Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy
Guide to Kitsap County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1857, when the county was formed.
Kitsap County, Washington | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of Washington (disambiguation) | |
![]() Location of Washington in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | January 16, 1847 |
---|---|
County Seat | Port Orchard |
Courthouse | |
Address | Kitsap County Courthouse 614 Division Street Port Orchard, WA 98366 Phone 360.337.7164 Kitsap County Website |
County Overview[edit | edit source]
Before 1857—and perhaps until the newly-formed county was fully operational—search records of the parent county(s). |
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Chief Kitsap. The County is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]
Parent County(s)[edit | edit source]
Kitsap County, Washington was created 16 January 1857 as (Slaughter County) from King and Jefferson. Renamed Kitsap 13 July 1857.[2]
County Seat: Port Orchard [3]. See also Towns and Communities in Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
- Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library[4]
Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Kitsap County Courthouse
614 Division Street
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Phone: 360.337.7164
Kitsap County Website
County Auditor has birth records 1891-1907, death records 1892-1907 and marriage records from 1892.
County Clerk has divorce and court records from 1888, probate and adoption records from 1861 and land records from 1857. [5]
See also Archives, libraries, etc. in Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy.
Dates of Major County Records[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1891 | 1892 | 1892 | 1888 | 1857 | 1861 | 1850 |
General compliance by 1917. |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Topics for Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy[edit | edit source]
The topics or headings on this page describe records that are used for genealogy and family history. They include links to web sites with indexes, images, or information about the county.
Don't overlook Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy items in the FamilySearch Library Catalog. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see Archives and Libraries. |
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Biographical information is often found in state and local histories or genealogies. See also Washington Biography.
Business and Commerce[edit | edit source]
- Professional License Records at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
FindAGrave | Family History Library | FindAGrave |
Tombstone Project | WorldCat | Interment.net |
Billion Graves (name) | Washington Periodicals | WA State Digital Archives |
WAGenWeb Archives | Linkpendium | |
Billion Graves | Genealogy Trails | |
FamilySearch Places | ||
See Washington Cemeteries for more information. |
Census[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1860 | 544 | — |
1870 | 866 | 59.2% |
1880 | 1,738 | 100.7% |
1890 | 4,624 | 166.1% |
1900 | 6,767 | 46.3% |
1910 | 17,647 | 160.8% |
1920 | 33,162 | 87.9% |
1930 | 30,776 | −7.2% |
1940 | 44,387 | 44.2% |
1950 | 75,724 | 70.6% |
1960 | 84,176 | 11.2% |
1970 | 101,732 | 20.9% |
1980 | 147,152 | 44.6% |
1990 | 189,731 | 28.9% |
2000 | 231,969 | 22.3% |
2010 | 251,133 | 8.3% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
Names, ages, birthplaces | 1850–1940 |
Birthplaces of parents | 1880–1940 |
Relationships | 1880–1940 |
Family and Neighbors | All years |
Immigration year | 1900–1930 |
Citizenship | 1910–1940 |
Censuses 1) Give names, ages, and more about the family; 2) Pinpoint the area to find other records; and 3) Provide clues for further research.
Click for more census tips |
- Washington online census links to FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and others.
- See Washington Census Years for online availability of Federal, Territorial, and State-funded censuses.
- Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free)
Censuses indexed by societies or groups in the area may be more accurate, due to familiarity with local surnames. |
Church Records[edit | edit source]
The information church records provide depends upon the church practices and the record keepers. Records may include names, ages, and dates of events such as baptism, marriage, or burial. See Washington Church Records.
- Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy are listed in the FamilySearch catalog. (Press space bar to select town.)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[edit | edit source]
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Bremerton
- Port Orchard
Lutheran[edit | edit source]
- Records of Port Madison Lutheran Church, Winslow, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can clarify family relationships, places of residence, occupations, and family history. See Washington Court Records for courts used through the years.
For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate
- Kitsap Frontier Justice. Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Digital Archives. (Free Index, no images)
- The court procedure of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
American Indian[edit | edit source]
- 1911 - 1919 Washington, Applications for Enrollment and Adoption of Washington Indians, 1911-1919 at FamilySearch — images
Japanese[edit | edit source]
World War II Files, 1942-1946
Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
for more resources
Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. County histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons.
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the District courts. See Washington Court Records.
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories for Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.
- Kitsap County -- Thumbnail History at HistoryLink.org
- History of the Puget Sound country, Volume 1, Volume 2 by William Farrand Prosser [New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company, 1903] at Washington History
- Kitsap County, Washington Facts at StateofUS.com (mis-labeled as Kitsap County, Alabama)
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library[7]
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. Kitsap County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7864.
- The first residents of the land and islands between Puget Sound and Hood Canal were called Suquamish.
- 1792 - May, British Royal Navy Captain George Vancouver mapped Puget Sound .
- 1850 - The big trigger to white settlement on the Kitsap Peninsula came with the California Gold Rush.
- 1853 - March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
- 1855 - Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens persuaded the tribes to sign the Point No Point and Point Elliott treaties, in which they ceded their lands to the United States.
- 1857 - July 13, Slaughter County was officially formed and Port Madison became the county seat. Voters changed the name to Kitsap County.
- 1880s - The United States government chose Port Orchard as the site of a repair facility to help support naval operations in the Pacific Ocean.
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
Land records (especially deeds) may give the name of a spouse, heirs, and witnesses, who are sometimes relatives or in-laws. County deeds, mortgages, and leases show transfers from person to person. See also Court Records for actions involving real estate. See Washington Land for government-to-person records.
- County Land Records, 1850-1954 at Washington, County Land Records, 1850-1954 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Land Records 1986 to 2006 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Recorded Agreements and Contracts 1987-2006 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
Maps[edit | edit source]
This map highlights the county within the state of Washington.
The map soon will have inter-active links.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Most residents came to Washington from other states or crossed the border from Canada. (See Seattle Passenger Lists for those who came from other countries.) Although few other migration records exist, try:
• Censuses: (use birthdates and places of children as clues)
• Land Records: (1st deed may reveal previous residence)
• Death-related records of children may give town or county of birth
• Records of relatives and neighbors
Military[edit | edit source]
- 1921-1925 Washington, World War I Veteran's Compensation Fund Application Records, 1921-1925 at FamilySearch — index
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. Note: Until 1922 in the United States, women's citizenship was based on that of their husbands.
- County Naturalization Records, 1850-1982. at Washington, County Naturalization Records, 1850-1982 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Includes two collections: Declaration of intention 1929-1936 vol 7; Naturalization petitions 1910-1911 vol 6.
- Naturalization Records, 1906-1910, 1929-1955 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Includes index to Petitions for Naturalization and Citizenship Petitions Granted and Denied
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Small town newspapers provide historical content and contain obituaries, birth or death notices, legal notices, and community news, such as visits to or from out-of-town relatives. See Washington Newspapers for tips, resources, and details.
- Kitsap County, Washington Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
- 1855-2009 Washington Newspapers, 1855-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
Finding More Washington Newspapers
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. To select a county in Washington, add a comma, slide way down to the county list, then click Search. (Almost every state seems to have a Washington County)
- Port Orchard Independent
- The Kitsap Sun
- The Bainbridge Review
- Washington Digital Newspaper at Washington State Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, living family members, education, occupation, and more. See Washington Obituaries for state level collections and United States Obituaries for tips and insights.
Also check:
- Newspapers of Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy
- Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
- Obituaries of neighboring counties
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records identify heirs of the decedents, give the (approximate) death dates, and provide specifics about property holdings. The records were kept by the county judge.
These include wills, inheritance records, dockets, and other documents regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. See also Court Records for civil actions involving estates. Also see Washington Probate Records.
Public Records[edit | edit source]
Public records are documents created by civil authorities that either don't fit comfortably in another topic, or that could fit in several topics.
- Kitsap Postmaster Index A-C.• Postmaster Index C-Z Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)
- Power of Attorney Records 1987 and 2006 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
Taxation[edit | edit source]
Washington tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Washington Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
The county auditors in Washington kept records of birth, marriage, and death. The county clerk has the divorce records - the earliest dates to the present.
Visit the Washington State Department of Health website to order a Washington Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce Certificate. See Washington Vital Records for details and history of the records. .
Birth[edit | edit source]
In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. In 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility.[8] See also Washington Birth Records.
- Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965 — index and images
- Kitsap County Birth Records "coming soon" at Washington State Digital Archives (Free)
- As of February, 2014
For earlier or unrecorded births, search:
- Washington Delayed Birth Certificates often include statements of witnesses to the birth.
- Death Records often give birth date, place, parents
- Censuses to learn age, family members, location, etc.
- School Censuses in Washington give date of birth and name of parent or guardian
- Cemeteries usually give birth date or age, and sometimes birth place
- Obituaries often include birth info, living and deceased family members, and more
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Marriage records include certificates, marriage returns, license applications or affidavits. Counties kept the records until 1968, when the state took over. See also Washington Marriage Records.
- 1801-1962 Washington, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1855–2008 Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1969-2014 Washington Marriage Index, 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index
- Marriage record for Kitsap County at Washington State Digital Archives Collection (Free):
- Marriage License Application Affidavits, 1905-2005 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Kitsap County Auditor, Marriage License Register, 1868-1890
- Marriage Records, 1860-2006
- Kitsap County, Washington, Marriage Index, 1986-2010
- If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.
Online Records
- 1969 - 2014 Washington Divorce Index, 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index
Death[edit | edit source]
In 1891, coroners, physicians and midwives were to report (or return) all births and deaths under their supervision to County Auditors. On July 1, 1907, the State took over.[9] See Washington Death Records.
- 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
- Washington, County Death Registers, 1881-1922 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
Websites[edit | edit source]
Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.
Kitsap County WAGenWeb Project | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions |
USGenWeb Archives Project | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
Washington State Digital Archives | Free | Includes indexes, some linked to images.
|
FamilySearch Historical Collections | Free | Search indexes or browse images at FamilySearch.org.
|
FamilySearch catalog | Select topics. To select towns, add a comma to the search box. |
WorldCat | To find nearby libraries that have specific items, see WorldCat Online Catalog. |
Allen County Public Library (Indiana) | |
Archives, Libraries, etc.[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in {{{1}}} County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.
Resources for Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.
- Check websites and catalogs, such as items in FamilySearch Library (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy. When you find items you'd like to access, see Get a Copy
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- 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
- Auburn Washington Family History Center
- Bellevue Washington Family History Center
- Bellevue Washington South Family History Center
- Bremerton Washington Family History Center
- Federal Way Washington Family History Center
- Issaquah Washington Family History Center
- Kent Washington Family History Center
- Kirkland Washington Family History Center
- Maple Valley Washington Family History Center
- Newport Washington Family History Center
- North Bend Washington Family History Center
- Poulsbo Washington Family History Center
- Redmond Washington Family History Center
- Seattle Washington Family History Center
- Seattle Washington North Family History Center
- Silverdale Washington Family History Center
- Tiffany Park Washington Family History Center
- Vashon Washington Family History Center
- Woodinville Washington Family History Center
- Northwest African American Museum - an affiliate library
- Seattle Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
- Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Local public libraries—even smaller ones—often have Unique Genealogical Collections that are not online for the area they serve. Many libraries in Washington have an area dedicated to local history and genealogy.
A library's Unique Collections may include card indexes of local records, newspapers, scrapbooks, genealogy papers, files of a genealogical or historical society, and other unpublished manuscripts. |
- Kitsap Regional Library
1301 Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA 98310
Phone: 360-405-9158
Website
- Branches:
- Bainbridge Island Library
1270 Madison N.
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206-842-4162 - Bremerton Library
612 5th Street
Bremerton, WA 98337
Phone: 360-377-3955 - Kingston Library
11212 NE State Hwy 104
Kingston, WA 98346
Phone: 360-297-3330 - Little Boston Library
31980 Little Boston Rd. NE
Kingston, WA 98346
Phone: 360-297-2670 - Manchester Library
8067 E. Main Street
Manchester, WA 98353
Phone: 360-871-3921 - Port Orchard Library
87 Sidney Street
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Phone: 360-876-2224 - Poulsbo Library
700 NE Lincoln Street
Poulsbo, WA 98370
Phone: 360-779-2915 - Silverdale Library
3450 NW Carlton Street
Silverdale, WA 98383
Phone: 360-692-2997
- Bainbridge Island Library
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Puget Sound Genealogical Society
1301 Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA 98310
Website
Kitsap County Historical Society and Museum
280 4th Street
Bremerton, WA 98337
Website
Facebook
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:[10]
Cities | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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Native American communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kitsap County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsap_County,_Washington. accessed 17/07/2019
- ↑ The Evolution of Washington Counties by Newton Carl Abbott, Fred E. Carver, 1979. Published by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society and Klickitat County Genealogical Society.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ John H. Long, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (Chicago: Newberry Library, 2006) online.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kitsap County, Washington page 733, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kitsap County, Washington . Page 732-735 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), 733-734.
- ↑ John H. Long, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (Chicago: Newberry Library, 2006) online.
- ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection
- ↑ About Death Records at Washington State Digital Archives.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kitsap County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsap_County,_Washington, accessed 13 March 2019.