Bannock County, Idaho Genealogy

United States &gt; Idaho &gt; Bannock County

County Courthouse
Bannock County Courthouse 624 East Center Pocatello, ID 83201

Quick Facts
Bannock County was named for the Bannock Indians who reside in the area.

Parent Counties
6 March 1893: Bannock County, Idaho was created from Bear Lake and Bingham Counties, Idaho. .

Boundary Changes
11 February 1919: Caribou County was created from Bannock County.

Places/Localities
The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Resources
Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension and vital records for Bannock County have been microfilmed and/or imaged by the Genealogical Society of Utah (now known as the Family History Library) and the resulting copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archivesin Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and/or imaged as well as more recent records are in the county courthouse in Pocatello. Bannock County continues to move a lot of its historical records to the Idaho State Archives in Boise.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Bannock County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Bannock County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Census
For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
The following are local congregations (wards) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which existed in Bannock County, Idaho prior to 1950. Many of the original records of these church units are in the Historical Library in Salt Lake City. Many of the membership records covering these units from the date of their creation to about 1948 have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Court
Some of the early court records of Bannock County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. The records filmed are for about 1891 through 1950 and include civil suits, divorce papers, and judgment dockets. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the courthouse in Pocatello.

Some of the records of the courts of Bannock County that have been microfilmed include:


 * District Court:


 * Judgment Index, 1892-1926
 * Judgment Docket, 1893-1930
 * Judgment Books, 1891-1927
 * Civil Cases, 1920-1927
 * Civil Case Files, nos. 4210-7999
 * Record of Permits, n.d.
 * Declaration of Intent (to become a naturalized citizen), v. 1-4, 1893-1911
 * Naturalization Records, v. 1-3, 1893-1917


 * County Court:


 * Register of Civil Actions, 1919-1927
 * Index to Civil Actions, 1919-1950
 * Civil Case Files, nos. 1-2733, 3873-4500, 5201-7999


 * Probate Court:


 * Civil Cases, including divorces, ca. 1892-1920
 * Case Files nos. 3000-8370


 * County Recorder:


 * Power of Attorney, 1866-1945
 * Miscellaneous Records, 1892-1957

In addition to the records of the county courts, the United States District Court, Eastern District, Pocatello, created records regarding naturalization and citizenship, as well as other court documents. The originals of the naturalization records are in the Federal Courthouse in Boise. Many have been microfilmed, including:


 * Admission of citizenship, 1893-1902
 * Declarations of Intent, nos. 1-815, 1906-1911
 * Petition and Record, nos. 1-370, 1908-1929
 * Petitions granted, 1929-1945
 * Naturalization certificates, 1929-1945

History
Saunders, Arthur C. The History of Bannock County, Idaho. Pocatello: The Tribune Company, 1915. This book is available online.

The History of Bannock County, Idaho: 1893-1993. 4 vols. 1994.

Land
Many of the early land records of Bannock County have been microfilmed, including homestead patents (1880 to 1945) and deeds (about 1883 to 1927). Microfilm copies of the records are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Original copies of these and later records are housed at the courthouse in Pocatello.

Among the land records of Bannock County which have been microfilmed are:


 * Deeds, v. 1-58, 1865-1928
 * Index to Deeds, v. 1-5, 1880-1927
 * Tax deeds, v. 1-9, 1921-1957
 * Patent records, v. 1-3, 1880-1901
 * Homestead records, 1889-1957

Maps

 * An 1895 map of Bannock and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Bannock County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Bannock County, Idaho is available online.

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Bannock County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their microfilm numbers 1452106-1452108) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. An abstract of the names of those who registered in the county is also available at the USGenWeb site for Bannock County. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

A record of military servicemen from Bannock County, 1940-1946, has been microfilmed and is available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Naturalization and citizenship records for Bannock County, 1893-1945, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

In addition to the records of the county courts, the United States District Court, Eastern District, Pocatello, created records regarding naturalization and citizenship, as well as other court documents. The originals of the naturalization records are in the Federal Courthouse in Boise. Many have been microfilmed, including:


 * Admission of citizenship, 1893-1902
 * Declarations of Intent, nos. 1-815, 1906-1911
 * Petition and Record, nos. 1-370, 1908-1929
 * Petitions granted, 1929-1945
 * Naturalization certificates, 1929-1945

Current
The primary newspaper for Bannock County is the Idaho State Journal, published in Pocatello.

Historical
Newspapers have been published in several of the cities and towns of Bannock County for varying time periods. Copies of some issues are held by the Idaho State Archives in Boise. They have compiled a list by towns within the state. Bannock County towns represented in this collection include Pocatello, Aberdeen, Alameda, Downey, Lava Hot Springs, and McCammon.

Copies of the Idaho State Journal for Oct. 1949 through Dec. 1977, published in Pocatello, are also available online at Ancestry.com, a subscription website.

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Bannock County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index.

Old Age Pensions were also provided by the State of Idaho from 1931 to 1936. The original records for these pensions in the Idaho State Archives have also been indexed. Bannock County Old Age Pensions are included in that index.

Photographs
Idaho State University has many photographic images of Pocatello, Lava Hot Springs, and the Indians at Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

Probate
The wills, 1888-1955, and an index to estates and guardianships prior to 1919 for Bannock County have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archivesin Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Other probate files remain with the county courthouse in Pocatello.

Taxation
Any existing tax assessment rolls for Bannock County should be in the courthouse in Pocatello and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Vital Records
A volume of births, marriages, and deaths kept at the county level, 1905-1915, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Birth
The Birth Register for Bannock County, 1907-1911 has been microfilmed and is available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Birth records, 1911 to present, are recorded at the state level.

Marriage
8,843 marriages from 1 Jan 1892 to 23 Dec 1942 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

Death
The Death Registers for Bannock County, 1907-1911, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. After 1911, deaths occurring in Bannock County are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as mandated by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under Idaho for details.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.

A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.

Deaths from other sources
A significant source of death and related information for eastern Idaho families can be found at the following website Eastern Idaho Death Index.

Societies and Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.

Bannock County Historical Society 105 S. Garfield Pocatello, ID 83201

Idaho State University Department of Special Collections and University Archives Manuscript Collection 850 S. 9th Ave. Pocatello, ID 83209

South Bannock County Historical Center 110 East Main Lava Hot Springs, ID 83246

Web Sites

 * The Bannock County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Family History Library Catalog