Wahkiakum County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Wahkiakum County ''  Guide to  genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1861, when the county was formed. ''

Parent County(s)
Wahkiakum County, Washington was created 24 April 1854.

County Seat: Cathlamet. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Cowlitz | Lewis | Pacific | Oregon counties: Clatsop | Columbia

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Dates of Major County Records
Note: The dates you see below have not yet been adapted to.

Topics
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Census

 * See Washington Census for online indexes and images of US federal censuses. of: 1856, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
 * See statewide printed indexes, including 1856.
 * Check county indexes when online indexes fail. Created by people who knew the families of the area, they are often more accurate and they may have added insights. See periodicals and local libraries or other record holders.


 * 1890 Veterans
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930
 * 1940

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)

Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Washington Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate

Japanese
World War II Files, 1942-1946

Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Washington Court Records.

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. Wahkiakum County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 8011.


 * The lower Columbia River, including the future Wahkiakum County, was home to one of the most numerous and richest indigenous populations north of Mexico.
 * 1792 May - American fur trader Robert Gray became the first non-Indian to enter the Columbia River.
 * 1806 - Lewis and Clark's met up surviving Cathlamets from the south bank and crossed the river.
 * For a generation, those who followed Gray and Lewis and Clark to the Columbia came not to settle but to trade, especially for furs.
 * 1854 April 24 - The Washington Territorial Legislature established Wahkiakum County.
 * 1846 - James and Charlotte Birnie and their children became the first pioneers to settle permanently in Wahkiakum County.
 * 1850s - Homesteaders began farming the Elochoman Valley near Cathlamet.
 * 1870s - Scandinavian immigrants began arriving.
 * Until well into the twentieth century, the Columbia River and its tributaries were virtually the only transportation system for Wahkiakum County.

Land and Property

 * County Land Records, 1850-1954 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization Records, 1850-1982 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

Probate Records

 * County Probate Case Files, 1832-1950 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Marriage

 * County Marriages, 1855-2008 FamilySearch Historicl Collections (free)

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.
 * County Divorce Records, 1852-1950FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Death

 * County Deaths, 1891-1907 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)
 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence, occupation and certificate numbers.

Websites

 * Wahkiakum County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Wahkiakum County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Courthouse
Wahkiakum County Courthouse 64 Main Street PO Box 116; Cathlamet, WA 98612 Phone: 360.795.3558 County Auditor has birth records 1891-1907 and marriage records from from 1891. County Clerk has burial, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1868.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in Wahkiakum County per Wikipedia.