Lewis and Clark County, Montana Genealogy
Guide to Lewis and Clark County, Montana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Lewis and Clark County is located in the central western area. The name was given in honor of explorers Lewis and Clark.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Lewis and Clark County Courthouse
316 N Park Avenue
Helena, MT 59624
Phone: 406.447.8335
Lewis and Clark County Website
County Clerk has birth records from 1907, divorce records from 1895 and land records from 1865
Clerk District Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records [3]
Lewis and Clark County, Montana Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1907 | 1865 | 1895 | 1867 | 1865 | 1867 | 1860 |
Compliance for recording births was 1922 and 1915 for deaths.[5] | ||||||
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Parent County: created 2 February 1865 as an original county
County seat: Helena [6]
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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Lewis and Clark County. To find more resources, go to the Montana Bible Records page.
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 5,040 | — |
| 1880 | 6,521 | 29.4% |
| 1890 | 19,145 | 193.6% |
| 1900 | 19,171 | 0.1% |
| 1910 | 21,853 | 14.0% |
| 1920 | 18,660 | −14.6% |
| 1930 | 18,224 | −2.3% |
| 1940 | 22,131 | 21.4% |
| 1950 | 24,540 | 10.9% |
| 1960 | 28,006 | 14.1% |
| 1970 | 33,281 | 18.8% |
| 1980 | 43,039 | 29.3% |
| 1990 | 47,495 | 10.4% |
| 2000 | 55,716 | 17.3% |
| 2010 | 63,395 | 13.8% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Before Montana was a state in 1889, the western portion of Montana was included in the 1860 Washington Territory and the eastern was in the unorganized parts of 1860 Nebraska Territory. The 1870 and 1880 Federal Censuses included Montana Territory. No state censuses have been taken.[8] See links listed below.
Territory and State Censuses[edit | edit source]
- 1860 - United States Census, 1860 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index and images; Montana was included in the 1860 Washington and Nebraska Territory Censuses
- 1870 - United States Census, 1870 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index and images; Montana Territory Census
- 1880 - United States Census, 1880 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index and images; Montana Territory Census
Federal Census Records[edit | edit source]
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of Montana starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Montana Census.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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 Montana denominations, view the Montana Church Records wiki page.
Online Church Records
Lutheran Church
- 1875-1940 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county
Other Church Records
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward and Branch Records
- Helena
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1870-1957 Montana Territory, Miscellaneous Records and Index, 1870-1957(*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1889-1891 Helena, Montana, U.S., Directories, 1889-1891. 1891. Helena, MT: A. W. Ide. Ancestry — index ($)
- 1898 Helena (Lewis and Clark Co., Montana) City Directory: Also a Buyers' Guide and a Complete Classified Business Directory(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- 1966-2005 Montana, Lewis and Clark County, Helena, funeral home, 1966-2005(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Anderson Stevenson and Wilke Funeral Home in Helena
- Big Sky Cremations & Twitchell Funeral Service in East Helena
- Retz Funeral Home and Crematory in Helena
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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 Montana Land and Property for additional information about early Montana land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
- 1869-1888 Helena Town Site, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, deed records, 1869-1888
- 1865-1940 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, deed records ; indexes, 1865-1940
- 1865-1963 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, mining deed records ; indexes, 1865-1963
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
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Lewis and Clark County, Montana 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 Montana Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- See an interactive map of Lewis and Clark County cemeteries and modern-day townships. (Histopolis)
- Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Montana - shows boundary changes for Montana Counties
- Historical Maps and Atlases of Montana - maps and atlases of Montana
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Online Collections[edit | edit source]
These collections are unique to Montana. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Montana Military Records.
Civil War
- 1890 United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1890 - 1918 Montana Military Enlistments at Montana Memory Project
- 1904 - 1918 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, military records, 1904-1918
World War I
- 1904 - 1918 - Montana, Military Records, 1904-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1917 - 1918 U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- Soldiers of the Great War from the State of Montana at USGenWeb.
- Military Enlistments Montana World War I at Montana Memory Project
World War II
World War II
- WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties for Montana - Index only
For further information see Montana Military Records.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Please see the Montana Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1791-1992 - U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 at Ancestry($), index only
- 1866-1929 - Montana Naturalization Records, 1856-1979 – Browseable images only; County records for Lewis and Clark County have various naturalization records from 1866-1929.
- 1868-1999 - Montana Naturalization Records, 1868-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1870-1999 - Montana, Federal Naturalization Records, 1870-1999 at Ancestry($), index only
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
For more information, see Montana Newspapers.
Montana Newspapers Online
- Butte and Helena newspapers. This database is sometimes free at libraries.
- Chronicling America - contains images of some Montana newspapers; searching tips
- Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
- GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Montana newspapers
- Montana Newspapers by the Montana Historical Society
- Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Montana newspapers
Montana Newspaper Catalogs
- 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
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Obituary Daily Times - large obituary index from newspapers across the United States.
See also United States Obituaries for more about finding United States obituaries.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Public Records
- 1882-1915 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, election register, 1882-1915
- 1897-1926 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, school census, 1897-1926
- 1882-1924 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, school census, 1882-1924
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
In most counties in Montana, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, inventories, claim registers, inheritance records, probate packets, 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 Montana, Lewis and Clark - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1831–1952 Montana Wills and Probate Records 1831-1952 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1904-1962 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, Wills and Probate Proceedings Indexes 1904-1962(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Montana tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most birth and death original records can be purchased from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. For information about marriages, divorces, and requirements for obtaining any vital records, see the CDC Where to Write website.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1841-1830, 1841-2001 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, death records, 1869-1950; birth records, 1841-1930; indexes, 1841-2001 Viewable
- 1897-1988 Montana, U.S., Birth Records, 1897-1988 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1994 Montana, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1865-1859, 1865-1975 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, marriage records, 1865-1959 ; Index, 1865 - 1975 Viewable
- 1865-1950 Montana, County Marriages, 1865 - 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1865-1950 Montana, County Marriages, 1865 - 1950 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1866-1985 Lewis & Clark County, Montana, marriages, 1866 - 1985 indexes
- 1889-1947 Montana Marriages, 1889 - 1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1889-1947 Montana Select Marriages 1889 - 1947 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1943-1988 Montana, U.S., Marriage Records, 1943-1988 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
- Western States Marriage Index - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1860-2007 Montana Death Index, 1860 - 2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1868-2011 Montana, Death Index, 1868 - 2011 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1869-1950, 1841-1930, 1841-2001 Lewis and Clark County, Montana, death records, 1869-1950; birth records, 1841-1930; indexes, 1841-2001 Viewable
- pre 1954-2002 Montana State Death Registry Index Pre 1954 & 1954 - 2002 at Montana State Genealogical Society — index
- 1954-2011 Montana Death Records at findmypast ($) — index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1943-1988 Montana, U.S., Divorce Records, 1943-1988 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1884-1992 Montana, County Voting Records, 1884-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Lewis and Clark County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Montana Archives and Libraries.
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
- Thompson Falls Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Lewis and Clark County. For state-wide library facilities, see Montana Archives and Libraries.
Lewis & Clark Library
120 S Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601
406-447-1690
Website
Facebook
- The area has several branch libraries from this main facility.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Montana Historical Society and Museum
225 North Roberts Street, 165
Helena, Montana, 59601
406-444-2694
Montana Military Museum
1900 Williams Street
Helena, Montana, 59602
406-324-3550
Montana Military Museum
419 Hayes Avenue
Helena, Montana, 59601
406-443-2878
Upper Blackfoot Historical Society
PO Box 922
Lincoln 59639-0922
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Lewis and Clark County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Montana Societies.
Lewis and Clark County Genealogical Society
PO Box 5313
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 447-1690 x128
Website
The Lewis & Clark Co. Historical Society
Historic Preservation Officer
City-County Building
316 N Park Avenue
Helena, MT 59623
406-447-8357
Website
Facebook
Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society
PO Box 922
Lincoln, MT 59639
406-362-4949
E-mail: ubvhs59639@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Lewis and Clark County at Cyndi's List — a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Lewis and Clark County at Genealogy Trails — volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Lewis and Clark County at Montana USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Lewis and Clark County at Montana USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
- Lewis and Clark County, Montana at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
- Lewis and Clark County, Montana Genealogy at LDSGenealogy.com - collection of links by state, county, city, and record type
- 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.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_County,_Montana accessed 11/18/2016
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), p. 416.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Page 416. 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), 406.
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Rev. ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 1992), 439.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lewis and Clark County, Montana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_County,_Montana, accessed 7 December 2016.
- ↑ ’'Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 409. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
