Sherman County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Oregon Online Genealogy Records

Description
Sherman County was named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Union general in the American Civil War. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1889 birth records from 1904-1939, death records 1905-1952 and court records from 1894.

Sherman County Government

Parent County
25 February 1889: Sherman county was created from Wasco County. Named for William Tecumseh Sherman, Union general in the American Civil War.

Boundary Changes
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
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

Post Office
 * Ainsworth

Neighboring Counties
Gilliam | Wasco | Klickitat, Washington

Trivia Tidbits
Information about localities, too small or too brief to describe in separate pages. Exception to this are Post Offices. &gt; Trivia Tidbits

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.

Gazetteers

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

Maps

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

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for European and African American settlers included:


 * Columbia River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon
 * Barlow Road 1846 from The Dalles to Oregon City

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.com — index and images ($)

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

Vital Records
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.

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

Societies, Libraries, Museums
Sherman County Historical Society 200 Dewey Street PO Box 173 Moro, OR 97039 Phone: 541-565-3232 Website Facebook

Sherman County Public School Library 65912 High School Loop Moro, OR 97039 Phone: 541-565-3279 Website Facebook

Family History Centers

 * The Dalles Oregon Family History Center
 * Hood River Oregon Family History Center
 * The Genealogical Forum of Oregon - an affiliate library

Websites

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