Boise County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named for the Boise River which was named by French-Canadian explorers and trappers for the great variety of trees growing along its banks. The County Seat is Idaho City and was founded February 4, 1864. It is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Boise County Courthouse 419 Main Street Idaho City, ID 83631 Phone: 208-392-4452 Boise County Website

County Clerk has marriage records from 1868, divorce records from 1904, probate and land records from 1885.

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:

Cemeteries

 * Vol. 5 page 173 - Placerville Cemetery
 * Vol. 5 page 171 - Catholic Cemetery
 * Vol. 5 page 172 - Odd Fellows Cemetery
 * Vol. 5 page 172 - Odd Fellows Cemetery

Census Records
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.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Boise County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * 4 February 1864 Boise County, Idaho was created from the Idaho Territory.

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

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Mortgages, 1864-1901; general index, 1863-1907; Power of attorney, 1863-1870

Directories
City directories for 1891, 1893, 1899, 1901 to 1919, 1921 to 1937, 1939-1940, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1950, 1953, 1955 to 1959, 1960 to 1969 (1969-70), 1971 to 1979, 1980 to 1989, 1990, and 1992 to 1997

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Deeds, 1863-1902; general index, 1862-1905, General index, 1889-1984; declaration of homestead, 1867-1921; Mining claims, 1863-1875; Miscellaneous records, 1863-1894; Mortgages, 1864-1901; general index, 1863-1907

Local Histories
Various histories can be found at the Official Boise County website.
 * Boise: An Illustrated History. c1982. By Merle Wells. Woodland Hills, California : Windsor Publications. Online at:.
 * Boise, The City Beautiful. c2013. Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah. Online at:  FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * Fighting Fire On The Frontier. c1976. By Arthur A. Hart. Boise, Idaho : Boise Fire Dept. Association. Online at:.
 * Fred T Dubois: Delegate to Congress. N.d. N.p: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * Letters Written by M. Josephine Young in 1930. N.d. N.p: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * Pioneers, O Pioneers! : Old Oregon Trail Celebration. c1930. [S.l.] : Boise Basin Days Committee. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * Travelogue; Desdemonia Smith (Early Pioneer to Treasure Valley). N.d. N.p: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * An 1895 map of Boise and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Boise County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Boise County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1913-1932 Boise County Mother's Pension Records, 1913-1932 at Idaho State Archives
 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918 World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1917-1918 World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Boise County GenWeb

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

 Current
 * Idaho World

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following newspapers from Boise County (Idaho City):
 * Boise News: 1863:9:29-1864:10:22
 * Idaho Mountaineer: 1941:5:15-1958:6:26
 * Idaho Patriot:1864:10:9
 * Idaho Times:1866:11:2
 * Idaho World: 1864:10:29-1918:11:1
 * Idaho World: 1958:1:2-9999
 * Ladies Mite: 1864:7:10 Historical newspapers:
 * Arbiter -- 1968:4:25-1975:9:8 Bench mirror -- 1957:8:1-1957:9:12 Boise barracks news -- 1921:11:4 -1922:7:28 Boise bench journal -- 1951:1:3 -1952:11:7 Boise capital news -- 1927:1:20-1942:8:25 Boise champion -- 1981:7 y Boise Boise citizen Ada 1906:12:7-1910:11:25 Boise City herald-tribune and Oregon-Idaho intell -- 1971:2-1971:3:4 Boise City Republican -- 1887:7:9 Boise City tri-weekly news -- 1870:12-1871:7 Boise City weekly news -- 1870:9:17-1870:11:19 Boise clipper -- 1900:9:26 Boise clipper --- 1901:8:30, 9:6, 12:13, 12:20
 * Boise clipper -- 1900:9:27, 1901:7:13 Boise clipper -- 1909:9:7 Boise daily sun -- 1890:12:12, 12:18 Boise daily sun / Boise Sunday sun -- 1890:12:7: -1890:12:18 Boise gazette -- 1958:4:3-1960:4:14 Boise High Lights (high school paper) -- 1929:10:11 Boise Boise journal Ada 1952:11:14-1962:6:14 y Boise model cities monitor -- 1970:12-1974:12 Boise semi-weekly Democrat -- 1867:11:25-1869:6:5 Boise sentinel -- 1893:6:8-1898:6:3 Boise sentinel -- 1894:5:17 Boise Sunday sun -- 1890:12:7 Boise tri-weekly news -- 1870: 12: 6-1871:9: Boise weekly -- 1992:7:21-9999 Boise weekly reminder -- 1939:11:3
 * Capital chronicle -- 1869:8:4-1870:12:14 Capital weekly -- 1898:12:10-1901:1:12 Commonwealth of Idaho -- 1892:2:1-1892:6:4 Community news -- 1949:8:4-1950:1:5 Consolidated mining news -- 1936:6:-1936:8 Daily capital -- 1899:1:2-1905:3:23 Daily evening citizen -- 1891:7:7-1891:7:12 Democratic call -- 1924:10:27 Evening bulletin -- 1901:5:16-1904:4:30 Evening bulletin -- 1901:7:15, 1902:5:14-16, 1904:6:4 Evening bulletin -- 1901:9:19, 1902:6:6 Evening capital news -- 1902:8:1-1927:1:19 Evening capital news addendum -- 1923:6:22-1938:12:31
 * Evening mail 1896:10:1 -1896:10:31 Evening mail -- 1892:9:30, 1895:3:20, 3:27, 11:8 Evening star -- 1895:1:21, 1:24 Gem State Elk -- 1975-1981:1 Gem Worker and the Idaho labor herald -- 1914:11:17-1917:1:18 Gowen beacon -- 1941:10:3-1944:6:24 Gowen beacon -- 1941:10:3, 10:17
 * Hello buddy -- 1922:7:28 -1923:2:17 Hornet -- 1891:1:17 Idaho American -- 1901:11:9 Idaho business review -- 1982:2:8-9999 Idaho capital news -- 1901:2:9-1905:12:28 Idaho Catholic register -- 1994:12:7-9999 Idaho challange -- 1933:7-1978:12 Idaho citizen -- 1977:7-1986:5 Idaho daily statesman, afternoon ed. -- 1967:10:2-1969:5:29 Idaho daily statesman, morning ed. -- 1888:1:10-1969:5:31 Idaho daily statesman, supplement, Gov. Shoup -- 1890:12 Idaho Democrat -- 1870:12:24-1896:12:9 Idaho Democrat -- 1885:7:29, 8:2 Idaho Democrat -- 1871:1:7, 1886:4:14-1898:11:6 Idaho Democrat -- 1895 1895:7:14 Idaho Democrat -- 1896 1896:1:8, 1896:4:26 Idaho evening statesman -- 1942:9:21-1969:5:29 Idaho farm journal -- 1951:9:27-1963:10:10 Idaho farm review -- 1963:10:17-1965:6:3 Idaho farmer -- 1915:3:1-1970:12:3 Idaho farmer stockman -- 1971:1:7-1978:12:7
 * Idaho guardsman -- 1942:4:1 Idaho herald -- 1871:9:8-1872:4:9 Idaho herald -- 1871:11:8-1872:4:5 Idaho herald -- 1872:3:15 Idaho historic edition, Owyhee Avalanche-Nugget -- 1984:4:1 Idaho homestead -- 1921:3:29 Idaho legionnaire -- 1932:2:2-1988:12 Idaho news magazine -- 1963:8 Idaho observer -- 1962:6:21-1967:9:2 Idaho odd fellow -- 1904:7 Idaho pioneer -- 1928:11:16 Idaho pioneer -- 1924:7:4-1946:5:31 Idaho pioneer statewide -- 1946:6:7-1955:2:24 Idaho press -- 1936:4 -9999 Idaho press woman 1962:2 Idaho register -- 1958:4:4-1994:12:2 Idaho renaissance -- 1970:11:25-1971:1:27 Idaho Republican -- undated Idaho review -- 1915:3:26 Idaho review -- 1915:3:26-1915:8:13 Idaho scimitar -- 1907:11:2-1908:10:3 Idaho scimitar -- 1908:6:6 Idaho scrap book -- 1935:10:18-1936:6:26 Idaho senator -- 1944:9 Idaho standard -- 1872:5:1, 5:15, 7:17 Idaho State journal -- 1900:11:2 Idaho State post -- 1914:10:30 Idaho statesman -- 1969:6:1-9999 Idaho sun -- 1974:3:6 Idaho times -- 1989: 3: 1-1989:10:4 Idaho tri-weekly statesman -- 1864: 9: 26-1887: 12: 31 y Boise Idaho trumpet Ada 1965: 6-1968: 5: 29 Idaho unionist -- 1908:7:24 Idaho unionist -- 1907:5:22 Idaho voter -- 1955:3: 3-1956: 11:8
 * Idaho weekly statesman -- 1865: 8:6-1914: Idaho weekly statesman -- 1904:10:21, 1907:1:8, 1908:6:7 Idaho young democrat -- 1938:10-1938:11
 * Idaho/agri -- 1965:6: 10-1966: 6: 16 Idahoan -- 1877:5:9-1878:9:8 Illustrated Idaho -- 1913:7-1913:8 Inter-camp sporting news -- 1933:8:5, 8:25 Inter-camp sporting news --- 1933:8:16 Intermountain observer --- 1967:9:9-1973:10:20 Journal of commerce -- 1973:10:27-1982:2:5 New freedom -- 1914:1:2-1924:6:27 NewsView -- 1974:7:3-1974:10:4
 * North and East Boise journal and Idaho citizen -- 1986:12:-1988:5 North End press -- 1992:10:8-1992:10:22 Recorder -- 1958:2:10-1958:12:22 Red chevron 1920:7 Republican 1901:7:7 Review of the US Veteran's Hospital 1922:10 Roundup -- 1953:6:1-1968:4:18 Sabrejet times (Gowen Field) -- 1954:6:22 Say It With Pictures -- 1939:1 Searchlight -- 1938:10 Semi-weekly call -- 1897:7:14 Semi-weekly Idahoan -- 1880:3:28, 4:21 Semi-weekly news -- 1870:3:23-1870:7:27
 * Semi-weekly news -- 1870:7:2 Treasure Valley this week -- 1987:10:14-1989:10:11 Union label -- 1938:9:29-1939:7:6 Union label -- 1938:10:27 Union label -- 1938:9:29 Union label -- 1939:3:2 Valley free press -- 1982:5:12 Vanguard -- 1938:6 Veteran's Home journal -- 1910:8:16 Voice of the Basques -- 1974:12-1977:8 West Boise gazette -- 1958:2:6-1958:3:27 Women's world -- 1974:11-1976:7:15

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

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.

The Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, does not appear to have microfilmed copies of the Miscellaneous Series of Boise County, though the copy which the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has, noted that the records can be found in the Idaho State Archives. One can check with the Boise County courthouse in Idaho City where current and perhaps original copies should be found. Those copies held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1863-1939 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

Family History Centers

 * Boise Idaho Family History Center
 * Caldwell Idaho Family History Center
 * Cascade Idaho Family History Center
 * Eagle Idaho Family History Center
 * Emmett Idaho Family History Center
 * Fruitland Idaho Family History Center
 * Garden Valley Idaho Family History Center
 * Meridian Idaho East Family History Center
 * Meridian Idaho West Family History Center
 * Nampa Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Garden Valley District Library 85 Old Crouch Rd Garden Valley, ID 83622 Phone: (208) 462-3317 Website Facebook Page
 * Horseshoe Bend District Library 392 Highway 55 Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 Phone: (208) 793-2460 Website
 * Boise Basin District Library 123 Montgomery St Idaho City, ID 83631 Phone: (208) 392-4558 Website Facebook Page

Museums

 * Boise Basin Historical Museum 503 Montgomery Street Idaho City, ID 83631 Phone: 208-392-4550 Website

Societies

 * Boise County Genealogy Trails Website
 * Idaho Historical Railroads 140 E Cascade Cascade, ID 83611 Phone: 208-382-7245
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho Phone: 208-334-2774 Website
 * Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * The Boise County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * – 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.