Southern District Agency (Washington)

Guide to  ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Indians of Southern Washington, particularly the Yakima

History
The Columbia River or Southern District Agency was established in 1854 for the Indians living north of the Columbia River and south of the Skookumchucm and Chehalis Rivers. The agency headquarters was usually at Vancouver, Washington, but was moved to the White Salmon Reservation in 1858.

In 1858, the agency was moved to Fort Simcoe on the Yakima Reservation and thereafter was called the Yakima Agency.

Records
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * Vital records

See listings of records under the Yakima Agency.