Adams County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Adams County  Guide to Adams County Washington genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Overview

 * County Seat: Ritzville . For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

County Formation
Adams County was created 28 November 1883 from Whitman County

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

No counties created from Adams County.

Neighboring Counties

 * Neighboring Counties: Franklin | Grant | Lincoln | Whitman

Dates of Major County Records
Note: The dates you see below have not yet been adapted to.


 * Named for John Adams, 2nd President of the United States.
 * Originally mostly cattle ranching, the big wheat crop shifted the agriculture from cattle to wheat farming in 1897.

Topics
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Cemeteries
Listings for Adam's County Cemeteries can be found at the following websites:


 * Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens, Othello
 * Adams Cemetery, Othello
 * Lind Cemetery, Lind

Census

 * See Washington Census for online indexes and images of US federal censuses. of: 1856, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
 * See statewide printed indexes, including 1856.
 * Check county indexes when online indexes fail. Created by people who knew the families of the area, they are often more accurate and they may have added insights. See periodicals and local libraries or other record holders.


 * 1889
 * 1890 Veterans
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930
 * 1940

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)

Lutheran

 * Records of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Adams County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Washington Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate

Japanese

 * 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.

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Washington Court Records.

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library 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. Adams County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7835.


 * The land that would later make up Adams County was part of the territory of the Palouse tribe.
 * 1863 - January - 20 - Washington Territorial Legislature creates Stevens County.
 * 1869 - George Lucas, an Irish emigrant, was Adams County's first permanent white settler. He established a way-station at Cow Creek along the road to Fort Colville.
 * 1871 - November - 29 - Washington Territorial Legislature creates Whitman County (out of Stevens).
 * 1880 - James G. Bennett harvested a small wheat crop near Ritzville.
 * 1881 - May - The Northern Pacific Railroad began laying track through Adams County.
 * 1883 - November - 28 - Washington Territorial Legislature creates Adams and Franklin counties (out of Whitman).
 * 18843 - Brothers Ben and Sam Hutchinson built a cabin on lower Crab Creek.
 * 1889 - November - 11 - Washington becomes a state.
 * 1897 - Adams County bumper wheat crop spurs shift from cattle ranching.
 * 1901 - The first homesteaders arrived.
 * 1928-1931 - During a severe drought that resulted in dustbowl conditions, many people left the area.
 * 1942 - Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1942 and by 1950 construction on the Columbia Irrigation Project reached the Othello area, bringing the water of the Columbia River to irrigate Adams County's dry land in 1952.

Land and Property

 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Military

 * World War II (1941–1945) army enlistments at the county GenWeb site has about 400 entries, mostly from Okanogan and other counties. Key (at end of the list) explains codes and columns. Gives year and state of birth. Free.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information.(*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Birth

 * Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Adams County Birth Records. This database contains the names of people who were born in Adams County from 1893-1907, 1910-1915, (several delayed birth returns: 1942). Their names were transcribed from the Adams County Birth Returns. For FHL entries, 1892-1907, click

Marriage

 * Marriages from 12 Jun 1884 to 12 May 1892 are available on the Western States Marriage Index website.
 * Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Adams County Marriage Records.

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Recordsfor excellent information.


 * Archives, Libraries, etc.

Death

 * Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Adams County Death Returns. This database contains names of people who died in Adams County from 1893-1907; 1910, 1913. For FHL entries, 1891-1907, 1929, click.
 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence and occupation.

Websites

 * The Adams County WAGenWeb Project, a member of The WAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Adams County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Adams County. (Mirror site)
 * Adams County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Adams County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for 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 (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

See these headings for details: Courthouse·FamilySearch Centers·Libraries·Museums·Other Repositories·Societies

Courthouse
Adams County Courthouse 210 W Broadway Avenue Ritzville, WA 99169-1860 Phone: (509) 659–3257 County Auditor has birth and death records to 1907 and marriage records. County Clerk has divorce and probate records. County assessor has land records

FamilySearch Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Othello Washington Family History Center

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in Adams County per Wikipedia