Ada County, Idaho Genealogy

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



County Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death

Description
The county was named for Ada Riggs, first pioneer. The County Seat is Boise and was founded December 22, 1864. It is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Ada County Courthouse Ada County Clerk Recorder Room 1196 200 W. Front Street Boise, Idaho 83702 Courts Phone: 208-287-6900 Recorder Phone: 208-287-6840 The County Clerk has divorce, probate, and court records from 1864. The Recorder has marriage and land records from 1864.

Quick Facts
Named for Ada Hobbs Riggs, first pioneer child born in the area, daughter of Henry C. and Mary E. (Lipscombe) Riggs, founder of city of Boise. Miss Riggs was married to John R. Coon 26 February 1884 at Caldwell, Canyon, Idaho

Parent County
22 December 1864: Ada County, Idaho was formed from Boise County.

Boundary Changes
7 February 1889: Elmore County set off from a portion of Ada and Alturas Counties.

7 March 1891: Canyon County set off.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities
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:

This list of places in Ada County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Ada County in Virtual Earth.

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Ada County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the records in the Family History Library can be obtained from their online catalog. More recent records are in the county courthouse in Boise, as are some of the original manuscript records of those which have been microfilmed. Some of the older county records have be transferred to the State Archives.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Ada County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Ada County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Idaho Court Records.

Census
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.

For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

 * List of Ada County stakes and wards to about 1948.


 * Owyhee Branch (Church unit no longer in existence, members assigned to either Kuna or Boise area wards). Records of the original branch are available at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copies of the membership records may also be at a family history center in Boise.

County Commissioners' Records
Several volumes of County Commissioners' Minute Books, 1865-1899, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. The originals of these and later records of the County Commission are in the county courthouse in Boise.

Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Idaho Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate

Some of the early court records of Ada County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. The records filmed are for about 1865 through 1940 and include civil suits, divorce papers, and judgment dockets. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City or at some of the Library's family history centers. Call ahead to find availability. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the courthouse in Boise.

Some of the records of the courts of Ada County that have been microfilmed include:


 * District Court:


 * Judgment Dockets, v. 1-4, 1865-1931
 * Judgment Books, v. A-W, 1865-1926
 * Declaration of Intent (to become a naturalized citizen), 1906-1939
 * Petition and Record for Naturalization, 1903-1935
 * Certificates of Naturalization, 1909-1926
 * Admission to Citizenship and Records, 1891-1906


 * County Court:


 * Miscellaneous Records, v. 1-10, 1891-1926
 * Index to Miscellaneous Records, v. 1-2, 1890-1928
 * Power of Attorney, v. 1-4, 1865-1940
 * Index to Power of Attorney, 1865-1940
 * Revoked Power of Attorney, 1909-1967


 * Probate Court:


 * Wills, 1869-1973
 * Probate Letters, 1899-1932
 * Probate Record Books, v. B-W, 1873-1927
 * Guardianship Records, v. B-F, 1892-1932
 * and other miscellaneous estate records, 1867-1908


 * Judgment Books

Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions and many other court actions.

Among the records on microfilm are:


 * Judgments vol. 2-4 1866-1931
 * Judgments vol. A-W 1865-1926
 * Dockets vol. 1-2 1865-1906

Note: Overlapping years may be a cataloging error as the volumes may be for different local courts. Most volumes individually indexed.

Funeral Homes
Cloverdale Funeral Home 200 N Cloverdale Rd Boise, Idaho 83701 (208) 375-2212 Gibson Funeral Home 507 W Idaho St Boise, Idaho 83701 (208)342-8221 Summers funeral Home 1205 W Bannock St Boise, Idaho 83701 Relyes Funeral Home 318 N Latah St Boise, Idaho 83701 (208) 644-44441 Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel 5400 W Fairview Ave Boise, Idaho 83701 (208) 376-5400

Farm Directories
The Gem State Rural's 1917-18 Farm Directory of Ada County, Idaho is available at the Idaho State Archives and at the Albertson Library at Boise State University. It lists landowners by town, including those owning land in these two counties, but residing elsewhere. The size of the family, amount of acreage owned, the location of the land, and a list of crops and livestock raised on each farm is also included.

History
The Ada County Historic Preservation Council has published a brochure entitled 2006 Preservation Plan. Included in this brochure are several pages (pp. 11-36) of the history of Ada County, including a detailed timeline of historic events in Ada County and the State of Idaho. Several photographs of historic sites in the county are also included.

The Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series includes a short history of Ada County as well, available at the Idaho Digital Resources website.

Online County Histories


 * Boise: The Peace Valley. c1975. By Annie Laurie Bird. Caldwell, Id.:Caxton Printers. Online at:.

Land and Property Records
Many of the early land records of Ada County have been microfilmed, including homestead records (1865 to 1911) and deeds (1865-1901). Microfilm copies of the records are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at  some of the Library's family history centers. Call ahead for availability. Original copies of these and later records are housed at the courthouse in Boise.

Among the land records of Ada County which have been microfilmed are:


 * Deeds, 1865-1901
 * Index to Deeds, 1865-1924
 * Homestead records, 1865-1911
 * Patent Records, 1869-1912
 * Index to Patents, 1869-1954

Water Rights
In addition to the land records, some records of water rights for Ada County, 1865-1943, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise.

Maps

 * An 1895 map of Ada and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Ada County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Ada County, Idaho is available online.

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


 * Snake River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

Military History and Records
Civil War

The 1890 Census Veterans Schedules for Boise Barracks (Fort Boise) are available on roll 118 of "Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War" (NARA M123). The schedules list veterans and their widows who served as Union soldiers in the Civil War. For more information on the 1890 Veterans Schedules see Union Census Records.

WWI

World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Ada County and for Boise City have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their for Ada County and  for Boise City). They are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee for both Ada County and for Boise City. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

Other Records

An Index to Military and Naval Discharges for Ada County has also been microfilmed and is available at both the Idaho State Archives and at the in Salt Lake City.

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Among the records which have been microfilmed are:


 * Index vol. 1-2 1890-1928
 * Miscellaneous records vol. 1-10 1891-1926

Copies of the microfilm are at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the (FHL) in Salt Lake City, Utah or at some of the Library's. Call ahead for availability.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Records of the naturalization of people born outside of the United States were often kept in the county courthouses of the respective counties of Idaho. Three volumes of Ada County naturalization records are included in a Naturalization Index at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, and available online.

Also in the holdings of the Idaho State Archives and the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at some of the Library's family history centers are the following microfilmed naturalization records for Ada County:


 * Declaration of Intent (to become a naturalized citizen), 1906-1939
 * Petition and Record for Naturalization, 1903-1935
 * Certificates of Naturalization, 1909-1926
 * Admission to Citizenship and Records, 1891-1906

Current
The following newspapers are currently being published in Ada County:


 * Idaho Statesman -- published in Boise
 * Kuna Melba News -- published in Kuna
 * The Valley Times -- published online; serving Meridian, Eagle, and Star

Historical
Copies of many newspapers published in Ada County, 1867 to present, are part of the collections of the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Included are newspapers from the following cities in Ada County:


 * Boise -- many titles -- 1867 to present
 * Eagle -- 4 titles -- 1926, 1958-1960, 1982, 1988-1989
 * Garden City -- 4 titles -- 1954-1968, 1980-1981
 * Kuna -- 3 titles -- 1914-1968, 1978-present
 * Meridian -- 7 titles -- 1909-1974, 1976-1996
 * Star -- 2 titles -- 1908, 1919-1920

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Ada County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index.

Old Age Pensions were also provided by the State of Idaho from 1931 to 1936. The original records for these pensions in the Idaho State Archives have also been indexed. Ada County Old Age Pensions are included in that index.

Probate Records
Some probate records for Ada County have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or in some of the Library's Family History Centers. Call ahead for availability. Other probate files remain with the county courthouse in Boise. Included among the records that have been microfilmed are:


 * 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $


 * Wills, 1869-1973
 * Probate Letters, 1899-1932
 * Probate Record Books, v. B-W, 1873-1927
 * Guardianship Records, v. B-F, 1892-1932
 * and other miscellaneous estate records, 1867-1908

Taxation
The tax assessment rolls, 1865-1890, and the delinquent tax lists, 1878-1890, for Ada County have been microfilmed. Copies are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah. Original tax records for Ada County for additional years may be in the county courthouse in Boise or at the Idaho State Archives.

Births
The birth registers for Ada County, 1907-1911 have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah. Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Ada County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.


 * 1861 - 1911 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883 - 1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

The Family History Library has made available online Idaho Births and Christenings, 1856-1965, and Ada County has 11,044 births recorded there.

Marriages

 * 1800-1987 - Idaho, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $

Many of the early marriage records for Ada County have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah. Included are:


 * Marriage Records Books, v. 1-20, 1865-1928
 * Index to Marriage Records, 1864-1928
 * Ministers' Marriage Register, 1907-1943
 * Marriage Licenses, 1895-1905
 * Marriage Certificates, 1865-1894

Online Records
 * 1864-1976 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

The Family History Library has also made available online Idaho Marriages, 1878-1898, 1903-1942, and there are 21,691 Ada County marriages therein.

Marriages from other sources. Over 21,000 marriages for Ada County residents from 1864-1949, are available on the Western States Marriage Index

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Idaho Vital Records for excellent information.


 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Archives, Libraries, etc.

Deaths
The death registers for Ada County, 1907-1911 have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the (FHL) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

After 1911, deaths occuring in Ada County are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under Idaho for details.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be viewed at the Idaho State Archives, the Family History Library, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.

A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is the US Genweb Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.


 * 1938 - 1961 at FamilySearch — index


 * 1883 - 1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

The Family History Library has also made available online Idaho Deaths and Burials, 1907-1965, and there are 1069 Ada County deaths listed.

Deaths from other sources.

Idaho Statesman Obituary Index, 1967 to present.(2011)

Societies, Libraries and Museums
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.


 * Idaho State Archives -- definitely needed, it is linked from most county and state pages, but all right to have it here, too
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Boise Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site
 * Ada County Historic Preservation Council
 * Boise Public Library -- has some significant genealogy collections

There are several Family History Centers in the Boise area. The largest is just off Overland and near the Boise Temple. It has a large collection of books and microfilm plus they can assist patrons with their research. They maintain a large collection of local records for research purposes.

Albertson's Library Boise State University 1910 University Drive Boise, ID 83725-1430 Phone: 208-426-1204 The Albertson Library at Boise State has several special collections of local history.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Boise Idaho Family History Center
 * Eagle Idaho Family History Center
 * Idaho State Correctional Facility Family History Center
 * Kuna Idaho Family History Center
 * Meridian Idaho Amity Family History Center
 * Meridian Idaho East Family History Center
 * Meridian Idaho West Family History Center

Websites

 * The Ada County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project (backup site)
 * Ada County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * FamilySearch Catalog for Ada County.