Polk County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Oregon Online Genealogy Records

Description
Polk County was named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage, probate and land records.

Clerk of Polk County

Dallas was formerly named Cynthian.

Quick Facts
22 December 1845: Polk county was created from Yamhill County. Named James K. Polk, the 11th president of the United States.


 * County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Polk County Court House as of August 2007.
 * Record Loss:

Boundary Changes
23 Dec 1847: Benton County set off.

15 Dec 1853: Tillamook County set off.

20 February 1893: Lincoln County set off.

For animated maps illustrating Oregon County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Oregon County Boundary Maps" (1843-1975) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1898 Fire destroyed courthouse.

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
Benton | Lincoln | Linn | Marion | Tillamook | Yamhill

Trivia Tidbits
Information about localities, too small or too brief to describe in separate pages.

Cemeteries

 * Oregon Metro
 * Oregon Genealogy Cemeteries

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

County Records

 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Court Records
A wiki article describing an online collection is found Oregon, Polk County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Gazetteers

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

Land and Property
Wiki articles describing land records online are found at Oregon, Polk County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.

Maps

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

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1833–1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Rivers and Waterways
Details about the rivers and waterways where farms and settlements are often found along them. Rivers and Waterways

Birth Records

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images (*); Also at: Ancestry
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Delayed Birth Certificates

Marriage Records

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1842-1917 Oregon, U.S., State Births, 1842-1917 at Ancestry - index and images ($); Also at: 
 * 1849-1884; 1991-2006 at FamilySearch — index and images; collection is incomplete.
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * Extractions of early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index
 * Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection

Death Records
Linn County records of deaths 1903-1915, 1915-1947 (the cover title of this one is "Register of Physicians, Midwives and Undertakers", death certificates 1903-1947, coroner's inquest 1909-1960, index 1909-1960.

See also How to order Oregon Vital Records, order electronically online or download an application for Oregon Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

Societies, Libraries and Museums
Polk County Historical Society PO Box 67 Monmouth, OR 97361 Phone: 503-623-6251 Email: [mailto:pchsoregon@gmail.com pchsoregon@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Polk County Oregon Libraries 850 Main St Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: 503-623-8172 Website

Polk County Museum 560 S. Pacific Highway West Rickreall, OR 97371 Website Facebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Corvallis Oregon Family History Center
 * Florence Oregon Family History Center
 * Newport Oregon Family History Center
 * Oregon Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Siuslaw Public Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Polk County, OR History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Oregon Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Polk County GenWeb Project, part of The ORGenWeb Project
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Oregon Polk County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records