Elmore County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Elmore 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 the Ida Elmore mines. The County Seat is Mountain Home and was founded February 7, 1889. It is located in the south west area of the state.

County Courthouse
Elmore County Courthouse 150 South 4th East Street Mountain Home, Idaho 83647 Phone: 208-587-2130 Elmore County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1907-1911 marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1889.

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:

Cemeteries
US Vol. 24 page 68 - Mayfield (mistaken listed in Boise 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 1890 census reconstruction. 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
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Elmore County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which existed in Elmore County, Idaho prior to 1950. Many of the original records of these church units are in the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Many of the membership records covering these units from the date of their creation to about 1948 have been microfilmed and are available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Glenn's Ferry
 * Mountain Home

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 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 -

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories
Published historical works include: (See WorldCat.org for library holdings.) A history and current facts of Elmore County are available at the county website.
 * Crossroads: a History of the Elmore County Area, by Sandra Ransel and Charles Durand
 * A Glimpse at Early Elmore County, by Olive De Ette Jensen Groefsema
 * Elmore County, its Historical Gleanings, a Collection of Pioneer Narratives, Treasured Family Pictures, and Early Clippings about the Settling of Elmore County, Idaho, by Olive de Ette Jenson Groefsema

Maps and Gazetteers

 * An 1895 map of Elmore and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Elmore County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Elmore County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Elmore County for European and African American settlers included:
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com
 * In Camp and Trench, a History of Elmore County's Part in the World War [I] by American War Mothers;

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
 * Index to Naturalization at Idaho State Archives

Newspapers

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

 Current
 * Mountain Home News

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following issues of Elmore County newspapers which are available at their facility in Boise, Idaho: Atlanta News:1885: 5:16-1886: 5: 8 Elmore Bulletin: 1889:6:1-1905:6:1 Elmore County Republican: 1894:8:23, 1900:4:17-5:29 Elmore County Republican: 1910:5:17-1917:12:29 Elmore Times: 1914:4:3-1915:12:31 Gazette, Elmore: 1908:9:30-1971:4:16 Glenns Ferry Gazette: 1996:1:9-9999 Glenns Ferry Pilot: 1974:7:25-1995:6:6 Glenns Ferry Signal: 1905:9:1 Mountain Home Bulletin: 1888:6:2-1889:5:25 Mountain Home Maverick: 1906:5:10-1911:8:3 Mountain Home News: 1946:8:8-9999 Mountain Home Republican: 1918:1:5-1946:8:1 Mountain Home Republican: 1908:4:22 New Time: 1910:6:17-1914:3:17 New Time: 1913:2:28 Phantom Photogram: 1970:4:24 Pipeline: 1992:2:6-1997:1:2 Range and Valley, Elmore: 1891:6:1 Republican: 1905:1:3-1910 South Idaho Herald: 1906:12:1-1907:4:27 South Idaho Herald: 1905:12:23, 1906:1:13, 3:13

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.

 ''Online County Records
 * 1889-1972 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

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.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Elmore County. The originals are held in the Elmore County courthouse in Mountain Home, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog; Wills 1892-1936
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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

 * 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 ($)
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 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

 * Boise Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Glenns Ferry Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Grand View Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Hailey Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Mountain Home Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Shoshone Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Glenns Ferry Public Library 298 S Lincoln Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 Phone: (208) 366-2045 Website Facebook Page
 * Mountain Home Public Library 790 N 10th E Mountain Home, ID 83647 Phone: (208) 587-4716 Website
 * Prairie District Library 71 Smith Creek Rd Prairie, ID 83647 Phone: (208) 868-3246 Website

Museums

 * Mountain Home Historical Museum 180 South 3rd East Mountain Home, ID 83647-3019 (208) 587-6847 Website

Societies

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

Websites

 * The Elmore County ID GenWeb Project, a member of IDGenWeb


 * – 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.