Clearwater County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named for Clearwater River. The County Seat is Orofino and was founded February 27, 1911. It is located in the north west area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clearwater County Courthouse 150 Michigan Avenue Orofino, ID 83544 Phone: 208-476-5596 County Website

County Clerk has probate, divorce and court records from 1911. County Recorder has marriage, land and military records from 1911.

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:

Census Records
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census. For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes

 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

In 1930, Clearwater County was part of Northwestern States Mission


 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
 * Check each town/city in the county for churches in that area. There are churches in Orofino, Peirce, Weippe and Elk River. Contact each church for what records they might have available.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

 Judgment Books
 * 1888-1938 Judgments, 1888-1938
 * Court records, 1911-1935
 * Index, 1883-1987; power of attorney, 1883-1951

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1871-1911 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1910-1931 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1933 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1951 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1986 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Local Histories
Published historical works include:
 * Pioneer Timbermen A History of the Rush to Acquire the White Pine Forests of the Clearwater Country in Idaho, by Ralph S Space
 * The Clearwater story: a history of the Clearwater National Forest, by Ralph S Space
 * The Clearwater Historical Society Newsletter, published quarterly, available at the University of Idaho Library
 * Early Selway River History, 1906-1931, by LeRoy W Lewis, available at the University of Idaho Library

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Map of Clearwater County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

 Current
 * Clearwater Tribune

Historical The following newspapers have been published in Clearwater County, Idaho. Copies for the dates indicated are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

The original copies and later records can be accessed by visiting the Clearwater County Courthouse in Orofino, Idaho

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed copies of an index of Clearwater County's miscellaneous records (1905-1963) and these can be viewed at the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has a microfilmed copy of an Index to the (1871-1963) which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Clearwater County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index.

Microfilmed copies of these records are also available at the Clearwater county courthouse in Orofino, Idaho as well as at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers.

Old Age Pensionswere also provided by the State of Idaho from 1931 to 1936. The original records for these pensions in the Idaho State Archives have also been indexed. Clearwater County Old Age Pensions are included in that index.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry $
 * 1911-1935 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1954 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1986 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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

Birth

 * 1856-1965 Idaho births and christenings(1856-1965) are available online.
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection;
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1907-1965 Idaho Death and Burials, 1907-1965
 * 1911-1937 Online Idaho Death Certificates, 1911-1937
 * 1911-1956 state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

FamilySearch Centers

 * Kamiah Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Lewiston Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Moscow Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Orofino Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Elk River District Library 203 Main St Elk River, ID 83827 Phone: (208) 826-3539 Website Facebook Page
 * Clearwater District Library 204 Wood St Weippe, ID 83553 Phone: (208) 435-4058 Website
 * Pierce District Library 208 S Main St Pierce, ID 83546 Phone: (208) 464-2823 Website

Societies

 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society Excellent cultural and historical site
 * Clearwater Historical Society Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website

Websites

 * The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * Cavendish-Teakean Pioneers (Local Stories and Family History of Cavendish-Teakean and the Clearwater Valley), Early Clearwater Valley newspapers (pre-1923)
 * – 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.

Research Guides
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.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Clearwater County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their FamilySearch centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Orofino.