Washington County, Idaho Genealogy

United States

Idaho

Washington County

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

Parade at Fiddle Fest, Weiser City, Washington Co.,Idaho

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Washington County, Idaho
Map
Location in the state of Idaho, United States Genealogy
Location of Idaho in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	February 20, 1879
County Seat	Weiser
Courthouse
Address	Washington County Courthouse 256 East Court Weiser, ID 83672-0670
Website: www.co.washington.id.us

County Information

Description

The County was named for George Washington. The County has Weiser as its seat and the County was created February 20, 1879. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

Washington County, Idaho Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1907	1879	1907	1879	1879	1879	1870
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1911. General compliance in the 1920s.

History

Named for George Washington, first President of the United States of America.

Parent County

20 February 1879: Washington County was created from Boise County.

Boundary Changes

3 March 1911: Adams County created from part of Washington County

Record Loss

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

Places/Localities

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Cambridge Midvale	Weiser

The above list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have websites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names. This list of places in Washington County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Washington County in Virtual Earth.

Resources

The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to Washington County, Idaho Genealogy entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Washington County have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Weiser .

Archives and Libraries

Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.

• Cambridge District Library
  120 N Superior St
  Cambridge, ID 83610
  Phone: (208) 257-3434
• Midvale District Library
  70 E Bridge St
  Midvale, ID 83645
  Phone: (208) 355-2213
• Weiser Public Library
  628 E 1st St
  Weiser, ID 83672
  Phone: (208) 549-1243

Cemeteries

Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Tombstone Transcriptions in Print	List of Cemeteries in the county
Findagrave.com	Family History Library	Findagrave.com
IDGenWeb	WorldCat	Billion Graves
IDGenWeb Archives		FamilySearch Places
Tombstone Project
Idaho Gravestones
Billion Graves
See Idaho Cemeteries for more information.

There are many cemeteries in Washington County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Washington County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Census

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	6,882		—
1910	11,101		61.3%
1920	9,424		−15.1%
1930	7,962		−15.5%
1940	8,853		11.2%
1950	8,576		−3.1%
1960	8,378		−2.3%
1970	7,633		−8.9%
1980	8,803		15.3%
1990	8,550		−2.9%
2000	9,977		16.7%
sources:

The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.

For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

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

• List of Washington County Stakes and Wards to about 1948.

• The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Washington County, Idaho prior to 1950: Indian Valley Ward, Washington County, Idaho
  • For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
  • Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

Church History and Records (Rural)

Please refer to the cities for local churches.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

County Commissioners' Records

The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Court Records

Some of the early court records of Washington County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed may include civil suits, divorce papers,  judgment dockets, etc.. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the courthouse in Weiser and can be accessed by paying a visit to the Washington County courthouse.

Some of the records of Washington County which have been microfilmed are:

• Power of attorney, 1880-1921 Idaho. County Court (Washington County)
• Register of civil actions, 1881-1929 Idaho. County Court (Washington County) 
   .

Directories

The Idaho State Archives has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

History

A Saga of Salubria and a History of Washington County (same as above) Revisited is also available in a digitized version at the FamilySearch Catalog.

In 1940-41 a listing of all residents who had lived in Washington County for at least 50 years was made by the Weiser American newspaper.  Their name, city in which they lived and how long they had lived in Washington County was given.  Washington County Pioneers.

Land and Property

Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place.  For original records of Washington County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Weiser, Idaho.

The p://Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many deeds, homestead records, etc., of Washington County beginning 20 Feb 1879 when it was separated from Boise County,  and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed originals of the following  records found in the Washington County Courthouse in Weiser, Idaho which can be accessed at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers:

• Declaration of homestead, 1875-1912
• Deeds, 1879-1902; index, 1874-1901
• Possessory land claim, 1873-1908

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• An 1895 map of Washington and surrounding counties is available online.
• A digital Washington County Idaho map is available online.
• Map of Washington County, Idaho is available online.
• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military History and Records

World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Washington County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their microfilm number 1452223) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.  The Washington County GenWeb site has abstracted the information on these draft registration cards for those who registered in Washington County.

Online Records

• 1940-1945 - Idaho, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images

Miscellaneous Series

Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere. The following Washington County records have been microfilmed and are available for viewing at the Washington County courthouse in Wesier, Idaho, at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho or at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers:

• Washington-10 4 Miscellaneous Index, Direct, Book 1, pp A-E (con't on Washington-11/1) 1883-1968 Court
• Washington-11 1 Miscellaneous Index, Direct, Book 1, pp E-Z (con't from Washington-10/4) 1883-1968 Court
• Washington-11 2 Miscellaneous Index, Indirect, Book 1 1883-1968 Court
• Washington-11 3 Record, Miscellaneous, v. 1, pp 1-155 (con't on Washington-12/1) 1892-1905 Court
• Washington-12 1 Record, Miscellaneous, v. 1, pp 154-400 (con't from Washington-11/3) 1905-1915 Court
• Washington-12 2 Miscellaneous Record, Book 2 1915-1921 Court
• Washington-12 3 Miscellaneous Record, Book 3 1921-1931 Court

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Records

• 1892-1990 - Idaho Naturalization Records, 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

Current

• Upper County Reporter
• Weiser Signal - American

Historical

Copies of issues of many Idaho newspapers are found in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.

Obituaries

• 1943-2013 - Idaho, Southern Counties Obituaries, 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1857-1989 - Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed Wills of Washington County(1878-1946) which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City, or in any of its Family History Centers.

The Idaho State Archives has also microfilmed some early probate records of Washington County, and these can be viewed at their facilities in Boise.

For other and later probate records, one can visit the county courthouse in Weiser.

Taxation

Any existing tax assessment rolls for Washington County should be in the courthouse in Wesier and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Vital Records

Birth

Online Records

• 1861-1911 - Idaho, Birth Index, 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — index
• 1883-1929 - Idaho County Birth and Death Records 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

The Birth Registers for Washington County, 1907-1911, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Washington County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Recordssection under the subject Idaho for more details.

There are 443 births recorded in Washington County online at Idaho Births and Christenings.

Marriage

Online Records

• 1800-1987 - Idaho, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
• 1864-1976 - Idaho Church Marriages, 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — index
• 1864-1950 - Idaho County Marriages, 1864-1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1878-1898; 1903-1942 - Idaho Marriages, 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — index
• 1947-1963 - Idaho Marriage Index, 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — index

Nearly 13,200 marriages, 1879-1969, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

There are 244 Washington County marriages listed in Idaho Marriages.

Divorce

Online Records

• 1947-1963 - Idaho Divorce Index, 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Death

Online Records

• 1883-1929 - Idaho County Birth and Death Records 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1938-1961 - Idaho Death Certificates, 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — index

The Death Registers for Washington County, 1907-1911, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. After 1911, deaths occurring in Washington County are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as mandated by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under Idaho for details Idaho Vital Records.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.

A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.

There are 474 Washington County deaths listed online at Idaho Deaths and Burials.

Societies, Libraries and Museums

• Washington County Historical Society
• Weiser Public Library
  628 East 1st Street
  Weiser, ID 83672
  Phone: 208-549-1243
  Website
• Midvale Community Library
  70 Bridge St
  Midvale, ID 83645
  Phone: 208-355-2213
  Website
• State Historical Society
  2205 Old Penitentiary Rd
  Boise, Idaho
  208-334-2774
  Website
  

• Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page
  Website
  

• Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar

• Idaho State Archives

• National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter

• The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

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 Affiliate Libraries

• Introduction to Family History Centers
• Weiser Idaho Family History Center

Websites

• The Washington County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project
• Linkpendium
• The USGenWeb Archives Project
• The USGenWeb Archives Project (backup site)
• FamilySearch.org FamilySearch Catalog for Washington County.