Quick Facts

• Statehood: 1889
• US Territory Status:
  • Oregon Territory in 1848
  • Washington Territory in 1853
• Federal Census
  • Population Schedules begin 1850.
    • 1850 as Oregon Territory
    • 1860 included what was to become Idaho Territory and parts of Montana and Wyoming.
  • Industry and Agriculture Schedules: 1860, 1870, 1880
  • Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
  • Union Veterans schedules: 1890
• Territorial and State censuses were recorded for Washington, however, all Native Americans were excluded. Click here to view the Counties and Years Available (below).
• Statewide Birth and Death Records Begin 1907
• Statewide Marriage Records Begin 1968
• Counties required since 1853 (creation of the Washington Territory and/or County).
• Divorces began in 1854 by the district county clerk where event occurred until 1968.

Resources:

Washington State Archives Index
http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/

Washington Department of Health
http://www.doh.wa.gov/

NARA- Seattle
http://www.archives.gov/seattle/

Seattle Genealogical Society
http://www.seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/

Washington State Historical Society
http://www.washingtonhistory.org/wshrc

Tacoma Public Library – Genealogy Dept
http://wwwv3.tacomapubliclibrary.org/Page.aspx?nid=97

Washington State Library
http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/

Washington State Archives
http://www.sos.wa.gov/archives/

Territorial and State By County Censuses Available

• Adams: 1885, 1887, 1889
• Asotin: 1885, 1887, 1889
• Chehalis: 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1885
• Clallam: 1857, 1860, 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887
• Clark: 1857, 1858, 1859, 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887
• Columbia: 1883 1885, 1887, 1889
• Cowlitz: 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887
• Douglas: 1885, 1892
• Franklin: 1885, 1887
• Garfield: 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892, 1898
• Island: 1857, 1859, 1860, 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887
• Jefferson: 1860, 1861,1871,1874, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891
• King: 1856, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892
• Kitsap: 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889
• Kittitas: 1885, 1887, 1889
• Klickitat: 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892
• Lewis: 1857, 1860, 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887
• Lincoln: 1885, 1887, 1889
• Mason: 1857, 1859, 1861, 1871, 1879, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892
• Pacific: 1860, 1883, 1885, 1887
• Pierce: 1854, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1871, 1878, 1879, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892
• San Juan: 1885, 1887, 1889
• Skagit: 1885, 1887
• Skamania: 1860, 1871, 1885, 1887
• Snohomish: 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889
• Spokane: 1885, 1887Stevens: 1871, 1878, 1885, 1887, 1892
• Thurston: 1871, 1873, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880,1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892
• Wahkiakim: 1857, 1860, 1885, 1887
• Walla Walla: 1860, 1885, 1887, 1892
• Whatcom: 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1885, 1887, 1889
• Whitman: 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889
• Yakima: 1871, 1883, 1885, 1887