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

Description
The County was named for George Washington. The County has Weiser as its seat and the County was created February 20, 1879. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse 256 East Court Weiser, ID 83672-0670 Phone: 208-414-1700 Washington County Website

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

The above 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 websites. 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 Washington County, Idaho was compiled from the in Wikipedia and from the map of Washington County in Virtual Earth.

History Timeline

 * 3 March 1911: Adams County created from part of Washington County

Census Records
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.

Church Records

 * List of Washington (WA) to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Washington County, Idaho prior to 1950: Indian Valley Ward, Washington County, Idaho
 * 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 Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

 Church History and Records (Rural) Please refer to the cities for local churches.

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records Some of the early court records of Washington County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed may 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 courthouse in Weiser and can be accessed by paying a visit to the Washington County courthouse. Some of the records of Washington County which have been microfilmed are:
 * Power of attorney, 1880-1921 Idaho. County Court (Washington County)
 * Register of civil actions, 1881-1929 Idaho. County Court (Washington County)

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1875-1912
 * 1879-1902; 1874-1901
 * 1873-1908

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many deeds, homestead records, etc., of Washington County beginning 20 Feb 1879 when it was separated from Boise County, and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed originals of the followingrecords found in the Washington County Courthouse in Weiser, Idaho which can be accessed at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers:

Local Histories

 * 1940-1941  A listing of all residents who had lived in Washington County for at least 50 years was made by the Weiser American newspaper. Their name, city in which they lived and how long they had lived in Washington County was given.Washington County Pioneers.
 * A Saga of Salubria and a History of Washington County (same as above) Revisited is also available in a digitized version at the.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1895 1895 map of Washington and surrounding counties.
 * Digital Washington County Idaho map
 * Map of Washington County, Idaho
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Online Records

World War I
 * 1917-1918 World War I registration cards 1917-1918 for Oneida County at FamilySearch
 * 1917-1918 World War I registration cards 1917-1918 for Oneida County available online at Ancestry ($)
 * 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.

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

 ''Online Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

 Current
 * Upper County Reporter
 * Weiser Signal - American

Historical Copies of issues of many Idaho newspapers are found in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

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.

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. The following Washington County records have been microfilmed and are available for viewing at the Washington County courthouse in Wesier, Idaho, at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho or at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers:


 * Washington-10 4 Miscellaneous Index, Direct, Book 1, pp A-E (con't on Washington-11/1) 1883-1968 Court
 * Washington-11 1 Miscellaneous Index, Direct, Book 1, pp E-Z (con't from Washington-10/4) 1883-1968 Court
 * Washington-11 2 Miscellaneous Index, Indirect, Book 1 1883-1968 Court
 * Washington-11 3 Record, Miscellaneous, v. 1, pp 1-155 (con't on Washington-12/1) 1892-1905 Court
 * Washington-12 1 Record, Miscellaneous, v. 1, pp 154-400 (con't from Washington-11/3) 1905-1915 Court
 * Washington-12 2 Miscellaneous Record, Book 2 1915-1921 Court
 * Washington-12 3 Miscellaneous Record, Book 3 1921-1931 Court

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed (1878-1946) which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City, or in any of its Family History Centers. The Idaho State Archiveshas also microfilmed some early probate records of Washington County, and these can be viewed at their facilities in Boise. For other and later probate records, one can visit the county courthouse in Weiser.
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records Any existing tax assessment rolls for Washington County should be in the courthouse in Wesier and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Birth
 ''Online Records
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Idaho Births and Christenings

The Birth Registers for Washington 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, Utah. Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Washington 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 Vital Recordssection under the subject Idaho for more details.

Marriage
 ''Online Records
 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Idaho Marriages
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death
 ''Online Records
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Idaho Deaths and Burials

The Death Registers for Washington 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 Washington 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 Idaho Vital Records.

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.

Divorce
 ''Online Records
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

Family History Centers

 * Cascade Idaho Family History Center
 * Fruitland Idaho Family History Center
 * Garden Valley Idaho Family History Center
 * McCall Idaho Family History Center
 * Ontario Oregon Family History Center
 * Pine Valley Oregon Family History Center
 * Weiser Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Cambridge District Library 120 N Superior St Cambridge, ID 83610 Phone: (208) 257-3434
 * Midvale District Library 70 E Bridge St Midvale, ID 83645 Phone: (208) 355-2213 Website
 * Weiser Public Library 628 East 1st Street Weiser, ID 83672 Phone: 208-549-1243 Website
 * Midvale Community Library 70 Bridge St Midvale, ID 83645 Phone: 208-355-2213 Website

Societies

 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * Washington County Historical Society Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * The Washington County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.