Iowa, County Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1880 to 1935.

Index to the birth records created by the counties of Iowa. When completed it will contain records for all of the 99 counties in the state.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
The index contains the following information:


 * Name of child
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Parent's names
 * Film number
 * Digital folder number
 * Image number

How to Use the Record
For a collection that is searchable by name:

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To begin your search it is helpful to know the name of the child and other identifying information such as the birthdate and place or the parents' names.

Search the Collection
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, use the information, use the birth date and place to search for the original birth record created by the county. Most of the birth records are available at the State Historical Society.

Remember this is only an index. As with any index, transcription errors may have occurred.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Look for a different index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the records of nearby counties.

General Information About Birth Records in Iowa
Most counties in Iowa began recording births and deaths in 1880 due to state law. This law was generally complied with by 1924. The Iowa GenWeb page offers a chart of each Iowa county, and the dates that they began keeping birth, marriage and death records. The information in birth records is generally reliable since the record was usually made at the time of birth.

Births were recorded for public health purposes. Birth certificates were also issued to individuals as legal documents. In cases where an individual’s birth had not been recorded, it was not uncommon for that individual to apply for a delayed birth registration since the certificate was needed to receive government benefits.

Related Websites

 * State Historical Society
 * Iowa Department of Public Health

Related Wiki Articles

 * Iowa
 * Iowa Vital Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 7 October 2011), Claire Donald Clark, born 25 December 1929; citing County Records, FHL microfilm 1,521,274; Clayton County Courthouse, Elkader, Iowa, United States.