Yuma County, Arizona Genealogy

Guide to Yuma County, Arizona ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Arizona Online Genealogy Records

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

Parent County
Yuma County was created 10 Nov 1864 as an original county of Arizona.
 * County seat: Yuma Named after the Yuma Indians. Look for records in Yuma County.

Yuma County, Arizona is in the far southwest corner of the state. Principal communities include Yuma and Somerton. It extended to Parker in the north until 1983 when the northern half of the county split off to form La Paz 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. The land south of the Gila River in Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. The land in present day Yuma County was split between the US and Mexico. 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 north part of present day Yuma County was then in Socorro County.  Look for records in Socorro County.
 * 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including the south part of present day Yuma County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. This included land in present day Yuma County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 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

Boundary Changes

 * 27 Apr 1983 - Arizona created La Paz County from the northern half of Yuma County. This county named for the town of La Paz, Arizona. Look for records in La Paz and Yuma counties.

See 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. However, many of the historical registers have suffered some environmental damage. Mildew and mold have affected the legibility of some books and case file contents.

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
La Paz County, Arizona | Maricopa County, Arizona | Pima County, Arizona | Imperial County, California

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


 * Yuma

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Correctional Institutions

 * 1884-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Court Records
Yuma County (Arizona). County Recorder, (Main Author), Powers of attorney (Yuma County, Arizona), Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2002.

Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Maps

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

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

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

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

Courthouse
Yuma County Court House 168 S 2nd Ave Yuma, Az 85364 Phone:520-329-2170

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1863

Family History Centers
Introduction to Family History Centers

Yuma Arizona Family History Center

Societies
Society of Yuma Arizona (GSYA)''' P.O. Box 7025 Yuma, AZ 85366-7025

Arizona Historical Society, Rio Colorado Division at the Heritage Library'''

350 Third Ave. Yuma, Arizona 85364 Telephone: 928-314-2463

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records
 * 1887-1935 - Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887 - 1935 at MyHeritage - index and images
 * 1909-1917 - Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1909-1917 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1870-1963 - Arizona Death Certificates, 1870 - 1963 at MyHeritage ($) - index and images
 * 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 - Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994;at [http://home.ancestry.com/

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1864-1902 - 695 marriages from 2 Apr 1864 to 17 Mar 1902 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index. Some of the early marriage volumes are difficult to read and the writing is hard to decipher due to environmental damage.


 * 1833-1949 - Arizona, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1982 - Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1871-1964 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection  <<<<Note this does NOT include Yuma County
 * 1888-1908 - Arizona Select Marriages 1888-1908 at Ancestry.com — index $

Voting Records

 * 1902-1918 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index and images

Websites

 * Yuma County, AZ History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Yuma County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Yuma County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)