Butte County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Butte 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 buttes that rise from the Snake River plain and served as landmarks to trappers and pioneers who traveled through the area. The County Seat is Arco and was founded February 6, 1917. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Butte County Courthouse 326 W Grand Ave Arco, ID 83213-0737 Phone: 208-589-9872 County Website

County Clerk has marriage, burial, divorce, probate and school records from 1917, court records from 1895, and land records from 1890.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home 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
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Butte County Stakes and Wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Butte County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * 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 Library in Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

 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 Some of the early court records of Butte County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Butte County courthouse in Arco, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there. Some of the court records of Butte County that have been microfilmed are:  Judgment Books
 * 1917-1947 District court minutes, v. 1, 1917-1947
 * 1918-1930 Orders and decrees, v. 1, 1918-1930
 * 1881-1967 Power of attorney, v. 1, 1881-1967
 * 1889-1974 U.S. patent record, 1889-1933; general index, 1889-1974
 * Judgment records, v. 1, 1912-1963
 * 1912-1963 Judgment records, v. 1, 1912-1963

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed some of the early county records of Butte County and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Butte County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Butte 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
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com

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 Arco Advertiser 146 S. Front St. P.O. 803 Arco, ID 83213

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following newspapers from Butte County, which can be viewed by visiting their facility in Boise, Idaho: Arco Advertiser: 1909:3:12- 9999 Idaho Republican News: 1937:2:-1938:6

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.

Online County Records
 * 1882-1970 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 Butte County. The originals are held in the Butte County courthouse in Arco, 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 and images $
 * 1886-1956 (*) 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
 * 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
 * 1911-1954 Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Historical Society (PARL) Library in Boise, the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Eastern Idaho Death Index

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Blackfoot Idaho West FamilySearch Center
 * Carey Idaho Ward FamilySearch Center
 * Firth Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Hailey Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Moore Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Rigby Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Terreton Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Idaho State ArchivesWebsite
 * Lost Rivers Community Library 130 West Arco Avenue Arco, ID 83213 Phone: 208-527-8511 Website
 * Howe Branch Library 3512 Little Lost River Hwy Howe, ID 83244 Phone: 208-767-3018 Website
 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

Societies

 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * State Historical Society Website
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * IDGenWeb Butte and Idaho GenWeb


 * – 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.