Mohave County, Arizona Genealogy

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

County Courthouse


Mohave County Courthouse 401 East Spring St Kingman, Az 86041 Phone: 520-753-9141

Clerk Superior Court has marriage records from 1888, Divorce, Probate and Court Records from 1850 County Records land records

Mohave County is located in the northwest corner of Arizona, the county seat is Kingman, and it also contains the somewhat newer 'river city' known as Bullhead City, which is across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada. Hoover Dam is also partly included in the county due to it being built to dam the Colorado River to create Lake Mead. The word 'Mohave' is a variant spelling of 'Mojave'.

Description
The County has Kingman as its seat and the County was created November 9, 1864. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

Parent 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. This included all the land in present day Mohave 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. The land in present-day Mohave County, Arizona was once part of Taos, San Juan (1861-1862 only), Rio Arriba, Santa Ana, Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro counties of New Mexico.  Look for records in Dona Ana County, Socorro County, Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Taos, and Valencia counties.
 * 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

10 Nov 1864 - Mohave County was created as one of the four original counties in Arizona. County seat: Kingman This county named for Mojave Indians. Look for records in Mohave County.

Boundary Changes

 * 22 Dec 1865 - Arizona created Pah-Ute County (extinct) from the northern half of Mohave County. This county named for the Paiute Indians, using the spelling of that day. Both Mohave and Pah-Ute counties covered land which was later given to Nevada. Look for records in Mohave County.
 * 5 May 1866 - The US removed the northwest corner from Arizona Territory (parts of Pah-Ute (extinct) and Mohave counties) and gave that land to the State of Nevada. Nevada used that land by adding to Lincoln and Nye counties. But Arizona held to its previous claim on that land and opposed this transfer, twice petitioning congress to repeal the law. Up thru 1868, representatives from Pah-Ute County (extinct) attended the Arizona Legislature. Look for records in Nevada State Library and Archives and Arizona State Library. Also the Lincoln, Nye, and Mohave counties.
 * 18 Feb 1871 - Arizona discontinued Pah-Ute County (extinct). In effect, withdrawing claim to the southeastern corner of Nevada after exhausting all legal recourse. The remnant of Pah-Ute County (extinct) still in Arizona was returned to Mohave County. Look for records in Mohave County.
 * 6 Mar 1883 - Arizona expanded Mohave County by adding land from Yavapai County, north of the Colorado River and west of Kanab Wash. Look for records in Mohave and Yavapai counties

See also 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.

For animated maps illustrating Arizona county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arizona County Boundary Maps" (1852-1993) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Coconino County, Arizona
 * La Paz County, Arizona
 * Yavapai County, Arizona
 * San Bernardino County, California
 * Clark County, Nevada
 * Lincoln County, Nevada
 * Kane County, Utah
 * Washington County, Utah

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Mohave County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Arizona cemetery records by County.

Church
Ward and Branch Records (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)


 * Kingman
 * Littlefield
 * Moccasin
 * Mt. Trumbull

Land
Recorded Land Records from 1 January 1970 to the present may be search online.

All Recorded Land Records may be searched at

Mohave County Recorders Office

700 W. Beale Street  Kingman, AZ 86402-0070   928-753-0701   928-753-0727

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Mohave County Miner (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918 is availble for free Online viewing.

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 - at FamilySearch — index

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1803 – 1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth Records
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1909-1917 - Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage Records
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1866-1907 - 395 marriages from 1 Jun 1866 to 26 Jun 1907 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.


 * 1833-1949 - Arizona, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1982 - Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1871-1964 - at FamilySearch.org — index and browse images, incomplete
 * 1888-1908 - Arizona Select Marriages 1888-1908 at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 - Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994;at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Lake Havasu Genealogical Society P.O. Box 953 Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405-0953 Telephone 928-854-5447

Mohave County Genealogical Society 400 W. Beale St Kingman, AZ 86401 Telephone 928-753-3195

Family History Centers
Introduction to Family History Centers

Kingman Arizona 3180 Rutherford St Kingman, Mohave, Arizona, United States Phone: 928-753-1316

Lake Havasu City Arizona 504 N Acoma Blvd Lake Havasu City, Mohave, Arizona, United States Phone: 928-855-8583

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Websites

 * Mohave County, AZ History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * AZGenWeb Mohave County project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Mohave County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Mohave County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)