Pend Oreille County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Pend Oreille County   Guide to  genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1861, when the county was formed.

Parent County(s)
Pend Oreille, Washington was created 1 March 1911.

County Seat: Newport. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Parent County: created 1 March 1911 from Stevens County.

Neighboring Counties
Neighboring Counties: Spokane | Stevens | Idaho counties: Bonner | Boundary | British Columbia (to the north)

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Dates of Major County Records
Note: The dates you see below have not yet been adapted to.

Topics
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.

Cemeteries

 * US GenWeb Pend Oreille list of cemeteries and available extractions.


 * Internment.net listing of cemeteries

Census

 * See Washington 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.
 * Check county indexes when online indexes fail. Created by people who knew the families of the area, they are often more accurate and they may have added insights. See periodicals and local libraries or other record holders.


 * 1890 Veterans
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930
 * 1940

The 1910 Population Census is available at Washington State Digital Archives, FamilySearch, Ancestry.com$ and Heritage Quest.

The 1920 Population Census is available at Family Search, Ancestry.com$ and Heritage Quest.

The 1930 Population Census is available at Family Search and Ancestry.com$

The 1940 Population Census is available at Family Search and Ancestry.com$

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)

Washington State Archives, Cheney holds many county court records from 1911 to the 1970s and later years.

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 Washington Court Records for the various courts through the years.

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

American Indian
The Kalispel Indian Reservation is located in Pend Oreille County.

Japanese
World War II Files, 1942-1946

Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives

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

History

 * Steele, Richard F. Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, State of Washington, published 1904.


 * Pend Oreille County history on HistoryLink.org article 7618.


 * Numerous local history books are available at the Pend Oreille County Museum store.

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. Pend Oreille County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7618.


 * The area that became Pend Oreille County was in many ways the last frontier in the state. Its inhabitants were first the indigenous peoples, then fur traders and explorers, followed by missionaries, then miners, loggers, and homesteaders.
 * Late 1850s - The first substantial influx of non-Indians came with the discovery of gold in the Metaline area.
 * Timber was the other major extractive industry in the area that became Pend Oreille County.
 * 1906 - The Forest Homestead Act was passed. Under its provisions, 160-acre plots judged to have agricultural potential were released from the reserved forests.
 * 1900-1910 - The population of the area, still part of Stevens County, grew from roughly 1,200 to 5,900.
 * 1911 March 1 - Pend Oreille County was the last county created in the state.

Land and Property

 * Land records prior to 1911 are held by the Stevens County Auditor. Records have been digitized and are available upon request.


 * Washington State Archives, Cheney holds the 1912-1919 plat books and description and the list of forest lands and Indian lands acquired by the Federal government, 1913-1939, Board of Equalization correspondence and assessment review.

Maps



 * Cram's 1909 map of Washington cropped to show Stevens County, which included Pend Oreille County.


 * Current Pend Oreille County map.

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 Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Newspapers

 * The Miner (Newport)


 * Northeast Washington Genealogical Society listing of available historic newspapers. Scroll to bottom of page for Pend Oreille County newspapers.


 * Washington State Library has online historic newspapers. Search for Colville Mines for 1850s references to Pend Oreille mines and mining activities.


 * Colville Stateman-Examiner newspapers prior to creation of the county will have references to Pend Oreille people and towns.


 * Crossroads on the Columbia has 1890s newspapers from the Colville area, which cover the Pend Oreille area on occasion.


 * Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)

Taxation
The SCHS has the Stevens County Assessor's personal property tax assessment ledgers for 1898 to 1906. Images of the 1898 ledger are viewable on the Crossroads on the Columbia project.

Birth

 * Washington State Archives, Cheney holds the 1914-1980 birth records, 1911 -1947 Marriage Register, 2 vols.

Marriage

 * Marriages from 12 Jul 1911 to 22 Sep 1915 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index website.


 * Washington State Archives, Cheney holds the 1914-1980 birth records, 1911 -1947 Marriage Register, 2 vols.

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

Death

 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence, occupation and certificate numbers.

Websites

 * Pend Oreille County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * US GenWeb Pend Oreille County
 * Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance
 * Cutter Theatre, Metaline Falls
 * Crossroads on the Columbia Preserve America project
 * Crossroads on the Columbia Preserve America project

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


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Courthouse
Pend Oreille County Courthouse 625 W 4th PO Box 5020 Newport, WA 99156-5000 Phone: 509.447.2435 County Auditor has birth, marriage and land records from 1911. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1911.

Libraries
Local Libraries:

Museums

 * Pend Oreille County Museum

Societies

 * Northeast Washington Genealogical Society
 * Stevens County Historical Society

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in Pend Oreille County per Wikipedia.

Indian Reservation

The Kalispel Indian Reservation is located in Pend Oreille County.