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United States Arizona Pima County

	Arizona Online Records

Pima County, Arizona
Map
Location in the state of Arizona
Location of Arizona in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	One of the original four counties, 1853
County Seat	Tucson
Courthouse
Address	110 West Congress St. Tucson, Arizona 85701-1317 Tel: (520) 740-3200 Fax: (520) 798-3531

Wikipedia has more about this subject: Pima County, Arizona

County Courthouse

Pima County Superior Courts Bldg.
110 West Congress St.
Tucson, Arizona 85701-1317
Tel: (520) 740-3200
Fax: (520) 798-3531

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1863 ^[1]

Holdings: criminal, civil (incl. traffic), domestic, real property, divorce, probate, guardianship, marriage.
Beginning in 2010, all civil cases 50 years old and probate cases 100 years old must be sent to the Arizona State Archives for preservation.^[2] However, indexes and microfilm copies of those records are available at the courthouse in Legal Records, Room 241. The microfilm is not for public use due to mishandling and degradation. The court's online Record Search contains an index of cases from approximately 1980 through present day.
For downtown parking garage information, please check Pima.gov's Parking Facility Page.

History

Pima County, named for the Pima Indians, is in southeastern Arizona. Today it is home to Arizona's second largest metropolitan area, which includes Tucson, which is also its county seat, and the location of many records of value to researchers of this area. In 1847 the United States flag was first raised over Tucson by the United States Mormon Battalion, the party that blazed the southern route across to San Diego.

• In 1681, The land that is now Pima County was controled by Spain as part of "Pimeria Alta," which included what is now Sonora, Mexico, and all or part of Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties.^[2]
• Until 1821 -  New Spain controlled 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 Pima County, Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
• 8 June 1854 - Gadsden Purchase was bought from Mexico, the last area in the lower 48 United States to be ceded by Mexico to the United States. All land south of the Gila River was added to the already existing Doña Ana County, New Mexico Territory land.^{[3] [4]} This included land that would later become Pima County, Arizona. Records for this time period may have been sent to the Doña Ana County, New Mexico courthouse.
• 24 February 1863 - Arizona was created from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were dissolved, and eventually four new counties were formed in the new Arizona Territory.^[2]

Parent County

15 December 1864 - Pima County was created as one of the original counties of Arizona.  County seat: Tucson ^[5]

Boundary Changes

Daughter counties^[2]:

• 1 February 1875 - Pima County lost land to creation of Pinal County
• 1 Feb 1881 - Pima County lost land to creation of Cochise County
• 15 March 1899 - Pima County lost land to creation of Santa Cruz County
• Pima County also small portions of land to Graham, Greenlee, and Maricopa Counties

An animated map of Arizona County changes is available from the Pima County History (scroll down).

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

Record Loss

Places/Localities

Populated Places

Communities

Binghampton. Outside of Old Tucson there was a Mormon settlement called Binghampton. There are a series of leaflets published that contain many of the stories of this community, "Binghampton: The Life and Times of its people since 1892". Author is unknown, but going to the Binghampton Cemetery caretaker is the key to research for these ancestors. See cemetery reference below.

Neighboring Counties

• Cochise, Arizona
• Graham, Arizona
• Maricopa, Arizona
• Pinal, Arizona
• Santa Cruz, Arizona
• Yuma, Arizona

Resources

Cemeteries

 Arizona Cemetery Transcription and Photo Project

(Main Article: Pima County, Arizona Cemeteries )

The following cemeteries are listed within GNIS for Pima County:

All Faiths Memorial Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery
Grantwood Memorial Park
Gunsight Cemetery
Helvetia Cemetery
Holy Hope Cemetery
Santa Rosa Francisco Cemetery
Silver Bell Cemetery
South Lawn Memorial Cemetery
Twin Buttes Cemetery
White Cross Cemetery

Source Information: USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

The Old Tucson (aka National or City) Cemetery was excavated in preparation for the construction of a new Joint Court Building. For extensive archealogical and historical information visit the Project's Website.

Binghampton LDS Cemetery (aka Mormon Cemetery) at Find A Grave
Located, in Tuscon, north of River Road at:
4001 N. Alvernon Way

Binghampton Cemetery Gravestones (photographed) at Arizona Gravestone Photo Project

Map of Cemeteries of Pima County compiled from topographic maps. Locations of over 100 cemeteries which are not found in GNIS. Driving directions and satellite imagery available through Google Maps.

A Map of Columbaria of Pima County is also available. Locations of churches with columbaria or memorial gardens for inurnment or scattering of cremains.

Indexes, transcriptions, and photographs of Pima County Cemeteries can be found at:

• Find A Grave -- Cemeteries in Pima County
• Arizona Gravestones
• Interment.net -- Pima County Cemetery Records

Census

Censuses were conducted in 1866, 1867, 1872, 1874, 1876. They include name, residence, whether head of family, number of single persons over 21, number between 10 and 21, number under 10, and remarks.

In 1882, the census lists name only.

FHL Arizona, Pima - Census

For information regarding extant censuses, also see: Arizona Census

Church

LDS Ward and Branch Records

• Ajo
• Binghampton
• Tucson

Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson Archives and Library
Msgr. Donald H. Hughes Pastoral Center at St. Ambrose Parish
300 S. Tucson Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85716
Tel: (520) 886-5201 (Call for Appt.)
Website: www.diocesetucson.org/Archives%20website/archiveindex.htm
The diocese was first established in 1868. The archive's collection includes sacramental registers from across southwest, Bishop's correspondence, ephemera, art and artifacts.^[6]

Correctional Institutions

FHL Arizona, Pima - Correctional institutions

Court

Arizona Superior Court in Pima County - www.sc.pima.gov/

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court - www.jp.pima.gov/

Other Courts may be located here: www.courtreference.com/Pima-County-Arizona-Courts.htm

FHL Arizona, Pima - Court records

Land

Pima County Recorder's Office
Holdings: deeds, mining records, mortgages.

FHL Arizona, Pima - Land and property (including records from the Recorder's Office)
FHL Arizona, Pima - Land and Property - Indexes
FHL Arizona, Pima - Land and property - Maps

Local Histories

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records offers an Arizona Biographical Database.

The University of Arizona has compiled information about communities, history, and research materials relating to Southern Arizona at Through our Parents' Eyes.

For history of western Pima County (Ajo, Why, Lukeville and Tohono O'odham Nation communities) the Ajo Cultural and Historical Inventory Project has identified "where and how to access information on the history and culture of Ajo and western Pima County."

Maps

FHL Arizona, Pima - Maps
Map of Arizona County changes (1864-1983) at the Pima County Justice Court's site (scroll down).

Military

Naturalization

FHL Arizona, Pima - Naturalization and citizenship

Newspapers

• The Chronicling America project lists 255 newspapers which cover areas of Pima County. Using their system one may narrow a search and use the links to the WorldCat system to locate copies of the papers.
• Arizona Newspaper Project -- allows users to search for Pima County newspapers 
• Current obituaries for Tucson may be located on the Arizona Daily Star's website.
• Green Valley News and Sun also carries obituaries.
• Ajo Copper News Archives list deaths beginning in 1998 and births in 2000.
• Ajo Cooper News - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1975-2009

Probate

Original records held by the Clerk of the Superior Court or the Arizona State Archives.

FHL Arizona, Pima - Probate records & FHL Arizona, Pima - Guardianship

Taxation

FHL Arizona, Pima - Taxation

Vital Records

4,742 marriages from 3 Sep 1864 to 20 Sep 1943 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index. Certificates are available from either the Clerk of the Superior Court or the Arizona State Archives.

Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates (including Pima County) available from the Arizona Department of Health Services. As of 2009, birth certificates from 1855-1933 and death certificates from 1844-1958 are provided in .pdf.

Pima County Health Department issues certificates for Arizona Births from 1 Jan 1950 and Arizona Deaths from 1 Feb 2008. All other certificates may be ordered from the State Office of Vital Records.

FHL Arizona, Pima - Vital Records & FHL Arizona, Pima - Vital records - Indexes

Voting

FHL Arizona, Pima - Voting registers

Societies and Libraries

Arizona Historical Society
949 E. 2nd St.
Tucson, AZ 85719
Tel: (520) 628-5774, Fax: (520) 629-8966
Website: http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org
AHS's Tucson Research Library and Archives holds unpublished manuscripts, biographical files, books, maps, newspapers, oral histories, photographs, and more.

Arizona State Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 42075
Tucson, AZ 85733
Website: AzSGS.org

Ajo Historical Society
160 S Mission Rd.
Ajo, AZ 85321-2601
Tel: (520) 387-7105

Jewish Heritage Center
564 S Stone Ave
PO BOX 889
Tucson, AZ 85701
Tel:(520) 670-9073
(Formerly the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Arizona and the Historic Stone Avenue Temple)

Green Valley Genealogical Society
PO Box 1009
Green Valley, AZ 85622
Website: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~azgvgs/

Pima County Public Libraries
Website: http://www.library.pima.gov/

Joel D. Valdez Main Library
101 N. Stone Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
Tel: (520) 594-5500
Holdings include: Cele Peterson Arizona Collection (local history), historical Tucson newspapers, assorted other papers, online resources available to library card holders, interlibrary loan

Salzar-Ajo Branch Library
33 Plaza Ajo, AZ 85321
Tel: (520) 387-6075
Holdings: Ajo Cultural and Historical Inventory Project, newspapers, online resources available to library card holders

Postal History Foundation - Peggy J. Slusser Memorial Philatelic Library
920 N First Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719
Tel: (520) 623-6652
Website: www.postalhistoryfoundation.org/
Collection searchable at: www.library.pima.gov/research/collections/phf.php

Sun City Vistoso Genealogical Society
Oro Valley, AZ
Website: scvgs.org/

University of Arizona
Main Library
POB 210055
1510 E University Blvd
Tucson, AZ 82721-0055
Tel: (520) 621-6441
Website: www.library.arizona.edu/
Holdings: Special Collections (manuscripts, photographs, rare books), newspapers, government documents, map collection, ethnic records, directories, Jewish collections
Check website for parking information.

Family History Centers

Ajo Arizona
801 N Cedar St
Ajo, Pima, Arizona, United States
Telephone: 520-387-6751

Sahuarita Arizona
17699 S Camino De Las Quintas
Sahuarita, Pima, Arizona, United States
Telephone: 520-399-1077

Tucson Arizona
500 S Langley Ave
Tucson, Pima, Arizona, United States
Telephone: 520-298-0905

Tucson Arizona West
3530 W Magee
Tucson, Pima, Arizona, United States
Phone: 520-579-3493
Introduction to Family History Centers

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

Web Sites

• USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Family History Library Catalog
• Pima County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

References

1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pima County, Arizona p. 56. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Barbara Baldwin Salyer and Jean Powell Banowit, Arizona genealogical and historical research guide : early sources for southern Arizona : including Cochise, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties (Tucson, Ariz. : Arizona State Genealogical Society, 2006).
3. ↑ William Thorndale, and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1987), 26. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 X2th.
4. ↑ Original Counties of New Mexico Territory (map) at http://www.nmgs.org/Graphics/nmcoun-orig.jpg (accessed 9 August 2011).
5. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
6. ↑ Arizona Memory Project, "Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Tucson." http://azmemory.lib.az.us/cdm4/index.php?CISOROOT=/rcdhilites&mode=repository