Pima County, Arizona Genealogy

Guide to Pima County, Arizona ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Arizona Online Genealogy Records

County Courthouse
Pima County Superior Courts Bldg. 110 West Congress St. Tucson, Arizona 85701-1317 Telephone: (520) 740-3200 (520) 740-3200    Fax: (520) 798-3531

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1863

Holdings: criminal, civil (incl. traffic), domestic, real property, divorce, probate, guardianship, marriage. Beginning in 2010, all civil cases 50 years old and probate cases 100 years old must be sent to the Arizona State Archives for preservation. However, indexes and microfilm copies of those records are available at the courthouse in Legal Records, Room 241. The microfilm is not for public use due to mishandling and degradation. The court's online Record Search contains an index of cases from approximately 1980 through present day. For downtown parking garage information, please check Pima.gov's Parking Facility Page.

Description
The County was named after the Pima Native Americans who are indigenous to this area. The County has Tucson as its seat and the County was created November 9, 1864. The County is located in the south central area of the state.

History
Pima County, named for the Pima Indians, is in southeastern Arizona. Today it is home to Arizona's second largest metropolitan area, which includes Tucson, which is also its county seat, and the location of many records of value to researchers of this area. In 1847 the United States flag was first raised over Tucson by the United States Mormon Battalion, the party that blazed the southern route across to San Diego.


 * In 1681, The land that is now Pima County was controled by Spain as part of "Pimeria Alta," which included what is now Sonora, Mexico, and all or part of Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties.
 * Until 1821 - New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
 * In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Pima County, Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
 * 18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona. The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. This included all of present day Pima County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including all of present day Pima County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. This county included all of present day Pima County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 1 Feb 1860 - New Mexico created Arizona County from land in Dona Ana County. Arizona County was located entirely within present day Arizona, including all of present day Pima County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued Arizona County returning the land to Dona Ana County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives

Parent County
10 Nov 1864 - Arizona created Pima County. County seat: Tucson This county is named for the Pima Indians. Look for records in Pima County.

Boundary Changes
Daughter counties:


 * 1 Feb 1875 - Arizona created Pinal County from lands in Maricopa and Pima counties. This county named for the Pinal mountains. Look for records in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties.
 * 1 Feb 1881 - Arizona created Cochise County from the eastern part of Pima County. This county named for Cochise, the great Apache warrior who had died seven years before. Look for records in Cochise and Pima counties.
 * 15 Mar 1899 - Arizona created Santa Cruz County from land in Pima County. This county named for the Santa Cruz River. Look for records in Pima and Santa Cruz counties.


 * Pima County also lost portions of land to Graham, Greenlee, and Maricopa Counties

An animated map of Arizona County changes is available from the Pima County History (scroll down).

See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

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

Communities
Binghampton. Outside of Old Tucson there was a Latter-day Saint settlement called Binghampton. There are a series of leaflets published that contain many of the stories of this community, "Binghampton: The Life and Times of its people since 1892". Author is unknown, but going to the Binghampton Cemetery caretaker is the key to research for these ancestors. See cemetery reference below.

Neighboring Counties

 * Cochise County, Arizona
 * Graham County, Arizona
 * Maricopa County, Arizona
 * Pinal County, Arizona
 * Santa Cruz County, Arizona
 * Yuma County, Arizona

Census
Censuses were conducted in 1866, 1867, 1872, 1874, 1876. They include name, residence, whether head of family, number of single persons over 21, number between 10 and 21, number under 10, and remarks.

In 1882, the census lists name only.

For information regarding extant censuses, also see: Arizona Census

Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward and Branch Records
 * Ajo
 * Binghampton
 * Tucson

The Catholic Church Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson Archives and Library Msgr. Donald H. Hughes Pastoral Center at St. Ambrose Parish 300 S. Tucson Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85716 Tel;(520) 886-5201 (Call for Appt.) The diocese was first established in 1868. The archive's collection includes sacramental registers from across southwest, Bishop's correspondence, ephemera, art and artifacts. List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court
Arizona Superior Court in Pima County

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court

Other Courts may be located here: Pima County Court Records Directory

Land
Pima County Recorder's Office Holdings: deeds, mining records, mortgages. (including records from the Recorder's Office)

Local Histories
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records offers an Arizona Biographical Database.

The University of Arizona has compiled information about communities, history, and research materials relating to Southern Arizona at Through our Parents' Eyes.

For history of western Pima County (Ajo, Why, Lukeville and Tohono O'odham Nation communities) the Ajo Cultural and Historical Inventory Project has identified "where and how to access information on the history and culture of Ajo and western Pima County."

Maps
Map of Arizona County changes (1864-1983) at the Pima County Justice Court's site (scroll down).
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * The Chronicling America project lists 255 newspapers which cover areas of Pima County. Using their system one may narrow a search and use the links to the WorldCat system to locate copies of the papers.
 * Arizona Newspaper Project -- allows users to search for Pima County newspapers
 * Current obituaries for Tucson may be located on the Arizona Daily Star's website.
 * Green Valley News and Sun also carries obituaries.
 * Ajo Copper News Archives list deaths beginning in 1998 and births in 2000.
 * Ajo Cooper News - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1975-2009

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1803 – 1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Original records held by the Clerk of the Superior Court or the Arizona State Archives.

Vital Records
Pima County Health Department issues certificates for Arizona Births from 1 Jan 1950 and Arizona Deaths from 1 Feb 2008. All other certificates may be ordered from the State Office of Vital Records.

Birth Records
Online Birth Indexes and Records
 * 1855-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection


 * Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates (including Pima County) available from the Arizona Department of Health Services. As of 2009, birth certificates from 1855-1933 and death certificates from 1844-1958 are provided in .pdf.
 * 1887-1935 - Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887 - 1935 at MyHeritage - index and images
 * 1909-1917 - Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1909-1917 - at  FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index

Marriage Records
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1864-1943 - 4,742 marriages from 3 Sep 1864 to 20 Sep 1943 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index. Certificates are available from either the Clerk of the Superior Court or the Arizona State Archives.


 * 1833-1949 - Arizona, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1982 - Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1861-1964 - at FamilySearch — index and browse images, incomplete - How to Use this Collection
 * 1888-1908 - Arizona Select Marriages 1888-1908 at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1870-1963 - Arizona Death Certificates, 1870 - 1963 at MyHeritage ($) - index and images
 * 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 - Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994;at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Arizona Historical Society 949 E. 2nd St. Tucson, AZ 85719 Telephone:(520) 628-577 Fax:(520) 629-8966 AHS's Arizona Historical Society Research Library and Archives holds unpublished manuscripts, biographical files, books, maps, newspapers, oral histories, photographs, and more.

Ajo Historical Society 160 S Mission Rd. Ajo, AZ 85321-2601 Telephone:(520) 387-7105

Heritage Center ''' 564 S Stone Ave PO BOX 889 Tucson, AZ 85701 Telephone:(520) 670-9073 (Formerly the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Arizona and the Historic Stone Avenue Temple) Closed until further notice as of 12/31/2020.

Green Valley Genealogical Society  PO Box 1009 Green Valley, AZ 85622

Pima County Genealogy Society P.O. Box 16421 Tucson, AZ 85732

Pima County Public Libraries Joel D. Valdez Main Library 101 N. Stone Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701 Telephone:(520) 594-5500 Holdings include: Cele Peterson Arizona Collection (local history), historical Tucson newspapers, assorted other papers, online resources available to library card holders, interlibrary loan

Salzar-Ajo Branch Library 33 Plaza Ajo, AZ 85321 Telephone: (520) 387-6075 Holdings: Ajo Cultural and Historical Inventory Project, newspapers, online resources available to library card holders

Postal History Foundation - Peggy J. Slusser Memorial Philatelic Library 920 N First Ave Tucson, AZ 85719 Telephone: (520) 623-6652 Collection searchable at: www.library.pima.gov/research/collections/phf.php

Sun City Vistoso Genealogical Society 1565 E Rancho Vistoso, Social Hall/Papago Room Oro Valley, AZ 85737 Phone: 520-825-3711

University of Arizona Main Library POB 210055 1510 E University Blvd Tucson, AZ 82721-0055 Telephone: (520) 621-6441 Holdings: Special Collections (manuscripts, photographs, rare books), newspapers, government documents, map collection, ethnic records, directories, Jewish collections Check website for parking information. Currently at limited access.

Family History Centers

 * Ajo Arizona Family History Center
 * Sahuarita Arizona Family History Center
 * Tucson Arizona Family History Center
 * Tucson Arizona West Family History Center

Websites

 * Pima County AZGenWeb
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Pima County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Pima County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)