Yavapai County, Arizona Genealogy

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

Description
Yavapai County was created on 10 Nov 1864 and named after the Yavapai people, who were the principal inhabitants at the time the United States annexed the area. Its county seat is Prescott. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Yavapai County Courthouse 120 South Cortez Street Prescott, Az 86303 Phone: 928-771-3312 Yavapai County

Superior Court Clerk has marriage, divorce probate and court records. County Recorder has land records.

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

History Timeline



 * Until 1821 -New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to Mexico Archives and Libraries in Mexico City.
 * In 1821 -Mexico; obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to Mexico Archives and Libraries in Mexico City.
 * 18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico; Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexicoceded part of present day Arizona, including all of present day Yavapai County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. Land in present day Yavapai County was then part of Socorro (NM), Bernalillo (NM), Santa Ana (NM) and Valencia (NM) counties. Look for records in Socorro County, Bernalillo, and Valencia counties.
 * 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New MexicoTerritory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 14 Feb 1871 - Arizona created Maricopa County from land in Yavapai County. This county named for the Maricopa Indians. Look for records in Maricopaand Yavapai counties.
 * 14 Feb 1879 - Arizona created Apache County from land in Yavapai County. This county named for the Apache Indians. Look for records in Apache and Yavapai counties.
 * 19 Feb 1891 - Arizona created Coconino County from land in Yavapai County. This county named for the Coconino Indians. Look for records in Coconino and Yavapai counties.

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Bagdad

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

Court Records

 * See Previous Jurisdictions to land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1911-2000 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Arizona Daily Journal-Miner - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1900-1902
 * Arizona Historical Digital Newspapers at Arizona Memory Project
 * Arizona Journal-Miner - Google News Archive; covers 1903-1912
 * Arizona Miner - Google News Archive; covers 1866-1871
 * Arizona Weekly Journal-Miner - Google News Archive; covers 1893-1900
 * Arizona Weekly Miner - Google News Archive; covers 1877

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Other Records
Voting Records
 * 1875-1932 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1800-1946 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1947 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1833-1949 US Marriages – Arizona, 1833-1949 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1865-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: 

Death

 * 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1910-1911, 1933-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Bagdad Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Cottonwood Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Prescott Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Spring Valley Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * East Flagstaff Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Flagstaff City - Coconino County Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Forest Lakes Community Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Sharlot Hall Museum Library and Archives 115 S. McCormick St Prescott, AZ Phone: 928-445-3122 ex 14 Website

Societies
Northern Arizona Genealogical Society Website Focuses on the counties of Yavapai and Coconino Arizona. Camp Verde Historical Society 435 South Main Camp Verde, AZ 86322 Phone: 928-567-9560 Website Jerome Historical Society 200 Main Street Jerome, AZ 86331 Phone: 928-634-5477 Website

Websites

 * Yavapai County AZGenWeb
 * Yavapai County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – 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.