Graham County, Arizona Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Graham County Courthouse 800 Main Street Stafford, Az 85546-1414 Phone: 520-428-3250


 * Clerk of Superior Court has marriage, probate, divorce and court records from 1881
 * Naturalization Records 1907-1973
 * County Recorder has land records

Description
The County was named after the mountain by the same name which was named after Lt. Col James Duncan Graham, and was the first Arizona county to break the tradition of naming counties for Native Americans. The County has Safford as its seat and the County was created March 10, 1881. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

Parent County

 * Until 1821 - New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
 * 24 Aug 1821 - The Treaty of Cordoba was signed by Spain, which recognized Mexico's independence. The land in present day Arizona became part of Mexico. Land north of the Gila River was claimed by the State of Alta California and the State of New Mexico. Land south of the Gila River was in the State of Sonora. Look for records in the Spain and Mexico Archives.
 * 18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona. The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. The land in present day Graham County was split between the US and Mexico. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. Land in present-day Graham County, Arizona was once part of Socorro and Doña Ana counties of New Mexico.  Look for records in Dona Ana and Socorro counties.
 * 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the from Mexico. It contained land in Arizona south of the Gila River, including part of the land in present day Graham County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory, it became non-county land. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. Its boundary stretched across present day Arizona to the Baja California border. This county included part of the land in present day Graham County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * 10 Nov 1864 - Arizona created Pima and Yavapai counties. Both of these counties named for Indian tribes. Look for records in Pima and Yavapai counties.
 * 14 Feb 1879 - Arizona created Apache County from land in Yavapai County. This county named for the Apache Indians. Look for records in Apache and Yavapai counties.

10 Mar 1881 - Arizona created Graham County from lands in Apache and Pima counties. County seat: Safford This county named for Mount Graham, the highest peak in the area. Look for records in Graham, Apache and Pima counties.

Boundary Changes
10 Mar 1909 - Arizona created Greenlee County from land in Graham County. This county named for an early Arizona pioneer. Look for records in Graham and Greenlee counties.

See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

For animated maps illustrating Arizona county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arizona County Boundary Maps" (1852-1993) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Apache County, Arizona
 * Cochise County, Arizona
 * Gila County, Arizona
 * Greenlee County, Arizona
 * Navajo County, Arizona
 * Pima County, Arizona
 * Pinal County, Arizona

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Graham County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Arizona cemetery records by County.

Church
Church and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Artesia, Ashurst, Bryce, Central, Eden, Emery, Ft. Thomas, Graham, Hubbard, Kimball, Layton (Safford), Lebanon, Mathews, Pima, Safford, Solomonsville, Thatcher, Thatcher East and Thatcher West.

Land
Most of the land in Arizona was originally obtained from the US federal government by patent. These General Land Office Records are searchable online and most have free images of patents to download. The minimum information needed for a search is the state where the land is located and the name of the person receiving the patent. Surveys and Land Status Records can also be searched here.

Land Records in Graham County from 1982 to the present can be searched online. Viewing older records will require a visit:


 * Graham County Recorders Office
 * 921 Thatcher Blvd
 * Safford AZ 85546
 * (928) 428-3560

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Graham Guardian (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923 is available for searching free Online. Click Browse Issues tab.

Safford Rattler (Safford, Ariz.) 1896-189? is also available Online.

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 - at FamilySearch — index

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1803 – 1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth Records
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1909-1917 - Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage Records
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1833-1949 - Arizona, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1982 - Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1871-1964 - at FamilySearch.org — index and browse images, incomplete
 * 1881-1926 - 3,480 marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1888-1908 - Arizona Select Marriages 1888-1908 at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 - Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994;at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Graham County Historical Society and Museum 3430 W. Main St. (Hwy 70) Thatcher, AZ 85552 Telephone: 928-348-0470 Hours 10-4:00 M,T, Sat.

Family History Centers
Introduction to Family History Centers

Safford-Thatcher Arizona 515 11th St Safford, Graham, Arizona, United States Telephone: 928-428-7927

This is not a mailing address. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Websites

 * Graham County, AZ History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * USGenWeb for Graham county Arizona. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Graham County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Graham County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)