Uintah County, Utah Genealogy

Guide to Uintah County, Utah ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage and death records, cemeteries, census, church records, probate records, and obituaries—resources to find parents and family history since 1880, when the county was formed.

Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death
 * Church

Description
The County was named for the portion of the Ute Indian tribe that lived in the basin. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Uintah Courty Courthouse 147 East Main Street Vernal, UT 84078 Phone: 435.781.5360

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records. County Recorder has land records.

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

Parent Counties
was created February 18, 1880 from: Wasatch

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Utah County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Utah County Boundary Maps" (1849-1960) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.


 * Boundary changes timeline for from "UT: Index of Counties," Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Carbon | Daggett | Duchesne | Emery | Grand | Colorado Counties: Garfield | Moffat | Rio Blanco

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.

Bible Records
The term "Bible records" refers to the practice of keeping family dates and events in a family Bible. This was a common practice in many European countries and carried over to America. Many of these family Bible records are still in existence and preserved by the descendants of the immigrants. In some cases these family Bibles have found their way into libraries and other repositories.

For an explanation of how to find Bible records and for helpful links see Utah Bible Records. See also United States Bible Records.

Business Records and Commerce
See United States Business Records See also Utah Business Records

Cemeteries

 * To 1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Link to the Uintah County Cemetery Records. Uintah County Library
 * Cemeteries at the Utah State Historical site
 * Published transcripts of cemetery records are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog at the (space, then select the town) or the  (select Cemeteries).

Census

 * 1910 - at FamilySearch — index


 * See Utah Census for online indexes and images of US federal censuses. of: 1856, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
 * See statewide printed indexes, including 1856.

Churches and Religious Groups
The information given in church records depends upon the practices of each religious group. Most include the names of members, often with ages and birth places. Several give birth, christening, or blessing dates for infants. See Utah Church Records for details about various denominations.


 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed for at the  (space, then select a town) or  (select Church topics) in the FamilySearch Library Catalog.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons)

 * 1877-1918 - at FamilySearch — index

(Section In process. Want to help?) Stake(s): Uintah Stake, Utah

Places: Jensen· Lapoint· Maeser· Naples· Randlett· Tridell· Vernal


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


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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 Utah Court Records for the various courts through the years.

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

Directories
See Utah Directories

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1847-1868 - at FamilySearch — index

Funeral Homes
Blackburn Vernal Mortuary 15 East 100 North Vernal, UT 84078 Phone: 435-789-2611 Toll Free Phone: 800-818-2611 Fax: 435-789-8752

Gazetteers
See Utah Gazetteers

History

 * Burton, Doris Karren. A history of Uintah County : scratching the surface, Utah Centennial County History Series
 * A History of Uintah County online at Marriott Library Digital Collections.
 * Builders of Uintah : a centennial history of Uintah County, 1872 to 1947. Ancestry.com ($)
 * USGenWeb Archives Uintah County, Utah contains the history of Thomas Bingham Sr.

History Timeline

 * Boundary changes timeline for from "UT: Index of Counties," Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia' .


 * 1776. Archeologic evidence suggests that portions of the Uinta Basin have been inhabited by Archaic peoples and Fremont peoples. By the time of recorded history its inhabitants were the Ute people. The first known traverse by non-Indians was made by Fathers Dominguez and Escalante, as they sought to establish a land route between California and Spanish America.
 * 1825. Vernal lies in Ashley Valley, named in honor of William H. Ashley, an early fur trader who entered this area in 1825 by floating down the Green River in a bull boat made of animal hides. Vernal, unlike the majority of Utah towns, was not settled initially by Mormon pioneers.
 * 1831/1832 Antoine Robidoux, a French trapper licensed by the Mexican government, established a trading post near present-dayWhiterocks. He abandoned the effort in 1844.
 * 1847. The Great Salt Lake Valley, still a property of Mexico, was first colonized by Brigham Youngand his followers.
 * 1861. Brigham Young dispatched an exploring party to the Uinta Basin; they reported that "that section of country lying between the Wasatch Mountains and the eastern boundary of the territory, and south of Green River country, was one vast contiguity of waste and measurably valueless." Young made no further effort to colonize the area.
 * 1861. US President Abraham Lincoln created the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, reserved for the use and habitation of Utah and Colorado Indians.
 * 1877. Jensen was first settled and named for Lars Jensen, an early prospector and ferryman.
 * 1878. The town of Maeser was first settled.
 * 1880. February 18. Uintah County was created from Wasatch County. Uintah county was named for the Ute Indians, the tribe that lives in the basin.
 * 1880. The Uncompahgre Reservationwas created in the southern portion of present-day Uintah County.
 * 1886. Fort Duchesne was originally a fort, established by the United States Army. Closed in 1912.
 * 1892. Randlett began as the site of a school for Ute children.
 * 1918. The northern boundary of Uintah County originally extended to the north border of Utah.The extreme northern portion (lying north of the Uinta Mountain watershed divide) was split off to form Daggett County, Utah.
 * 1930. Earl W. Bascom(1906–1995), Hollywood actor, artist, inventor, rodeo cowboy, Utah Sports Hall of Fame, "Father of Modern Rodeo" who lived and worked at the Old Grey Mine in 1930.

Land and Property
Land records (especially deeds) often give the name of a spouse, heir, other relatives, or other clues for further research. They often have other clues for further research, such as witnesses or the other parties who may be relatives or in-laws. See Utah Land and Property for more.


 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.
 * The Uintah County Recorder's office has historical land records for Uintah County from 1894 to the present.

Maps
Google highway map of Uintah County 2012

Military

 * To 1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Utah Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)


 * Utah, State Archives Records, 1848-2001, a FamilySearch digital collection, contains certificates of naturalization, 1878-1896 and 1896-1933; declaration of intentions 1874-1896 and a1904-1906; petition and record 1907-1942.

Newspapers

 * Uintah Pappoose and Vernal Express, covering 1891 - 1982 are included.
 * Existing copies of newspapers
 * Vernal Express-Uintah Pappoose, covering 1891-1971, 1975, 1982 on-line at Uintah County Library. Found at the library: Vernal Express 1891-1984 and the Uintah Historical Society's book of newspaper clippings.
 * Vernal Express-Uintah Pappoose, covering 1891-1971, 1975, 1982 on-line at Uintah County Library. Found at the library: Vernal Express 1891-1984 and the Uintah Historical Society's book of newspaper clippings.

Obituaries

 * 1850 – 2005 at FamilySearch — index


 * Newspapers of


 * Local Funeral Homes, Societies, Libraries, or in family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties


 * Newspapers of major cities: Deseret News and/or The Salt Lake Tribune both in Salt Lake City

Probate Records
Probate cases include court actions regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. Records may locate relatives, provide death dates, and identify property. See Utah Probate Records for more information.

Online Probate Records
 * 1800 – 1985 Utah Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1851 – 1961 at FamilySearch — images

Vital Records
See also How to order Utah Vital Records or download an application for Utah Birth Certificate, Marriage or Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.

Birth before 1880

 *  was formed on 18 February 1880.

parent counties

Birth 1880 - 1897

 * [[Uintah County, Utah#Churches and Religious Groups
 * 1895-1905 Record of Uintah County Births. The actual title of this record is Records of births and deaths, 1895-1905; and assessment rolls, 1888, 1889-1890.
 * See also other records that give birth information, such as Death records, Census, Cemeteries, Obituaries
 * See also [[Uintah County, Utah#Neighboring_Counties
 * See also [[Uintah County, Utah#Neighboring_Counties

Birth 1898 - present

 * 1898 - 1905 - Online index to births 1898–1905 Series 84029.
 * Inventory of Series 84029 at Utah State Archives.
 * FamilySearch Library copy:.
 * Idea: use censuses and church records to learn those missing children's names.


 * 1903 - 1914 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1906 - 1910 - 1906-1910 online images
 * 1892 - 1941 -


 * TriCounty Health Department (Uintah County) 133 South 500 East Vernal, UT 84078 or Roosevelt (435) 722-6333.

Marriage
Marriage License Division / County Clerk 147 E Main Vernal, Utah 84078 (435) 781-5361


 * 1805-1992 - Utah, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1850-1907 - Western States Marriage Index. Includes Uintah County 1850-1907.
 * 1887-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

Death
Birth &amp; Death Certificates 133 South 500 East Vernal, Utah 84078 (435) 247-1177


 * 1900-1905 - Record of Uintah County Deaths. The actual title of this record in the FamilySearch Catalog is Records of births and deaths, 1895-1905; and assessment rolls, 1888, 1889-1890.


 * 1904-1964 - at FamilySearch — index and images . Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed. A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birth date, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.


 * Pre-1904 - Utah State Burial Data Base This site includes information on many Utah residents, who died before 1904.

Websites

 * Uintah County, UT History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Utah Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Utah Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Links to indexes or images of records:


 * FamilySearch.org. Collections are growing at record rates. If the county is not listed, check later.
 * Utah State Archives records, 1848–2001
 * Also see Utah to search items that include.

Links to collections:


 * FamilySearch Library Catalog
 * (Select topics)
 * (Space, then select town)

Sites that gather links to the Internet


 * Linkpendium
 * CyndisList

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in repositories (such as libraries and archives) at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Check websites and catalogs of archives and libraries for items for this county. Examples: items in  (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana).

See these headings for details: Courthouse·FamilySearch Centers·Libraries·Museums·Societies

Courthouse
Uintah County Clerk-Auditor 147 E Main Vernal, UT 84078 Phone: (435) 781-5361 Fax: 435-781-6701

County seat: Vernal

FamilySearch Centers

 * Tridell Utah Family History Center10404 N 8000 E, Tridell, UT84076United States Location Map


 * Vernal Utah Family History Center


 * Vernal Utah Glines Stake

Libraries
Local public libraries usually have histories, genealogies, indexes of cemeteries, copies of local newspapers, or other records for the area they serve. Many libraries in Utah have an area dedicated to local collections and manuscripts.


 * Uintah County Library; 202 East 100 North, Vernal, UT 84078. Phone: 435-789-0091
 * Collections:

See also Utah Public Library Directory, which provides links to library web pages, addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps. Does not mention holdings.

Museums

 * Uintah County Heritage Museum, 328 East 200 South, Vernal, UT 84078. Phone (435) 789-7399

Societies
See also a List of Utah Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies