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

Description
The County was named for Thomas Hart Benton. The County has Vinton as its seat and the County was created 1837. The County is located in the east central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse 111 E. 4th St. P. O. Box 719 Vinton, IA 52349-1771 Phone: (319) 833-3012 Benton County Website Benton County Courthouse 111 E. 4th St. P. O. Box 719 Vinton, IA 52349-1771 (319) 833-3012 Benton County

Populated Places
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:

Census Records
Iowa recorded not only the federal census but state census through out the years too. The state census contains very valuable genealogical information. Where the census information can be found, what years it was taken, mortality schedules, census substitutions and much more is discussed in the very informative Iowa Census article.

State Census
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images (individual cards, not family context)
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * FamilySearch Places

Lutheran
 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, El Dorado, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Local Histories

 * The history of Benton County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &amp;c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Benton County, Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters &amp;c. Chicago, Illinois Western Historical Co., 1878.
 * *Reference the book at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Jones, Tracy. Notes from the 1878 "History of Benton County". Published by the Chicago Western Historical Company.
 * *Online at IAGenweb (Free)
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Michael Fox Map Collection at Iowa Historical Society — browse by type or date, overlays for Google Earth.
 * Benton County maps at David Rumsey Map Collection

Military Records

 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only

Online Civil War Indexes and Records Civil War service men in this county served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * - 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 28th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies A and D
 * - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * NewspaperArchive.com ($) has historical newspapers online including Cedar Rapids newspapers and Waterloo newspapers that may have included Benton County residents. This database is free at some libraries.
 * Vinton Review Newspaper - Nov 2014 Historical Board have approved to have it scanned and place online. It covers Jan 7, 1898 to Dec 27, 1917. The printing of it is so clear it looks like is ws published yesterday. It should be avilable in a month. Infomation from Matha Long
 * Iowa Digital Newspaper Hub at Iowa Historical Society — narrow by county, sort by Publication Date, Title, and Search for surname.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 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

 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Vital Records

 * Iowa Birth Records, 1900-1934 and Death Records, 1904-2001 at Iowa Historical Society — search by name, date, a related surname, or county.

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index ($)
 * 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry($)
 * 1885-present Iowa Official Marriage System at IA.gov — search by county, name or date, and request copy.
 * 1970-2003 Iowa Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives.com ($)

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry($)

Divorce

 * 1970-2003 Iowa Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives.com ($)

Family History Centers

 * Belle Plaine Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Benton County Genealogical Society 1808 9th Avenue Belle Plaine, IA 52208 Website Benton County Historical Society PO Box 22 Vinton, IA 52349 Telephone:319- 472-4325 Website

Websites

 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural insitutions
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * IAGenWeb Project — Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives — Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions


 * – 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.