Franklin County, Washington Genealogy

Guide to Franklin County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1882, when the county was formed.

Washington Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for Benjamin Franklin. The County is located in the southcentral area of the state.

Pasco, the Franklin County seat and largest population of Franklin County, is part of the Tri-City metropolitan area, and is just across the Columbia River from Kennewick and Richland (Benton County), and across the Snake River from Burbank (Walla Walla County). From the beginning, residence from each of these communities have crossed the rivers to go to church, get married, visit the hospitals, and bury their deceased. Records for Franklin County residence could be in Benton or Walla Walla Counties.

Residence of northern Franklin County may be found in records of Adams County. The northern part of the county has always been more rural with a lower population. They often travel to Connell for various services, but occasionally travel to Pasco (or the Tri-Cities) for larger purchases and business. They may also be found in Walla Walla and Benton county records.

Parent County(s)
Franklin County, Washington was created 28 November 1882 from Whitman.

County Seat:: Pasco. See also Towns and Communities in. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes
See Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Adams | Benton | Columbia | Grant | Walla Walla | Whitman

Courthouse
Franklin County Auditor has birth, death and burial records 1891-1910, marriage records from 1891; land records. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1891.

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in.

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

Census

 * Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free); and Ancestry ($)
 * Federal: 1910
 * Territorial: 1885 • 1887
 * These were indexed by local societies and individuals.


 * School census records 1912-1925 Part of: Part of Washington County Records 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Power of Attorney Records 1989-2013 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * Franklin Frontier Justice Part of "Frontier Justice": Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1888 at Washington State Digital Archives. (Free Index, no images)
 * The court procedures of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of the Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.

Directories

 * "Benton, Franklin and Klickitat Counties Directory – 1911-1912, 1915-1916"

American Indian

 * 1911 - 1919 at FamilySearch — images

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

Funeral Homes
Note: Pasco, the Franklin County seat and largest population of Franklin County, is part of the Tri-City metropolitan area, and is just across the bridge from Kennewick and Richland (Benton County), as well as Burbank (Walla Walla County). Residence of Franklin County often used funeral services and cemeteries in these other communities.


 * Columbia Memorial Funeral Chapel and Gardens
 * Mueller's Greenlee Funeral Home
 * Hillcrest Funerals and Cremations

Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

History

 * Franklin County, Washington Facts at StateofUS.com (mis-labeled as Franklin County, Alabama)


 * Illustrated history of the Big Bend country by Western Historical Publishing Company [(Spokane, Wash.) Western Historical Pub. Co., 1904] at Washington History

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 Elizabeth Gibson. Franklin County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7452.


 * Before white settlers came to the area now known as Franklin County, the region’s Native Americans fished for salmon.
 * 1805 - arrived at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers.
 * 1805 plus a few years - David Thompson, of the, arrived here and claimed the land for Great Britain.
 * 1850s - After the end of the Indian Wars of the 1850s, settlers felt it was safe to move into the Columbia Basin.
 * 1853 - March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes.
 * 1879 - Travelers began settling near the site of modern-day Pasco.
 * 1883-November 28, The Washington Territorial Legislature created Franklin county.

Land and Property

 * Land Records 1989 - present at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
 * Plats and Surveys Records 1884-1998 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
 * Recorded Agreements and Contracts 1989-2013 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Maps

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military

 * 1921-1925 at FamilySearch — index
 * Some military records for this county have been digitized at the Washington State Digital Archives.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization and citizenship 1890-1906 Part of: Washington County Records 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Declarations of intention, petition evidence 1874-1945; Naturalization cards 1907-1945; Petitions for naturalization 1907-1929; Petition evidence 1907-1929, Petitions for naturalization 1907-1929.


 * Naturalization Records, 1874-1974 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Newspapers

 * Franklin County, Washington Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
 * 1855-2009 Washington Newspapers, 1855-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)


 * Tri City Herald (Pasco, Washington) (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)
 * Washington Digital Newspaper at Washington State Library

Obituaries
Also check:


 * Newspapers of
 * Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties

Probate Records

 * Probate case files 1890-1930 Part of: Washington County Records 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Public Records

 * Franklin Postmaster Index. Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)

School Records

 * School census records 1912-1925 Part of: Part of Washington County Records 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Birth

 * Delayed birth registrations 1877-1927 Part of: Washington County Records 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * — index and images

Marriage

 * 1801-1962 Washington, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1855–2008 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1892-1906 - Marriages from 25 Aug 1892 to 24 Oct 1906 are available on the Western States Marriage Index website.


 * 1884-2003 Marriage Records 1884-2003 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Marriage certificates 1890-2003 and Marriage license applications 1939-2003.


 * 1889-2013 Marriage Records, 1889-2013 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index

Divorce
Online Records


 * 1969 - 2014 at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index
 * at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Voting Registers

 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

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.

Family History Centers

 * Basin City Washington Family History Center
 * Columbia Basin Washington Family History Center
 * Kennewick Washington Family History Center
 * Pasco Washington Family History Center
 * Prosser Washington Family History Center
 * Richland Washington Family History Center
 * West Richland Washington Family History Center

Libraries

 * Mid-Columbia Libraries Website


 * Branches (additional branches shown at above website):
 * Basin City Library 50-A N. Canal Blvd. Basin City, WA 99343 Phone: 509-269-4201
 * Connell Library 118 N. Columbia Connell, WA 99326 Phone: 509-234-4971
 * Merrills Corner Library 5240 Eltopia West Eltopia, WA 99330 Phone: 509-297-4341
 * Kahlotus Library 255 Weston Kahlotus, WA 99335 Phone: 509-282-3493
 * Pasco Library 1320 W. Hopkins Pasco, WA 99301 Phone: 509-545-1019

Museums

 * Franklin County Historical Society and Museum has an extensive collection of records, artifacts, and collected stories for Franklin County historical places and people.
 * 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 starting in the 1940's and continuing through today. Two collections of interest specifically to genealogists are their photos collections and their collection of General Electric Company newsletters. Both these collections contain information on residents of Franklin County.

Societies
Tri-City Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1410 Richland, WA 99352-1410 Website

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.

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: