Yuma County, Arizona Genealogy

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

Description
Yuma County was created on 10 Nov 1864 and was one of four original Arizona counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature. Its county seat is Yuma. It is located in the southwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Yuma County Courthouse 250 West 2nd Street Yuma, Arizona 85364 Phone: 928-817-4083 Yuma County Court House

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1863

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



 * Yuma County, Arizona is in the far southwest corner of the state. Principal communities include Yuma and Somerton. It extended to Parker in the north until 1983 when the northern half of the county split off to form La Paz County.
 * 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 archives 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 archives 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, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona. The land south of the Gila River in Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. The land in present day Yuma County was split between the US and Mexico. 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. The north part of present day Yuma County was then in Socorro (NM).  Look for records in Socorro County.
 * 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including the south part of present day Yuma County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana (NM) gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. This included land in present day Yuma County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. 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

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

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.

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1934-1945 (*) Yuma County Court Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1863-1927 (*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1865-1924 (*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1881-1936 (*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1881-1960 (*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images

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 ($)

Obituaries

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

Other Records
Correctional Institutions
 * 1884-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Voting Records
 * 1902-1918 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 ($)
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 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 ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Yuma Arizona FamilySearch Center

Societies
Genealogical Society of Yuma Arizona (GSYA) P.O. Box 7025 Yuma, AZ 85366-7025Website Arizona Historical Society Rio Colorado Division at the Heritage Library 350 Third Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-314-2463 Website

Websites

 * AZGenWeb Project
 * Yuma 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.