Washington County History and Listings

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Adams
210 W. Broadway Ave., Ritzville, WA 99169
(509) 659-3257
http://co.adams.wa.us
Incorporated: Nov. 28, 1883
Parent county: Whitman
Birth records: start in 1909, kept by Department of Health
Marriage: 1887, County Auditor
Divorce: 1889, County Clerk
Death: 1910, Department of Health
Land: 1891, County Auditor
Probate: 1885, County Clerk
Court: 1889, County Clerk
Notes: County Health Department has death records 1891-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1890-1956.

Asotin
135 Second St., Box 159, Asotin, WA 99402
(509) 243-2081
http://co.asotin.wa.us
Incorporated: Oct. 27, 1883
Parent county: Garfield
Birth records: start in 1907, kept by Center for Health Statistics
Marriage: 1897, County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Death: 1907, Center for Health Statistics
Land: 1891, County Auditor
Probate: 1885, County Clerk
Court: 1890, County Clerk
Notes: County auditor has military records 1888-1897. County Clerk has naturalization records 1885-1974.

Benton
620 Market St., Prosser, WA 99350
(509) 786-5710
http://co.benton.wa.us
Incorporated: March 8, 1905
Parent counties: Yakima, Klickitat
Marriage records: start in 1905, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1905, County Auditor
Land: 1874, County Auditor
Probate: 1906, County Clerk
Court: 1906, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1905-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1905-1954.

Chehalis
Incorporated: April 26, 1854
Parent county: Thurston
Notes: See Grays Harbor County. Name changed to Grays Harbor March 15, 1915.

Chelan
350 Orondo St., Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 667-6380
http://co.chelan.wa.us
Incorporated: March 13, 1899
Parent county: Kittitas
Marriage records: start in 1899, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1900, County Clerk
Land: 1899, County Auditor
Probate: 1888, County Clerk
Court: 1900, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1899-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1900-1906.

Clallam
223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 417-2333
http://www.clallam.net
Incorporated: April 26, 1854
Parent county: Jefferson
Marriage records: start in 1858, kept by County Auditor
Land: 1858, County Auditor
Probate: 1914, County Clerk
Court: 1889, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1906, and military discharge records 1944-1965.

Clark
1200 Franklin St., Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666
(360) 397-2150
http://co.clark.wa.us
Incorporated: July 27, 1844
Parent county: Original county
Marriage records: start in 1852, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Land: 1850, County Auditor
Probate: 1889, County Clerk
Court: 1889, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1890-1907, and military records 1888-1894. County Clerk has naturalization records 1890-1991. Formerly Vancouver County. Name changed to Clark Sept. 3, 1849.

Columbia
341 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328
(509) 382-4321
http://www.columbiaco.com
Incorporated: Nov. 11, 1875
Parent county: Walla Walla
Marriage records: start in 1879, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1878, County Clerk
Land: 1879, County Auditor
Probate: 1877, County Clerk
Court: 1878, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1906. County Clerk has naturalization records 1890-1941.

Cowlitz
312 SW First Ave., Kelso, WA 98626
(360) 577-3016
http://co.cowlitz.wa.us
Incorporated: April 22, 1854
Parent county: Lewis
Marriage records: start in 1844, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1874, County Clerk
Land: 1858, County Auditor
Probate: 1861, County Clerk
Court: 1874, County Clerk
Adoption: 1945, County Auditor
Adoption: 1895, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has death records 1892-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1859-1920.

Douglas
203 S. Rainier, Box 516, Waterville, WA 98858
(509) 745-8529
http://douglascountywa.net
Incorporated: Nov. 23, 1883
Parent county: Lincoln
Marriage records: start in 1887, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1888, County Clerk
Land: 1884, County Auditor
Probate: 1887, County Clerk
Court: 1894, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1891-1973.

Ferry
350 E. Delaware Ave. Suite 4, Republic, WA 99166
(509) 775-5232
http://www.ferry-county.com
Incorporated: Feb. 18, 1899
Parent county: Stevens
Marriage records: start in 1898, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1899, County Clerk
Land: 1898, County Auditor
Probate: 1887, County Clerk
Court: 1899, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1898-1911.

Franklin
1016 N. Fourth Ave. Room 306, Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 545-3525
http://co.franklin.wa.us
Incorporated: Nov. 28, 1883
Parent county: Whitman
Marriage records: start in 1890, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1920, County Clerk
Land: 1883, County Auditor
Probate: 1913, County Clerk
Court: 1909, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1910. County Clerk has naturalization records 1891-1975.

Garfield
789 Main St., Box 915, Pomeroy, WA 99347
(509) 843-3731
http://co.garfield.wa.us
Incorporated: Nov. 29, 1881
Parent county: Columbia
Marriage records: start in ca. 1890, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1882, County Clerk
Land: 1891, County Auditor
Probate: 1882, County Clerk
Court: 1882, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records ca. 1890-1908.

Grant
35 C St. NW, Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98823
(509) 754-2011 ext. 444
http://co.grant.wa.us
Incorporated: Feb. 24, 1909
Parent county: Douglas
Marriage records: start in 1909, kept by County Auditor
Land: 1909, County Auditor
Divorce: 1909, County Clerk
Probate: 1909, County Clerk
Court: 1889, County Clerk
Notes: Court records prior to 1909 were transcribed from Douglas County Superior Court records.

Grays Harbor
102 W. Broadway Ave. W. Room 203, Montesano, WA 98563
(360) 249-3842
http://co.grays-harbor.wa.us
Incorporated: April 14, 1854
Parent county: Thurston
Marriage records: start in 1855, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1884, County Clerk
Land: 1855, County Auditor
Court: 1884, County Clerk
Probate: 1852, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1891-1908, and death records 1891-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1884-1980. Formerly Chehalis County. Name changed to Grays Harbor March 15, 1915.

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Island
101 NE Sixth St., Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239
(360) 679-7359
http://www.islandcounty.net
Incorporated: Jan. 6, 1853
Parent county: Thurston
Marriage records: start in 1855, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1889, County Clerk
Land: 1853, County Auditor
Probate: 1854, County Clerk
Court: 1889, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907, and military records 1888-1894. County Clerk has naturalization records 1894-1974.

Jefferson
1820 Jefferson St., Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 385-9125
http://co.jefferson.wa.us
Incorporated: Dec. 22, 1852
Parent county: Thurston
Marriage records: start in 1853, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Land: 1855, County Auditor
Probate: 1853, County Clerk
Court: 1890, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1906. County Clerk has naturalization records 1893-1973.

King
516 Third Ave. Room E609, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9300
http://www.kingcounty.gov
Incorporated: Dec. 22, 1852
Parent county: Thurston
Birth records: start in 1880, kept by County Department of Public Health and Vital Statistics
Marriage: 1866, Recorder’s Office
Divorce: 1853, County Clerk
Death: 1890, County Department of Public Health and Vital Statistics
Land: 1853, Recorder’s Office
Probate: 1854, County Clerk
Court: 1853, County Clerk

Kitsap
614 Division St. MS34, Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 337-7164
http://www.kitsapgov.com
Incorporated: Jan. 16, 1857
Parent counties: King, Jefferson
Marriage records: start in 1860, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1888, County Clerk
Land: 1857, County Auditor
Probate: 1860, County Clerk
Court: 1888, County Clerk
Adoption: 1861, County Clerk
Notes: County Clerk has divorce records 1910-1959, and naturalization records 1892-1906 and 1923-1989. Formerly Slaughter County. Name changed to Kitsap July 13, 1857.

Kittitas
205 W. Fifth Ave. Suite 210, Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7531
http://co.kittitas.wa.us
Incorporated: Nov. 24 1883
Parent county: Yakima
Marriage records: start in 1884, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1891, County Clerk
Land: 1882, County Auditor
Probate: 1886, County Clerk
Court: 1891, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1889-1907, death records 1891-1907, and military discharge records 1919-1969. County Clerk has naturalization records 1907-1921.

Klickitat
205 S. Columbus Ave. MS CH-3, Room 204, Goldendale, WA 98620
(509) 773-5744
http://www.klickitatcounty.org
Incorporated: Dec. 20, 1859
Parent county: Skamania
Marriage records: start in 1867, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1879, County Clerk
Land: 1864, County Auditor
Probate: 1885, County Clerk
Court: 1879, County Clerk
Adoption: 1919, County Auditor
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1891-1907, and death records 1882-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1893-1927.

Lewis
360 W. Main St. Fourth Floor, Chehalis, WA 98532
(360) 740-1333
http://lewiscountywa.gov
Incorporated: Dec. 21, 1845
Parent county: District of Vancouver
Marriage records: start in 1858, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1893, County Clerk
Land: 1856, County Auditor
Probate: 1891, County Clerk
Court: 1893, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1856-1906.

Lincoln
450 Logan St., Box 68, Davenport, WA 99122
(509) 725-1401
http://co.lincoln.wa.us
Incorporated: Nov. 24, 1883
Parent county: Spokane
Marriage records: start in 1884, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1907, County Clerk
Land: 1883, County Auditor
Probate: 1907, County Clerk
Court: 1907, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1886-1924.

Mason
419 N. Fourth St. 2nd Floor, Box 340, Shelton, WA 98584
(360) 427-9670 ext. 346
http://co.mason.wa.us
Incorporated: March 13, 1854
Parent county: Thurston
Marriage records: start in 1887, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1858, County Clerk
Land: 1856, County Auditor
Probate: 1858, County Clerk
Court: 1858, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has military discharge records 1938-1984. Formerly Sawamish County. Name changed to Mason Jan. 8, 1864.

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Okanogan
149 Third N., Box 72, Okanogan, WA 98840
(509) 422-7275
http://www.okanogancounty.org
Incorporated: Feb. 2, 1888
Parent county: Stevens
Marriage records: start in 1888, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1888, County Clerk
Land: 1888, County Auditor
Probate: 1888, County Clerk
Court: 1888, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1891-1914, death records 1891-1908, and military discharge records 1919-1974. County Clerk has naturalization records 1890-1906.

Pacific
300 Memorial Ave., Box 67, South Bend, WA 98586
(360) 875-9320 ext. 2222
http://co.pacific.wa.us
Incorporated: Feb. 4, 1851
Parent county: Lewis
Marriage: start in 1852, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1851, County Clerk
Land: 1850, County Auditor
Probate: 1851, County Clerk
Court: 1851, County Clerk
Adoption: 1919, County Auditor
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1891-1915, and death records 1891-1917.

Pend Oreille
229 S. Garden Ave., Box 5020, Newport, WA 99156
(509) 447-2435
http://www.pendoreilleco.org
Incorporated: Nov. 11, 1911
Parent county: Stevens
Birth records: start in 1911, kept by County Auditor
Marriage: 1911, County Auditor
Divorce: 1911, County Clerk
Land: 1911, County Auditor
Probate: 1911, County Clerk
Court: 1911, County Clerk

Pierce
930 Tacoma Ave. S. Room 110, Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 798-7455
http://co.pierce.wa.us
Incorporated: Dec. 22, 1852
Parent county: Lewis
Marriage records: start in 1859, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1854, County Clerk
Land: 1859, County Auditor
Probate: 1853, County Clerk
Court: 1854, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907, and military records 1888-1892.

San Juan
350 Court St. Suite #7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-2163
http://co.san-juan.wa.us
Incorporated: Oct. 31, 1873
Parent county: Whatcom
Marriage records: start in 1878, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Probate: 1874, County Clerk
Court: 1890, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1892-1907, and death records 1890-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1871-1960.

Sawamish
Incorporated: March 13, 1854
Parent county: Thurston
Notes: See Mason County. Name changed to Mason Jan. 8, 1864.

Skagit
205 W. Kincaid St. Suite 103, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 336-9440
http://www.skagitcounty.net
Incorporated: Nov. 28, 1883
Parent county: Whatcom
Marriage records: start in 1884, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1878, County Clerk
Land: 1884, County Auditor
Probate: 1878, County Clerk
Court: 1878, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1891-1907, death records 1891-1910, and military records 1892-1896. County Clerk has naturalization records 1904-1974.

Skamania
240 Vancouver Ave., Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648
(509) 427-3765
http://www.skamaniacounty.org
Incorporated: March 9, 1854
Parent county: Clark
Marriage records: start in 1874, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1854, County Clerk
Land: 1855, County Auditor
Probate: 1854, County Clerk
Court: 1854, County Clerk
Adoption: 1945, County Auditor
Notes: County was dissolved Jan. 14, 1865, and reestablished Jan. 31, 1867.

Slaughter
Incorporated: Jan. 16, 1857
Parent counties: King, Jefferson
Notes: See Kitsap County. Name changed to Kitsap July 13, 1857.

Snohomish
3000 Rockefeller Ave. MS 502, Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-3421
http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us
Incorporated: Jan. 20, 1861
Parent county: Island
Marriage records: start in 1891, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1889, County Clerk
Probate: 1866, County Clerk
Court: 1889, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907, and military discharge records 1919-1979.

Spokane
1116 W. Broadway Ave., Spokane, WA 99260
(509) 477-2265
http://www.spokanecounty.org
Incorporated: Jan. 29, 1868
Parent county: Walla Walla
Marriage records: start in 1880, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1879, County Clerk
Land: unknown start, County Auditor
Probate: 1883, County Clerk
Court: 1879, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1886-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1885-1923. Spokane County was organized in 1868 from Walla Walla, then disorganized and reorganized in 1879 from Stevens County.

Stevens
215 S. Oak St. Room 206, Colville, WA 99114
(509) 684-7575
http://co.stevens.wa.us
Incorporated: Jan. 20, 1863
Parent county: Walla Walla
Marriage records: start in 1864, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1882, County Clerk
Land: 1886, County Auditor
Probate: 1874, County Clerk
Court: 1882, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1888-1970.

Thurston
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW Bldg. 2, Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 709-3260
http://co.thurston.wa.us
Incorporated: Jan. 12, 1852
Parent county: Lewis
Marriage records: start in 1844, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1889, County Clerk
Land: 1852, County Auditor
Probate: 1848, County Clerk
Court: 1851, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907. County Clerk has naturalization records 1849-1974.

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Vancouver
Incorporated: July 27, 1844
Parent county: Original county
Notes: See Clark County. Name changed to Clark Sept. 3, 1849.

Wahkiakum
64 Main St., Box 116, Cathlamet, WA 98612
(360) 795-3558
http://co.wahkiakum.wa.us
Incorporated: April 24, 1854
Parent county: Pacific
Marriage records: start in 1868, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Land: 1858, County Auditor
Probate: 1852, County Clerk
Court: 1890, County Clerk
Adoption: 1943, County Auditor
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1984.

Walla Walla
315 West Main St., Box 836, Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 527-3221
http://co.walla-walla.wa.us
Incorporated: April 25, 1854
Parent county: Skamania
Divorce records: start in 1860, kept by County Clerk
Probate: 1860, County Clerk
Court: 1860, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has land records from late 1800s. County Clerk has naturalization records 1861-1906.

Whatcom
311 Grand Ave. Room 301, Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 676-7688
http://co.whatcom.wa.us
Incorporated: March 9, 1854
Parent county: Island
Birth records: start in 1936, kept by County Health and Human Services
Marriage: 1854, County Auditor
Divorce: 1883, County Clerk
Death: 1936, County Health and Human Services
Land: 1854, County Auditor
Probate: 1872, County Clerk
Court: 1883, County Clerk

Whitman
400 N. Main St., Box 390, Colfax, WA 99111
(509) 397-6240
http://www.whitmancounty.org
Incorporated: Nov. 29, 1871
Parent county: Stevens
Marriage records: start in 1873, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Land: 1874, County Auditor
Probate: 1877, County Clerk
Court: 1890, County Clerk
Notes: County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907.

Yakima
128 N. Second St. Room 323, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 574-1430
http://www.yakimacounty.us
Incorporated: Jan. 21, 1865
Parent county: Ferguson
Marriage records: start in 1869, kept by County Auditor
Divorce: 1890, County Clerk
Land: 1882, County Auditor
Probate: 1879, County Clerk
Court: 1890, County Clerk
Adoption: 1882, County Auditor
Notes: County Auditor has birth records 1891-1907, and death records 1896-1907. Many County Clerk records were lost in 1908 courthouse fire.

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From the Family Tree Sourcebook
Also available: the State Research Guide Book, State Research Guides CD and The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy.