Benton County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Benton 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)
Benton County, Washington was created 8 March 1905 from Klickitat and Yakima counties

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

Neighboring Counties
isurrounded by:Franklin | Grant | Klickitat | Walla Walla | Yakima | Oregon counties: Morrow | Umatilla

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. Benton County -- Thumbnail History, HistoryLink.org, Essay 5671.


 * The first inhabitants were the, Umatillas, Klickitats, and Wallulas.
 * 1858 - A gold rush to British Columbia brought the first influx of white people, as rushers traveled through on their way north.
 * During the 1880s, steamboats and railroads connected what would become known as Kennewick to the other settlements along the Columbia River.
 * Benton County has very little rainfall, and some farmers had been successful at dryland farming.
 * Irrigation came to the county in the 1890s and brought many changes.
 * 1905 - March - 6 - Washington State Legislature creates Benton County (out of Klickitat).
 * In 1942, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Manhattan District, surveyed the northern part of the county for a secret government project. In 1943, the government ordered everyone living in the town sites of Hanford and White Bluffs to evacuate. Shortly thereafter, a huge government construction project began, known only as the . Thousands of people moved to the Eastern Washington desert. No one knew what they were building, just that it would help the war effort. Only when they heard the news of the devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6, 1945, did the workers know what they had built. "Our bomb clinched it!" read the Richland Villager.

Land and Property

 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Military

 * World War II (1941–1945) army enlistments at the county GenWeb site has about 400 entries, mostly from Okanogan and other counties. Key (at end of the list) explains codes and columns. Gives year and state of birth. Free.

Naturalization and Citizenship
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.)

Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Newspapers

 * Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)

Birth

 * Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Benton County Birth Records. This database contains the names of people who were born in Benton County from 1905-1907. For FHL entries, 1905-1907, click.

Marriage

 * Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Benton County Marriages from 1905 to 1920. This database is an index to marriage certificates filed with the Auditor in Benton County, Washington. For FHL entries, click.

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.

Death

 * 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

 * The Benton County WAGenWeb Project, a member of The WAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Benton County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Benton County. (Mirror site)
 * Family History Library Catalog for Benton County.
 * Benton County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Tri-City Genealogical Society has online data for Benton and Franklin Counties.

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
Benton County Courthouse 600 Market Street Prosser, WA 99350-0190 Phone: 509.786.5624 County Auditor has birth records 1905-1907 and marriage records from 1905. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records. County Assessor has land records.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Kennewick Washington Family History Center
 * Prosser Washington Family History Center
 * Richland Family History Center located at 1314 Jadwin Ave., Richland WA 99352; phone (509) 946-6637 houses the collection of the Tri-City Genealogical Society. It also has helpful staff, free family history classes, some online databases, and access to the normal family history center resources.

Libraries

 * Benton City Library, 708 9th Street, Benton City 99320 Phone: (509) 588-6471


 * Online Resources: Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and others.


 * Unique Collections:


 * Keewaydin Library, 405 S. Dayton, Kennewick 99336 Phone: (509) 586-3156


 * Online Resources:


 * Unique Collections:


 * Mid-Columbia Library System, 405 S. Dayton Street, Kennewick 99336 Phone: (509) 582-4745


 * Online Resources:


 * Unique Collections:


 * Kennewick Library, 1620 S. Union, Kennewick 99338 Phone: (509) 783-7878


 * Online Resources:


 * Unique Collections:


 * Prosser Library, 902 Seventh Street, Prosser 99350 Phone: (509) 786-2533


 * Online Resources:


 * Unique Collections:


 * Richland Public Library, 1270 Lee Blvd, Richland 99352 Phone: (509) 942-7450


 * Online Resources: Genealogy History


 * Unique Collections:


 * West Richland Library, 3803 W. Van Giesen, West Richland 99353 Phone: (509) 967-3191


 * Online Resources:


 * Unique Collections:


 * Mid-Columbia Library System has many books of genealogical value, maps, and many local newspapers on microfilm dating from the late 1800s to the present. In the library there is also access to online databases and volunteers from the TCGS.
 * Richland Public Library has access to online databases, some books of genealogical value, and the local Tri-City Herald newspaper on microfilm.

Museums

 * The Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology (CREHST) is a museum and science center created to tell the dynamic story of the Columbia Basin and surrounding region." It features an excellent exhibit and materials available on the Hanford project and the huge influx of people to support it in the 1940's. Two collections of interest specifically to genealogists are their photos collections (indexes for Marlin's Columbia Photography, North Light Studio and Wendland Studio) and their collection of General Electric Company newsletters.

Societies

 * East Benton County Historical Society primarily runs a museum of local history and a research library. The museum features local history, from the ancient petrified forests to the Native Americans to the pioneers and settlers. Of special note is an extensive photograph collection depicting life in Kennewick, Richland, Finley, Hover, Hanford, White Bluffs and surrounding areas. "The museum library houses an extensive collection of materials including obituaries, local history files, family history information, high school annuals and books of local and regional interest. There are also 121 books from Dr. Glen Axford's Audubon Collection." (From the http://ebchs.org/ website under Museum Info: Research Library)
 * The Tri-City Genealogical Society has an extensive collection of local and regional resources as well as references for other areas. Check their resources page for an updated list of their holdings. They also provide genealogical help at the Mid-Columbia Library, have online resources, and conduct local research for a small fee.

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

Extinct Communities