, Sierra Vista, Arizona
Phone: 520-803-3800

Superior Court Division V (Bisbee)
4 Ledge Ave., 2nd Floor, Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Phone: 520-432-8480

"Cochise County’s records date back to Territorial days when it was carved out of a portion of Pima County on February 1, 1881. Records are available for you to research in person, free of charge at the courthouse in Bisbee. If you want the Clerk’s office to research a record for you it will cost $26.00 for each search request (Arizona law governs our fees). Our records index is available electronically, for certain case types, dating back to 1996. If you find your case number or book and page number for a marriage record it will save you $26.00 in research fees."   Public Access to Court Information

Immigration

Arizona USGenWeb Archives, Cochise County Naturalizations - Declarations of Intent 1881-1897

National Archives and Records Administration has microfilm publications related to Mexican Border Crossing Records for Arizona and a few other states. 

Arizona Ports

Ajo Arizona

A3377, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, Dec. 1950-May 1955 (2 rolls) - "Contains over 6,400 alien arrivals at these Arizona ports of entry. Arrivals at Ajo are interfiled with those from Lukeville and Sonoyta (Sonoita) on rolls 1 and 2 in four record series: (1) index to manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (2) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence and aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged, but is indexed by Series 1."

Aros Ranch, Arizona

A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls) - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Aros Ranch, Feb.-Sept. 1908 and Jan.-Mar. 1909, are on rolls 3 and 4."

Douglas, Arizona

M1759, Nonstatistical Manifests and Statistical Index Cards of Aliens Arriving at Douglas, Arizona, July 1908-December 1952 (4 rolls) - "Contains over 43,000 alphabetically-arranged records."

Lochiel, Arizona

A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls) - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Lochiel, July-Dec. 1908, are on rolls 3 and 4."

Lukeville, Arizona

A3377, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, Dec. 1950-May 1955 (2 rolls) - "Contains over 6,400 alien arrivals at these Arizona ports of entry. Arrivals at Lukeville are interfiled with those from Ajo and Sonoyta (Sonoita) on rolls 1 and 2 in four record series: (1) index to manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (2) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence and aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged, but is indexed by Series 1."

Naco, Arizona

A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls) - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Naco, July 1906-June 1909, are on rolls 1 through 5."

A3372, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Naco, Arizona, 1908-1952 (18 rolls) - "Reproduces over 105,000 index cards and related manifests in four record series: (1) index to statistical manifests, nonstatistical manifests, and agricultural laborer manifests (all interfiled), 1908-1924; (2) statistical manifests, May 1908-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged but is indexed by Series 1."

Nogales, Arizona

A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls) - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Nogales, Sept. 1906-June 1909, are on rolls 1 through 5."

M1769, Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Nogales, Arizona, 1905-1952 (74 rolls) - "Reproduces over 455,000 manifests and related index cards of alien arrivals in four record series: (1) index to statistical manifests interfiled with nonstatistical manifests, ca. 1905-ca. 1926; (2) statistical manifests, July 5, 1905-Oct. 1924; (3) aliens admitted for permanent residence and applications for resident alien border crossing identification cards, July 1924-1952; and (4) aliens admitted for temporary visits, 1927-1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged but is indexed by Series 1."

San Luis, Arizona

M1504, Manifests and Alien Arrivals at San Luis, Arizona, July 24, 1929-December 1952 (2 rolls) - "Reproduces over 7,900 records of arrival manifests in two alphabetically-arranged record series: (1) aliens admitted for permanent residence and (2) aliens admitted for temporary visits."

Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona

M1850, Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona, 1919-1952 (3 rolls) - "Contains over 7,500 arrivals in five record series: (1) index to statistical manifests, Jan. 1, 1919-June 30, 1924; (2) statistical and permanent manifests, Jan. 1, 1919-June 30, 1924; (3) manifests of aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1, 1924-1952; (4) nonstatistical and temporary manifests, 1927-1952; and (5) statistical and permanent manifests, 1919. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically-arranged; series 2 is chronologically-arranged but indexed by series 1; and series 5 is unarranged."

Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona

A3377, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, Dec. 1950-May 1955 (2 rolls)- "Contains over 6,400 alien arrivals at these Arizona ports of entry. Arrivals at Sonoyta (Sonoita) are interfiled with those from Ajo and Lukeville on rolls 1 and 2 in four record series: (1) index to manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (2) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence and aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged, but is indexed by Series 1."

Land

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Arizona Land and Property for additional information about early Arizona land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.

The Cochise County Recorder has records of land transactions going back to the founding of the county in 1881. Records from 1989 to the present can be searched online. For earlier records, you may have the office staff search the records for you for a fee of $26 per year searched. If you visit the offices, there is no charge to search, except for copies.

Most of the land in Arizona was originally obtained from the US federal government by a patent. These General Land Office Records are available and searchable free of charge. The minimum information needed for a search is the state where the land is located and the name of the person receiving the patent. Surveys and Land Status Records can also be searched here.

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section Arizona Local Histories.

City of Willcox

Klump, Kathy, and Peta-Anne Tenney for the Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society. Images of America: Willcox. Arcadia Publishing, 2009.

Schultz, Vernon B. Southwestern Town: The Story of Willcox, Arizona. Fabe Litho, Ltd., 1994.

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

1895 Map of Cochise County Arizona

• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military

Civil War

• 1861 - 1865 - Arizona Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II

• 1940-1945 - Arizona, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

Arizona Range News (Willcox, Arizona)
122 S. Haskell (85643), P.O. Box 1155, Willcox, AZ 85644
Phone: (520) 384-3571
Fax: (520) 384-3572
E-Mail: rangenews@willcoxrangenews.com
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon

Issues from 2006-2009 available in Google News Archive

Douglas Dispatch (Douglas, Arizona)
530 E 11th Street, Douglas AZ 85607
Phone: (520) 364-3424
Fax: (520) 364-6750

Ancestry.com has a searchable database for the Douglas Dispatch ($Paid Subscription Necessary)

San Pedro Valley News-Sun (Benson, Arizona)
200 S. Ocotillo Ave., P.O. Box 1000, Benson, AZ 85602
Phone: (520) 586-3382
Fax: (520) 586-2382
E-Mail: newssun@bensonnews-sun.com
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sierra Vista Herald (Sierra Vista, Arizona)
102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Phone: 520-458-9440

Tombstone News (Tombstone, Arizona)
P.O. Box 1760, Tombstone, Arizona 85638
Phone: 520-457-3086
Fax: 520-457-3126
Email: editor@thetombstonenews.com

Cochise county AZ Newspapers found at Library of Congress

Finding More Arizona Newspapers

Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:

• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Do a Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).

Obituaries

• 1959-2014 - Arizona, Mesa FamilySearch Family History Center, Obituary Index, 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Probate

From 1850 to 1864 during the territorial period, probate records of Arizona were kept by the probate courts of New Mexico. Then until 1912, the records were handled by county probate courts. Since then probate records, such as wills, claims, administrations, case files, and calendars are kept in the custody of the clerk of the superior court in the county courthouse.

The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Subjects Search for Arizona, Cochise - Probate records.

Online Probate Records

• 1803 – 1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
• Cochise County Clerk of the Superior Court (Marriage, Divorce and Probate Records)

Publications

The Cochise County Historical Journal 

The Cochise County Quarterlies & Historical Journals 1971 – 2003 (PDF) Available through the Cochise County Historical Society )

Research Guides

BYU Family History Library, Family History & Genealogy Resources, Research Outlines, Arizona (PDF).

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Law & Research Library Division, "How do I...? Selection of Research Guides"

State Archives

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records

• Hours & Locations
• Contact the Agency Division
  
• What to expect at the State Archives (PDF)
  
• Partial list of records for Cochise County, held at the Arizona State Archives
  

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Online Databases & Digital Collections

• Arizona Memory Project (Arizona Archives Historic Photographs, Contributed by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records)
  
• Biographical Database
• Collections at the Arizona State Archives
• Finding Aids and Inventories
• Historical Photograph Collections
  
• History & Archives, Genealogical Resources (Family History)
• Map Collections (Use HOME Online Library Catalog to search)
• Partial List of Records For Each County
• Private Manuscript Collections
  
• Photograph Search Page
  
• Services to Genealogists and Historical Researchers
  
• The Arizona Collection (Use Online Library Catalog to search)
  

• ASL - Law & Research Library

• Law and Research Library Collections
• Location Guides and Contact Information
• Genealogy Collection
  
• Overview of Genealogy Collection
• Classifications Used for the Genealogy Collection
• Selected Federal Publication of Interest to Genealogists
  

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Arizona Department of Health Services , the county clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online.

Older Birth and Death certificates found at;Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates

Marriage, Divorce &; Probate Records at;Cochise County Clerk

Birth and Death Records Birth prior to 1927: Arizona State History and Archives

Birth Records

Online Birth Indexes and Records

• 1855-1930 - Arizona, Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
• 1887-1935 - Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887 - 1935 at MyHeritage - index and images
• 1909-1917 - Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $
• 1909-1917 - FamilySearch Record Search, Arizona Births and Christenings, 1909-1917 - How to Use this Collection
• Birth after 1927 - Department of Health Services, Arizona State Vital Records Search

Marriage Records

Online Marriage Indexes and Records

• A large number of marriages for this county are listed at;Western States Marriage Index
• 1833-1949 - Arizona, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
• 1888-1920 - FamilySearch Record Search, Arizona Marriages, 1888-1920
• 1864-1982 - Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com
• 1871-1964 - Arizona, County Marriages, 1871–1964 at FamilySearch.org — index and browse images, incomplete - How to Use this Collection
• 1865-1949 - Arizona Select Marriages 1865-1949
• 1888-1908 - Ancestry.com — index $

Cochise County Marriages, Created by the Sierra Vista Genealogical Society & Shared with the Cochise Genealogical Society:

• 1880-1890 - Cochise County Marriages, 1880-1890;
• 1889-1893 - Cochise County Marriages, 1889-1893;
• 1893-1901 - Cochise County Marriages, 1893-1901
  • Brides -  A-B, C-D, E-G, H-K, L-Mi, Mo-Q, R-Sm, Sn-Z
  • Grooms -  A-B , C-E, F-G, H-K, L-Mi, Mo-Q, R-Sm, Sn-Z
• 1911-1920 - Cochise County Marriages, 1911-1920
  • Brides - A-B, C-D, E-G, H-K, L-Mi, Mo-Q, R-Sm, Sn-Z
  • Grooms - A-B, C-E, F-G, H-K, L-Mi, Mo-Q, R-Sm, Sn-Z
• 1927-1963 - Cochise County Marriages, 1927-1963
  • Brides - A, B-Bo, Br-Bz, C-Com, Con-Cz, D, E-F, G, H, I-K, L, M-Mc, Me-Mz, N-Pep, Per-Rey, Rh-Rz, S-Sl, Sm-Sz, T-Van, Var-Wik, Wi-Z
  • Grooms - A, B-Bos, Bot-Car, Cas-Cor, Cos-Dr, Du-Fl, Fo-Gom, Gon-Har, H-I, J-K, L, M-Mc, Me-Mo, Mu-Par, Pat-Raw, Ray-Roz, Ru-Sik, Sil-Tar, Tat-Vau, Ve-Wh, Wi-Z
    

Death Records

Online Death Indexes and Records

• Death prior to 1952 - Arizona State History and Archives
• Death after 1952 - Department of Health Services, Arizona State Vital Records Search
• 1870-1951 - FamilySearch Record Search, Arizona Deaths, 1870-1951
• 1870-1963 - Arizona Death Certificates, 1870 - 1963 at MyHeritage ($) - index and images
• 1910-1911; 1933-1994 - FamilySearch Record Search, Arizona Deaths and Burials, 1910-1911; 1933-1994
• 1910-1911; 1933-1994 - Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 at Ancestry.com — index $

Divorce Records

Online Divorce Indexes and Records

• 1877 – 1937 Arizona, Various County Divorce Records, 1877-1937 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Voting Records

• 1882-1932 Arizona, Cochise County, Voting Records, 1882-1932 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index.

Cochise County Recorder has county voter lists (the early ones are called "Great Registers") Some of these are also in the Family Search Catalog

Genealogical & Historical Societies

• Arizona Historical Society Locations in Flagstaff, Tempe, Tucson, and Yuma AZ
  

• Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board
  Phone: 1-800-255-5841
  (Arizona State Library - Ask for Betsy Howard)
  Helen Seaton - President
  Email: helen.seaton@asu.edu
  

• Douglas-Williams House
  1001 Ave. D,
  Douglas, Arizona 85608
  

• Cochise County Historical Society
  Contact: Nery Burnett
  P.O. Box 818,
  Douglas, AZ 88608-0818
  Phone: 520-364-5226
  

• Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society
  Contact: Kathy Klump
  127 E. Maley, Willcox, AZ 85643
  Phone: 520-384-3971
  Email:ssvhs@ssvecnet.com

• The Family History Society of Arizona
  P.O. Box 63094
  Phoenix, AZ 85082-3094
  

• The Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society (NJCHS)
  95 7th St,
  San Francisco, CA 94103
  Phone: 415-757-0286
  

• Sierra Vista Genealogical Society
  P.O. Box 1084
  Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-1084
  

Family History Centers

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.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Libraries
Introduction to Family History Centers 

Bisbee Family History Center
Melody Ln
Bisbee, Cochise, Arizona, United States
Phone: 520-432-3122
Hours: W 3pm-7pm; all other days by appt

Douglas Family History Center
2800 15th St
Douglas, Cochise, Arizona, United States
Phone: 520-364-8075
Hours: M-T,Th-F by request; W 6pm-8pm

St. David Family History Center
481 N Pomerene Rd
Benson, Cochise, Arizona, United States
Phone: 520-586-2301
Hours: T 10am-5pm; W 6pm-8:00pm; Th 10am-8:00pm; Sat 10am-1pm

Sierra Vista Family History Center
115 North HWY 90
Sierra Vista, Cochise, Arizona, United States
Phone: 520-459-1284
Hours: T-W 10am-2pm; Thu 10am-9pm; Sat 12pm-4pm
Closed: Sunday, Monday, Friday

Sunsites Family History Center
206 Ford Street
Sunsites, Cochise, Arizona, United States
Phone: 520-826-3850

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Libraries

Cochise County Library District
Old Bisbee High School, 2nd Floor, 100 Clawson Avenue, Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Mailing: Drawer AK, Bisbee, AZ 85603    Fax: 520-432-7339

• Benson Public Library in Benson AZ
• Copper Queen Library in Bisbee AZ
• Jimmie Libhart Public Library in Bowie AZ
• Douglas Public Library in Douglas AZ
• Elfrida Library in Elfrida AZ
• Elsie S Hogan Community Library in Willcox AZ  Email: Director, Tom Miner at tminer@willcoxcity.org
• Huachuca City Public Library in Huachuca City, AZ
• Myrtle Kraft Library  in Portal AZ
• Sierra Vista Public Library in Sierra Vista AZ
• Alice Woods Library in Sunizona AZ
• Sunsites Community Library in Sunsites AZ
  
• Tombstone City Library in Tombstone AZ  Email: jhoffma@tombstonepl.lib.az.us

Websites

• Cochise County, AZ History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
• USGenWeb for Cochise County Maps, name indexes, transcriptions, images, history and other information for all States and most counties. Also see the USGenWeb Project 
  
• FamilySearch Catalog
• The Arizona State library, Archives and Public Records, Arizona Cultural Inventory Project - Arizona repositories, societies, directory information, including addresses, phone numbers, emails, website and repository descriptions.
• Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

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