Worth County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Worth County was named for William Jenkins Worth and is located in north-central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Worth County Courthouse 1000 Central Avenue Northwood, IA 50459 Phone: 641-324-2840 Website

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:

Biographies

 * IAGenWeb Bios
 * Worth County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Census Records
State Census
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images (individual cards, not family context)
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes Lutheran
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Court Records

 * 1859-1993 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — indexes & images
 * 1862-1928 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — indexes & images

Local Histories
Worth County was named for Major General William Jenkins Worth (March 1, 1794 – May 7, 1849), an officer in both the Black Hawk War and the Mexican-American War. Worth county has fertile farmland, used mainly for producing grains, corn and soybeans. Wind turbines dot the landscape along the beautiful rolling prairie that comes to rest near the Shell Rock River.


 * History of Mitchell and Worth counties, Iowa. By J. F. Clyde and H. A. Dwelle. Chicago : S. J. Clarke, 1918. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Worth County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Worth County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1896-1935 Fire Insurance Maps for Worth County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1896 and 1935.
 * IAGenWeb - Worth County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Worth County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Worth County at State Library of Iowa.
 * Worth County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places.

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War service men from Worth County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are many companies or regiments that were formed from men of Worth County.
 * - 15th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company K

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1858-1930 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index, images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Northwood Anchor

Obituaries

 * IAGenWeb Obituaries for Worth County, Iowa

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

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 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index ($)
 * 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Family History Centers
To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Libraries
Northwoods Public Library 906 1st Avenue S Northwood, IA 50459 641-324-1340 Website Kensett Library 214 5th Street Kensett, IA 50448 641-845-2222 Website

Museums
Worth County Historical Society Museums 917 Central Avenue Northwood, IA 50459 641-324-1180 E-mail:[mailto:wchsiowa@gmail.com wchsiowa@gmail.com] Website

Societies
Worth County Historical Society 917 Central Ave. Northwood, IA 50459 641-324-1180 E-mail: [mailto:president@worthhistory.org president@worthhistory.org] Website

Websites

 * State Historical Society of Iowa — select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
 * Worth County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
 * Worth County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
 * Worth County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
 * Worth County at Iowa USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
 * Worth County at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
 * – 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.