Story County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Joseph Story. The County has Nevada as its seat and the County was created 1846. The County is located in the central area of the state.

Parent County
1846--Story County was created 13 January 1846 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Boone, Polk, and Linn Counties prior to organization 1June 1853. County seat: Nevada

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1864 Fire burned the courthouse on January 1.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

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
Boone • Hamilton •  Hardin •  Jasper •  Marshall •  Polk

Cemeteries

 * Palestine Cemetery, Huxley BillionGraves

Census
State Census
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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


 * Ames

Lutheran
Ames


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Ames, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Bethania


 * Records of the Bethania (Bethany) Lutheran Church, Kelley, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Gilbert


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Gilbert, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Roland


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Roland, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Slater


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Slater, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Story City


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Story City, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Story County


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Story County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Local Histories

 * A history of Story County, Iowa : carefully compiled from the earliest settlement to the present. By William G. Allen. Reprint. Originally published: Des Moines : Iowa Print. Co., 1887. Online at:, Story Co..


 * A history of the town of Ames, Story County, Iowa : together with a brief description of the surrounding country, and the Iowa State Agricultural College, located at Ames. By Cyrus E. Turner. Ames, Iowa : Ames Intelligencer, 1871. Online at:, ISU Library.


 * Resources and wealth of Story County, Iowa : a pamphlet containing a description of Story County. By W. C. B. Allen. Nevada, Iowa : Representative Power Press Print, 1880. Online at:.

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa

Military

 * 1835-1998 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1949 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1862-1910 - at FamilySearch — index

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Roland Historical Society Archives, Story County (1895-1975)
 * Ames Newspapers, Story County (1877-2017)
 * Nevada Newspapers, Story County (1863-2014)
 * Story City Newspapers, Story County (1887-2013)


 * Altoona Public Library Archives, Polk County (1876-2000)
 * Johnston Historical Society Archive, Polk County (1970-2007)
 * NewspaperArchive.com ($) has historical newspapers online including Des Moines newspapers. This database is free at some libraries.


 * 1944-45, 1948-51, and 1953-56 — Ames Daily Tribune at Ancestry.com ($) — Ames, IA, USA
 * 1928-29 — Ames Daily Tribune and Evening Times at Ancestry.com ($) — Ames, Iowa, United States Of America
 * 1955 — Story City Herald at Ancestry.com ($) — Story City, IA, USA

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Taxation

 * 1934-1958 - at FamilySearch — index

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1921-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Story County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 692 Ames, Iowa 50010 E-mail: [mailto:storygenes@gmail.com storygenes@gmail.com] Website

Family History Centers



 * Ames Iowa Family History Center 2524 Hoover Ave., Ames, IA 50010 United States Location Map

Websites

 * Story County, IA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Story County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Story County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)