Jerome County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death

Description
The county was named for one of the following: Jerome Hill, one of the developers of the North Side Irrigation Project; his grandson, Jerome Kuhn, Jr.; or his son-in-law, Jerome Kuhn. All were important to the growth of the county. The County Seat is Jerome and was founded February 8, 1919. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Jerome County Courthouse 300 North Lincoln Avenue Jerome, ID 83338-0407 Phone: (208) 324-8811 Fax: (208) 324-2719 County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1919.

Parent County
8 Feb 1919: Jerome County, Idaho was created from Gooding and Lincoln Counties.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities
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:

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.

This list of places in Jerome County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Jerome County in Virtual Earth.

Resources
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.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Jerome County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in 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 more recent records are in the county courthouse in Jerome.

Cemeteries
The following cemeteries of Jerome County have been identified and some of their records located. When multiple transcriptions are listed, they may contain differing information. The transcriptions may have been made at different times and by different people. Some names may have been mis-read. Some gravestones may have been missed. All transcriptions available for each cemetery should be checked.

Census
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal 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)

 * List of Jerome County stakes and wards to about 1948.


 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Jerome County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * Stakes: Blaine, Minidoka

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 Records
Some of the early court records of Jerome County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Jerome County courthouse in Jerome, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

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


 * Power of attorney, 1884-1965

Judgment Books

 * Index to judgments, 1919-1987; judgments, 1919-1928

History
A brief history of Jerome County, Idaho is given on the Jerome County GenWeb page.

WorldCat.org is an excellent resource for locating published and archival materials on the history of Jerome County. Books include:


 * History of Jerome County, sponsored by the Jerome County Farm Bureau
 * Settlement of Idaho by Utah pioneers : Cassia, Minidoka, Twin Falls, and Jerome Counties, by Anne Miller Eckman
 * History of the Japanese-American relocation center at Hunt, Minidoka County, Idaho, by Donald E Hausler [Note: Title was later corrected to ...Hunt, Jerome County, Idaho]
 * The history of the North Side : the first 75 years, by Virginia Ricketts and Don Sparhawk
 * Then and now in southern Idaho, by Virginia Ricketts

In addition, the Jerome County Historical Society has published a monthly newsletter and an annual "historical calendar." See WorldCatfor holdings

Land and Property
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Jerome County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Jerome, Idaho. Jerome County was formed in 1919 and early records of the area covered now in Jerome County may be found in the county records of Gooding or Lincoln counties.

It appears that as of this date there are no microfilm copies of any Jerome County land and property records. Be sure to check Gooding or Lincoln counties.

Maps

 * A digital Jerome County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Jerome County, Idaho is available online.

Military
Because Jerome County was not formed until 1919, those who were of military draft age for World War I were included in the draft registration records of Bannock County, Gooding County and Lincoln County, the parent counties of Caribou.

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1942-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

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.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Jerome County. The originals are held in the Jerome County courthouse in Jerome, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers
Historical


 * Jerome County courier - 1988:11:22-1989:1:24
 * Jerome County courier - 1989:3:22-1989:11:6
 * Jerome County journal - 1924:1:3-1938:10:20
 * Lincoln County times - 1911:3:9-1920:2:20
 * North side news - 1908:11:12-1993:12:29

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Pension Records
Old Age Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho from 1931 to 1936. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Jerome County Old Age Pensions are included in that index.

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com $

Any existing original Probate records from Jerome County should be available at the Jerome County courthouse and can be accessed by visiting there.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed (1918-1941), Letters of Testimentary (1919-1927), and an Index to Probate Records, and these films are available for viewing at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

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

Birth
Online Records
 * 1861-1911 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1929 - at FamilySearch.

Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Jerome County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Idaho Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.

Some 423 Idaho Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records for Jerome County are available online.

Marriage
Online Records


 * 1800-1987 - Idaho, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1976 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

Nearly 1300 marriages, 1919-1942, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

There are 189 Jerome County Idaho Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records online with other Idaho marriages.

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

Deaths
Online Records
 * 1883-1929 - at FamilySearch.
 * 1938-1961 - at FamilySearch — index

Deaths occurring in Jerome County after 1911 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 issued by the State of Idaho. See the Idaho 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, the Family History Library, 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.

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.


 * Jerome Public Library 100 1st Ave E Jerome, ID 83338 Phone: (208) 324-5427


 * Jerome County Historical Society P.O. Box 50 Jerome, Idaho 83338 Phone: 208-324-5641 Website


 * Hagerman Valley Historical Society Inc:
 * 100 North State Street, Hagerman, ID 83332 (208) 837-6288‎

Open Wednesday-Sunday 1:00-4:00‎

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * The Jerome County Idaho GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Jerome County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)