Rio Arriba County, New Mexico Genealogy

Guide to Rio Arriba County, New Mexico ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Rio Arriba is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Rio Arriba County Courthouse P.O. Box 158 Tierra Amarilla, NM 87575 Phone: 505.588.7254 Rio Arriba County Website County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1852.

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:

Census Records
Federal Census Records Federal Censuses were taken for New Mexico starting in 1850. For links to Federal census indexes, see New Mexico Census.

State Census Records


 * 1885 New Mexico Territorial Census 1885 at Ancestry (free)
 * Late 1800s 1800s Arizona and New Mexico Territories Census, Late 1800s ($)

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1760-1799 New Mexico Prenuptial Investigations (1760 to 1799) at New Mexico Genealogical Society — abstracts
 * 1800-1893 New Mexico Prenuptial Investigations (1800 to 1893) at New Mexico Genealogical Society — abstracts
 * FamilySearch Places

The early population of New Mexico was generally both Spanish-speaking and Catholic. As such, the sacramental records of the towns and villages present an important avenue of research and may provide the names of several generations within one document. Catholic sacramental records (baptisms, marriages, and burials) are rich in vital record information and may prove a valuable alternative in cases where vital records are not available. The New Mexico Genealogical Society has published an online article titled, Locating Catholic Church Records in New Mexico, Rio Arriba County. This index of church records includes the parish, the location of the church, the missions included and microfilm dates and reference numbers in chart format. Some of the films are available in the Family History Library, and those that aren’t at the library have reel numbers found in the Santa Fe archives. New Mexico Genealogical Society

'''Catholic

Parish registers (baptisms, marriages, and burials) are available online for the following years:


 * 1701 - 1956 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Funeral Homes

 * Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations in Espanola
 * DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory in Espanola

Land and Property Records
If you wish to search the recorded land records of Rio Arriba county you must visit the County Clerk's Office at 7 Main Street, Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico or 1122 Industrial Park Road, Española, New Mexico. Online Land Records
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796 - 1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1863 - 1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * 1895 map of Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of New Mexico - shows boundary changes for New Mexico Counties
 * NMGenWeb - historical maps

Revolutionary War

 * 1775 - 1783 at FamilySearch - images only - How to Use this Collection
 * For more nationwide Revolutionary War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

Civil War

 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * For more nationwide Civil War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

World War I

 * 1917 - 1919 New Mexico, World War I Records, 1917-1919 at Ancestry ($)
 * For more natiowide World War I databases, see US Military OnlineGenealogy Records.''

World War II

 * 1940 - 1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1941 - 1945 World War II Records, 1941-1945 State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from: New Mexico
 * 1941 - 1945 World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from: New Mexico
 * 1941 - 1945 New Mexico, World War II Records, 1941-1945 at Ancestry ($)
 * For more nationwide World War II databases, see US Military Online Genealogy.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1882-1983 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers
Online Newspapers
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * New Mexico Historical Newspapers at University of New Mexico Digital Repository

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records


 * 1801-1993 New Mexico Wills and Probate Records 1801-1993 at Ancestry.com — 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, click here for more information.

Vital Records

 * 1701 - 1956 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Birth

 * 1726 – 1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

 * 1727 - 1900 New Mexico Marriages 1727-1900 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1751 - 1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Death

 * 1788 – 1798; 1838 – 1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1889 - 1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)

Family History Centers

 * Espanola New Mexico Family History Center
 * Farmington New Mexico Family History Center
 * Los Alamos New Mexico Family History Center
 * Taos New Mexico Family History Center
 * White Rock New Mexico Family History Center

Museums
Ghost Ranch Living Museum 280 Private Drive 1708, Highway 84 Abiquiu, New Mexico, 87510-2001 Telephone 505-685-1000 Website Facebook

Societies
Rio Arriba County Historical Society PO Box 158 Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, 87575-0158

Websites

 * Rio Arriba County, NM History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New Mexico Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * - 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