Thurston County, Washington Genealogy
Guide to Thurston County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1852, when the county was formed.
Thurston County, Washington | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of Washington (disambiguation) | |
![]() Location of Washington in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | 12 January, 1852 |
---|---|
County Seat | Olympia |
Courthouse | |
Address | [http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/clerk/ Thurston County Courthouse |
County Overview[edit | edit source]
Before the newly-formed county was fully operational, search records of the parent county(s). |
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Samuel R. Thurston, the Oregon Territory's first delegate to Congress. The County is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]
Parent County(s)[edit | edit source]
Thurston County, Washington was created 12 January 1852 from Clark County.[2]
County Seat: Olympia [3]. See also Towns and Communities in Thurston 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]
Thurston County Courthouse
2000 Lakeridge Dr SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone: 360.786.5438
County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907 and marriage records from 1891.
County Clerk has divorce probate and court records. [5]
See also Archives, libraries, etc. in Thurston County, Washington Genealogy.
Dates of Major County Records[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1891 | 1877 | 1891 | 1852 | 1852 | 1852 | 1850 |
General compliance by 1917. |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
History[edit | edit source]
In August 1848 Congress established Oregon Territory, which included the future state of Washington. By 1850 there were more than 300 non-Indian inhabitants north of the Columbia River, and as the new communities on and near the southern shores of Puget Sound began to grow, so grew the need for a local organized government and a new county. Simmons (in honor of Michael Simmons) was proposed as the name of the new county.
Instead, Thurston was chosen as the new county’s name and Olympia was chosen as the county seat. The Oregon Territorial Legislature carved the new county out of Lewis County on January 12, 1852. The early Thurston County was considerably larger than it is today, covering territory from west of the Cascades to the coast and north to the Canadian border. However, other counties were quickly formed from parts of Thurston County and by 1877 it had been reduced to its present size.
Thurston County’s name came from Samuel R. Thurston (1816-1851), the first delegate to Congress in 1849 from the new Oregon Territory, who had made a name for himself during his brief tenure in office defending the territorial rights of the northern part of Oregon Territory against the claims of the Hudson’s Bay Company.[7]
Topics for Thurston 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 Thurston 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.
- Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box.)
- Family History Library copy.
Business and Commerce[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
FindAGrave | Family History Library | FindAGrave |
Tombstone Project | WorldCat | Interment.net |
Billion Graves (name) | Washington Periodicals | WA State Digital Archives |
WAGenWeb Archives | Linkpendium | |
Billion Graves | GenealogyTrails | |
FamilySearch Places | ||
See Washington Cemeteries for more information. |
Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information. Tombstones, sextons (caretakers) records, and burial records each have slightly different information. See Washington Cemeteries.
Census[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1860 | 1,507 | — |
1870 | 2,246 | 49.0% |
1880 | 3,270 | 45.6% |
1890 | 9,675 | 195.9% |
1900 | 9,927 | 2.6% |
1910 | 17,581 | 77.1% |
1920 | 22,366 | 27.2% |
1930 | 31,351 | 40.2% |
1940 | 37,285 | 18.9% |
1950 | 44,884 | 20.4% |
1960 | 55,049 | 22.6% |
1970 | 76,894 | 39.7% |
1980 | 124,264 | 61.6% |
1990 | 161,238 | 29.8% |
2000 | 207,355 | 28.6% |
2010 | 252,264 | 21.7% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
Names, ages, birthplaces | 1850–1940 |
Birthplaces of parents | 1880–1940 |
Relationships | 1880–1940 |
Family and Neighbors | All years |
Immigration year | 1900–1930 |
Citizenship | 1910–1940 |
Censuses 1) Give names, ages, and more about the family; 2) Pinpoint the area to find other records; and 3) Provide clues for further research.
Click for more census tips |
- Washington online census links to FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and others.
- Statewide printed indexes of federal censuses
- Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free); and Ancestry ($)
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 Thurston County, Washington Genealogy are listed in the FamilySearch catalog. (Press space bar to select town.)
- Search at USA Churches
- Yellowbook Business, People Search, Reverse lookup at Yellowbook.com
- Google "church and county name"
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
- At Family History Library:
- Civil minutes (Thurston County, Washington), 1863-1867 (Microfilm)
- Court dockets, 1861-1888 (Microfilm)
- Court journal, 1891-1892; indexes, 1891-1966 (Microfilm)
- Power of Attorney Records 1973 - present at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Thurston 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]
- Olympia (Washington) city directories (Microfilm)
- Olympia city and Thurston and Mason counties directory : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of the cities of Olympia and Shelton and a complete business directory of Thurston and Mason counties (Microfiche and book at Family History Library)
- Olympia, Thurston County, Wash. city directory : including Tumwater, Lacey and rurals, contains buyers guide and a complete classified business directory (Books at Family History Library)
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
American Indians[edit | edit source]
- History of Indigenous Peoples of the United States
- Online Native American Indian Genealogy Records & Databases
- 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]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
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 Thurston County, Washington Genealogy may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.
- Publications at FamilySearch Library:
- Early history of Thurston County, Washington : together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer days at FamilySearch Library
- History of Thurston County, Washington at FamilySearch Library
- Poncin estate, Johnson Point at FamilySearch Library
- Thurston County History, People and Places online photo history by Thurston County Historic Commission.
- Thumbnail History of Thurston County, Washington online at HistoryLink.org
- Thurston County, Washington online at Wikipedia.
- History of the Puget Sound country, Volume 1 ,Volume 2 by William Farrand Prosser [New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company, 1903] online at Washington History
- "Tenino" by May Webster Jackson [1923-1943?] online at Washington History
- Early history of Thurston County, Washington: together with biographies and reminiscences of those identified with pioneer day online at Ancestry.com. (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)
- Olympia by Hazard Stevens [Boston: Stevens, 1891] at Washington History
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library[8]
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Phil Dougherty. Thurston County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7979.
- Native Americans had been residents of southern Puget Sound long before the first documented white settlers passed through in 1792
- 1792 - May, The first documented exploration of Puget Sound was headed by British captain George Vancouver.
- 1820s - White explorers next visited the area when scouts of the British-owned Hudson’s Bay Company passed through.
- 1833 - April, The Hudson’s Bay Company subsequently established Fort Nisqually.
- 1845 - October, Michael Simmons settled near Tumwater Falls and established the first American settlement in what would become the state of Washington.
- 1852 - January 12, The Oregon Territorial Legislature carved Thurston county out of Lewis County.
- 1853 - March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
- 1854 - December, Governor Isaac Stevens and 62 leaders of major Indian tribes in western Washington met at Medicine Creek (now McAllister Creek) in Thurston County and signed what became known as the Medicine Creek Treaty.
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.
- Land and Property 1854-1981 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Includes General index grantee 1854-1919; General index grantor 1854-1981
- Washington Territory donation land claims at Family History Library
- Land Records 1900 - 2012 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Plats and Surveys Records 1855 - 2012 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Recorded Agreements and Contracts 1979 - present 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. Area map and other information from 1895: http://www.livgenmi.com/1895/WA/
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 (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
- Some military records for this county have been digitized at the Washington State Digital Archives.
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: Women had the citizenship of their husbands until 1922 in the United States.
- 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.
- Included in this collection: Declaration of intention 1833-1980; Naturalization journal 1891-1905; Petition records 1889-1929.
- Items at the Family History Library:
- Indexes to naturalization records of the Thurston County Territorial and Superior Courts, 1850-1974 : National Archives microfilm publications pamphlet describing M1234
- Naturalization index (Thurston County, Washington)
- Naturalization records (Thurston County, Washington)
- Thurston County naturalization records, 1834-1974; index, 1850-1974
- Washington, Thurston County, naturalization records
- Naturalization Records, 1849-1853, 1906-1974 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
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.
- Nisqually Valley News
- The Olympian
- Washington Digital Newspaper at Washington State Library
- Thurston County, Washington Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
- 1855-2009 Washington Newspapers, 1855-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
- Newspaper genealogical abstracts, the Morning Daily Olympian, Thurston County, Washington, 1891-1907 publication at FamilySearch Library.
Finding More Washington Newspapers
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Thurston 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)
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 Thurston County, Washington Genealogy
- Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
- Obituaries of neighboring counties
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
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.
- Probate Records 1876-1929 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Washington, County Probate Case Files, 1832-1950 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Probate records, 1853-1963; indexes, 1887-1949, 1853-1963 at the Family History Library
- Probate records, 1859-1961 at the Family History Library
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.
- Thurston Postmaster Index. Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse Postmaster Index]. images)
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.[9] See also Washington Birth Records.
- Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965 — index and images
- Register of births, Thurston County, State of Washington, 1891-1907
- Birth Register, 1891-1907 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection.(Free)
- Birth Returns, 1891-1907 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection (Free)
For earlier or unrecorded births, search:
- Delayed Birth Certificates often include statements of witnesses to the birth.
- Death Records to learn birth date, place, parents
- Census to learn age, family members, location, etc.
- School Censuses give date of birth and name of parent or guardian
- Cemeteries for birth date or age, maybe birth place
- Obituaries for any of the above and more
- See also Neighboring and Parent counties and How to Find Washington Birth Records.
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 $
- 1866-2013 - Marriage Records 1866-2013 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Includes Marriage affidavits 1866-1935; applications 1950-2013; certificates 1951-2012; returns 1891-1938; Register of marriage statistics 1891-1947.
- 1891-1950 - Marriage records, 1891-1950
- 1927-1950 - Marriage Certificates, 1927-1950 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection.(Free)
- 1970-2012 - Marriage Records, 1970-2012 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection.(Free)
- 1969-2014 - Washington Marriage Index, 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index
- 1855–2008 - Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008 at FamilySearch — index and images
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
Witnesses or affiants may be relatives or close family friends. The affidavits also include physician's certificates. |
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.[10] See Washington Death Records.
- 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
- Washington, County Death Registers, 1881-1922 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index
- Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Register of deaths, Thurston County, State of Washington, 1891-1907
- Washington, Thurston County, death returns, 1892-1907
- Death Records 1913-1943 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Death Register, 1891-1907 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection.(Free)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.
Online Records
- 1969 - 2014 - Washington Divorce Index, 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index
- Divorce case files, 1889-1952 at the Family History Library.
- County Divorce Records, 1852-1950. Washington, County Divorce Records, 1852-1950 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
Websites[edit | edit source]
Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.
WAGenWeb Thurston County | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions |
USGenWeb | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
Washington State Digital Archives | Free | Includes indexes, some linked to images.
|
FamilySearch Historical Collections | Free | Search indexes or browse images at FamilySearch.org.
|
Websites at RootsWeb -Thurston WA | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
Linkpendium | Free | Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($) |
CyndisList | Free | Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($) |
Books, microfilm, or manuscripts of genealogical records | |
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. |
Archives, Libraries, etc.[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in {{{1}}} County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.
Resources for Thurston 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 for Thurston 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
- Heritage Quest Research Library - an affiliate library
- Northwest African American Museum - 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. |
- Timberline Libraries - Thurston County
- Branches and Locations
- Genealogy / Data Base Tools
- Special or Unique Collections (help needed from each branch)
- Libraries.com~Lists public libraries by state/county~
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Olympia Genealogical Society
PO Box 1313
Olympia, Washington 98507-1313
E-mail:geniebug@comcast.net
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:[11]
Cities | ||
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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|
|
Native American communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Ghost towns | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Thurston County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurston_County,_Washington. accessed 18/07/2019
- ↑ 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), Thurston County, Washington page 734, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Thurston 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.
- ↑ HistoryLink.org - The Free Onlline Encyclopedia of Washington State History
- ↑ 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, "Thurston County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurston_County,_Washington, accessed 26 March 2019.