Kay County, Oklahoma Genealogy

United States

Oklahoma

Kay County

 

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

Oklahoma Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Newkirk Organized: 1893 Parent County(s): Original county Neighboring Counties Cowley (KS)  • Garfield  • Grant  • Noble  • Osage  • Sumner (KS) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

It is the only Oklahoma county keep its original territorial name. It is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Kay County Courthouse
201 S. Main
P.O. Box 450
Newkirk, Oklahoma 74647
Phone: 580.362.2537

Clerk Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1893; County Clerk has land records from 1983

Kay County, Oklahoma Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1908	1893	1908	1893	1893	1893	1860
*Statewide registration for births and deaths in 1908. General compliance by 1930.

Record Loss

Land Records Deed Index Grantee Record Book (1901-1910).

Boundary Changes

1893--Kay County was created in 1893. It was an original county (Cherokee Outlet). Originally known as “K” County, it was part of the Cherokee Outlet and was formed after the famous Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. County seat: Newkirk Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Oklahoma - shows boundary changes for Oklahoma Counties Oklahoma Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

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
Blackwell Kaw City	Newkirk (county seat) Ponca City (largest city) (partially in Osage County)	Tonkawa
Towns
Braman	Kildare
Unincorporated communities
Nardin (a census-designated place)	White Eagle

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Kay County, Oklahoma online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com OKGenWeb USGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Oklahoma Gravestones Oklahoma Cemeteries Billion Graves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave Billion Graves FamilySearch Places
See Oklahoma Cemeteries for more information

 

• Kay County Cemeteries listed on USGS – Click on feature name in the list then use the GNIS Google Map feature too see map or satellite view of the location.
• Pioneer Genealogical Society Kay County Cemetery Index – This is an alphabetical name Index for interments in the Cemeteries which are available on CD from the Pioneer Genealogical Society.

Chilocco Indian School Cemetery

• Chilocco Indian School Cemetery Photo
  Grant for Chilocco Cemetery Article - This article states that about 70 children were buried here.

Kay County Cemeteries listed on Find-A-Grave

Banner Cemetery Kildare Blackwell Cemetery or IOOF Blackwell Cemetery Blackwell Blaine Park Cemetery of Cross Ponca City Braman Cemetery Braman Brown Farm Newkirk Cales Cemetery Cooper Cemetery Newkirk Cowboy Hill Cemetery Marland Grand View Cemetery or  Grandview Cemetery Kaw City IOOF Cemetery or Odd Fellows Cemetery Ponca City IOOF Cemetery Tonkawa or Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery Tonkawa Longwood Cemetery Ponca City Mount Olive Cemetery Nardin Nardin Cemetery Near White Eagle Monument New Home Cemetery Eddy Newkirk Cemetery Oak Grove Cemetery Ponca City

Oak Grove Cemetery Otoe-Missouria Mothers Memorial Ponca City Otoe-Missouria Mothers Memorial Ponca City Plainview Cemetery Newkirk Ponca City Cemetery Ponca Tribal Cemetery Ponca City Prairie Chapel Cemetery Blackwell Prairie View Cemetery Tonkawa Resthaven Memorial Park Ponca City Riverview or River View Cemetery Alcorn Rock Falls Cemetery Braman Round Grove Cemetery Tonkawa Saint Johns Cemetery Blackwell Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery Ponca City Sunset Memorial Gardens Sunset Memorial Park Ponca City Tonkawa Indian Cemetery at Fort Oakland Triumph Cemetery Washunga Cemetery Kaw City White Eagle Monument Wolf Creek Cemetery Newkirk

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	22,530	—
1910	26,999	19.8%
1920	34,907	29.3%
1930	50,186	43.8%
1940	47,084	−6.2%
1950	48,892	3.8%
1960	51,042	4.4%
1970	48,791	−4.4%
1980	49,852	2.2%
1990	48,056	−3.6%
2000	48,080	0.0%
2010	46,562	−3.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Federal Censuses were taken for Oklahoma starting in 1860. For links to Federal census indexes, see Oklahoma Census. 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census Search at the Oklahoma Historical Society Website

Dawes Rolls Search at the Oklahoma Historical Society Website

State Census Records

• 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census 1890 - Oklahoma Historical Societ
• 1890 and 1907 Oklahoma Territorial Census, 1890 and 1907 at Ancestry — index and image ($)

Church Records

Church records 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 Oklahoma denominations, view the Oklahoma Church Records Wiki page.

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• Blackwell

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

Kay County Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 450
Newkirk, OK 74647
Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537
Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611
Available Records: Miscellaneous records (such as petitions to incorporate cities/towns, election returns for 1902, etc.) court judgments, mechanic and materialmens liens, physicians and hospital liens, and UCC filings.

District Court Offices:

Kay County Courthouse
201 S. Main, 2nd floor
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Phone: (580) 362-3350

Federal Post Office Building
4th Grand, 2nd floor
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Phone (580) 762-2148

City Administration Building
2nd Blackwell Avenue
Blackwell, Oklahoma
Phone (580) 363-2080

On Demand Court Records – Search for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.

Directories

Oklahoma State Historical Society has Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory for the Year Commencing August 1, 1890, which provides information about the population of early Oklahoma. This transcribed index contains over 17,000 names. To search: Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory.

1941-1942 Kay County Atlas on the Pioneer Genealogical Society Website

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

American Indians

Census

• 1851 - 1959 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851-1959 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
• 1895 - 1914 U.S., Native American Citizens and Freedmen of Five Civilized Tribes, 1895-1914 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
• 1898 - 1914 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
• Dawes Final Rolls - Oklahoma Historical Society

Land and Property

• 1884 - 1934 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Land Allotment Jackets for Five Civilized Tribes, 1884-1934 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
• 1889 Oklahoma County Plats 1889 - Oklahoma Historical Society
• 1899 - 1907 Oklahoma Applications for Allotment, Five Civilized Tribes, 1899-1907 at FamilySearch — index and images
• For more information see Indigenous Peoples of Oklahoma

Land and Property Records

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

Kay County land records began in 1893 with the original patents from the Oklahoma Land Run. Recordings have been kept daily since the Land Run, and are current to date.

Kay County Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 450
Newkirk, OK 74647
Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537
Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611
Available Records: Plats, deeds, patents, mortgages, surveys and other documents

Oklahoma Public Land Records Search - The data for Kay County is available from August 1995 to present. This will give you the grantor and grantee’s names, case number, the date of the instrument and the date of filing, the type of document, book and page number where the filing is recorded and often the legal description of the property. Digital images or prints from this system require a fee. A variety of subscription levels are available as well as solutions for one time access.

Bureau of Land Management Land Records Search

Oklahoma Historical Society Land Records Resources

Online Land Records

• Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
• 1796 - 1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
  
• 1863 - 1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
• 1889 Oklahoma County Plats, 1889 - Oklahoma Historical Society
• El Reno Homesteader Filings - Oklahoma Historical Society

For more information see Oklahoma Land and Property

Local Histories

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

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
• Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Oklahoma - shows boundary changes for Oklahoma Counties
• Maps n More - county and township maps.
• Oklahoma Civil War Map of Battles

]1910 Kay County Maps at Historic Map Works

1971 Kay County Maps at Historic Map Works

Oklahoma Maps at Historic Map Works

Military Records

Kay County Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 450
Newkirk, OK 74647
Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537
Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611
Available Records: Military discharge records beginning in 1917

Oklahoma Historical Society Military Records Resources

Revolutionary War

• 1775 - 1783 - United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch - images only
  
• For more nationwide Revolutionary War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

Civil War

• 1879-1920 - Oklahoma, Confederate Pension Applications, 1879-1920 at FamilySearch — index and images
• Oklahoma, Confederate Pension Index, 1915-1955 at Ancestry — index (free)
• For more nationwide Civil War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

World War I

• For more nationwide World War I databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
• Kay County honor roll and service record : being names, service records and pictures of Kay County, Okla., men and women who took part in the World War, 1917-1918 at Oklahoma Digital Prairie; digital book

World War II

• 1940-1945 - Oklahoma, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images
• Oklahoma Military Deaths - Oklahoma Historical Society
• For more nationwide World War II databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

Newspapers

Oklahoma Newspapers Online

• GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Oklahoma newspapers
• Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Nebraska newspapers
• Chronicling America - contains images of some Oklahoma newspapers; searching tips
• Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites

Oklahoma Newspaper Catalogs

• Oklahoma State Historical Society - catalog of known Oklahoma newspapers; lists repositories that have the newspapers
• U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

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

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

Blackwell Journal

Daily Oklahoman
Newkirk Herald
Ponca City News

Arkansas City Traveler (Arkansas City, Kansas) – Sometimes carries stories and articles from Kay County, especially in the early historical editions.

Oklahoma Historical Society Newspaper Article Search

Oklahoma Historical Society Newspaper Catalog Search

Obituaries

Pioneer Genealogical Society Kay County Obituary Index

Probate Records

In most counties in Oklahoma, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.

The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for Oklahoma - Kay - Probate records.

Online Records

• 1801 – 2008 Oklahoma Wills and Probate Records 1801-2008 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
• 1887 – 2008 Oklahoma Probate Records, 1887-2008 at FamilySearch — images
  
  

Although Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907, some Oklahoma Territorial and Indian Territorial probate records were kept at a county level beginning in 1893. Records are available from 1893 until present day.

Kay County District Court Clerk
201 S. Main, 2nd floor
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Phone: (580) 362-3350
Business hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

On Demand Court Records – Search for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.

School Records

• 1895 - 1936 Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1936 at FamilySearch — index and images
• Kay County Clerk’s Office
  P.O. Box 450
  Newkirk, OK 74647
  Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537
  Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611
  Available Records: School records are available beginning in 1897. In 1897 Kay County had 88 school districts, compared to the present nine.
  

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

Oklahoma tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records.

Kay County Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 450
Newkirk, OK 74647
Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537
Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611
Available Records: IRS and Oklahoma tax liens

Kay County Assessor
201 S Main
Newkirk, OK 74647
Phone: (580) 362-2565
Fax: (580) 362-3668

Online Property Search – This site may require a paid subscription for records access.

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the CDC Where to Write website for information on acquiring copies of these records.

Birth

Online Birth Records Indexes and Images

• Early Oklahoma Birth Records
• Oklahoma State Department of Health
  1000 NE 10th Street
  Oklahoma City, OK 73117
  Phone: (405) 271.4040
  E-mail: AskVR@health.ok.gov
  Lobby Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday - Friday with the exception of state recognized holidays

Marriage

Although Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907, some Oklahoma Territorial and Indian Territorial records were kept beginning about 1890. The marriage bonds, affidavits, licenses and certificates were kept at a county level, by or when the county was formed. However, one must keep in mind that these territorial marriages were sometimes not registered at all or they were registered at the county courthouses in adjoining states such as Arkansas, Kansas or Texas.

The county began recording marriages at this time. Records are available from 1893 until present day and are in the form of scanned images of the original marriage registers. The county continues to hold all of the recorded marriage documents and none have been lost or destroyed by any manner. No official records are located offsite.

• Kay County District Court Clerk
  201 S. Main, 2nd floor
  Newkirk, Oklahoma
  Phone: (580) 362-3350
  Business hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
• On Demand Court Records – Search for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.
• Oklahoma Historical Society Marriage Records Resources

Online Marriage Records Indexes and Images

• 1790-1998 - Oklahoma, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
• 1841 - 1927 - Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Marriage, Citizenship and Census Records, 1841-1927 at Ancestry ($)
• 1852 - 1948 - Oklahoma, Church Marriages, 1852-1948 at FamilySearch — index
• 1870 - 1930 - Oklahoma Marriages, 1870-1930 at FamilySearch Index only.
• 1870 - 1930 - Oklahoma, Select Marriages, 1870-1930 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1870 - 1930 - Oklahoma, Marriages, 1870-1930 at My Heritage index ($)
• 1889 - 1951 - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Marriage Index, 1889-1951
• 1890 - 1995 - Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995 at FamilySearch Index and images
• OKGenWeb Oklahoma Marriages
• 1893-1999 - Kay County Marriage Applications Index, Pioneer Genealogical Society – Records date from September 29, 1893 to December 31, 1999.

Death

Online Death Records Indexes and Images

• Obituaries Listed in the Oklahoman - Oklahoma Historical Society — index only
• United States Social Security Death Index
• 1864 - 1941 - Oklahoma Deaths and Burials, 1864-1941 at FamilySearch — index
• 1935 - 2014 - U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry ($)
• 1936 - 2007 - U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry incomplete ($}
• Oklahoma State Department of Health
  1000 NE 10th Street
  Oklahoma City, OK 73117
  Phone: (405) 271.4040
  E-mail: AskVR@health.ok.gov
  Lobby Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday - Friday with the exception of state recognized holidays

Divorce

Online Divorce Records Indexes and Images

• 1923 - 1942 - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Divorce Index, 1923-1942
• Kay County District Court Clerk
  201 S. Main, 2nd floor
  Newkirk, Oklahoma
  Phone: (580) 362-3350
  Business hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
• On Demand Court Records – Search *for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Kay County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Oklahoma Archives and Libraries.

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

• Ponca City Oklahoma Family History Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Kay County. For state-wide library facilities, see Oklahoma Archives and Libraries.

Arkansas City Public Library
120 E. 5th Avenue
Arkansas City, KS 67005
620-442-1280
arkcitypl @ acpl.org

Blackwell Public Library 123 W. Padon Blackwell, OK 74647 Telephone: (580) 363-1809	J.A. Walker Memorial Library 900 Morgan Square Kaw City, OK 74641 Telephone: (580) 269-2525
Newkirk Public Library 116 N. Maple Ave. Newkirk, OK 74647 Telephone: (580) 362-3934	Ponca City Library 515 E. Grand Ponca City, OK 74601 Telephone: (580) 767-0345
Tonkawa Public Library 216 N. 7th Tonkawa, OK 74653 Telephone: (580) 628-3366	Arkansas City Public Library 120 E. 5th Avenue Arkansas City, KS 67005 620-442-1280 arkcitypl @ acpl.org

Museums

Museums Listed on the Kay County Tourism Website

A.D. Buck Museum of Science & History	Cann Memorial Botanical Gardens
Conoco Museum	Heart in the Park Labyrinth
Kanza Museum	Kaw City Museum
Marland's Grand Home	Marland Mansion
McCarter Museum & Centennial Park	Newkirk Community Historical Museum
Newkirk Heritage Center	Osage Nation Heritage Trail
Pioneer Woman Statue & Museum	Poncan Theatre
Standing Bear Park, Museum & Education Center	Tonkawa Tribal Museum
Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum

Societies

Listed below are societies in Kay County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Oklahoma Societies.

Pioneer Genealogical Society
PO BOx 1965
Ponca City, OK 74602
E-mail:queries@pgsok.org
Website

Historical & Genealogical Societies

Pioneer Genealogical Society
Genealogy Room of the Ponca City Public Library
515 East Grand
Ponca City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma History Center
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-2491

Museums Listed on the Kay County Tourism Website

Websites

• Kay County on the USGenWeb Project - May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Kay County, Oklahoma on Wikipedia
• Oklahoma Research Outline PDF
• Oklahoma Tourism Genealogical Resources Website
• FamilySearch Catalog - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.