Bernalillo County, Nevada Genealogy

United States Nevada  Bernalillo County

In theory the southern tip of present-day Nevada was part of Bernalillo County, New Mexico from its creation in New Mexico in 1852 until 29 December 1863 when it became part of the 3rd Judicial District of Arizona Territory.


 * 1852 Bernalillo County, New Mexico Territory created as an original county from an old Mexican partido. In theory it extended west to the California border
 * 29 December 1863 Arizona's three judicial districts were established by Arizona Territory Organic Act from part of New Mexico Territory
 * By November 1864 Mohave County created by the Arizona legislature as an original county from parts of the 2nd and 3rd Judicial Districts. The 3rd District part eventually became part of Nevada
 * 22 December 1865 Pah-Ute County created by Arizona from part of Mohave County, Arizona Territory
 * 18 January 1867 Pah-Ute County, and Mohave County, Arizona Territory west of the Colorado River and west of 114° west longitude was given to Nevada by the U.S. Congress. This area became Clark County, and the southern part of Lincoln and Nye counties in Nevada. 

TerritoryOrganized as an original county 17 January 1854 as part of Utah Territory. Carson County was created from the far western parts of Tooele, Juab, Millard, and Iron counties. It was enlarged in 1856, then discontinued in 1857. It was reorganized as part of Utah in 1859, but the local citizens rejected that effort. This county ncluded all of present-day Nevada between 118° and 120° west longitude. It may also have included the Great Basin parts of eastern California.

Discontinued 2 March 1861 when Nevada Territory was created. It became part of Douglas, Lyon, Ormsby, Storey, Churchill, Pershing, Humboldt, and Washoe counties, and Carson City (independent city).

For records of Carson County, see:


 * Nevada State Archives


 * Marion Ellison, An inventory and index to the records of Carson County, Utah and Nevada Territories, 1855-1861 (Reno, Nevada : Grace Dangberg Foundation, 1984). WorldCat entry..


 * Utah State Archives has a few records from Carson County courts and deeds.