Family and Genealogy

Washington

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, hover, all Native americans were excluded. Click here to view the Counties and Years Available.
  • 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