Blaine County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Blaine 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 James G. Blaine, U.S. Secretary of State. The County Seat is Hailey and was founded March 5, 1895. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Blaine County Courthouse 201 South Second Avenue Hailey, Idaho 83333 Phone: 208-788-5521 County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1911, marriage, divorce, probate and court 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:

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

In 1930, Blaine County was part of Blaine Stake.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Blaine County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * 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.


 * Blaine Dist
 * Carey
 * Gannett
 * Hailey
 * Sun Valley

 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 Some of the early court records of Blaine County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Blaine County courthouse in Hailey, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there. Some of the Blaine County court records that have been microfilmed are:
 * Court records, 1875-1882
 * Power of attorney, 1865-1921; index, 1865-1896

Judgment Books

 * Judgments, 1865-1866; dockets, 1865-1872; index, 1865-1914
 * Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions and many other court actions.
 * Miscellaneous records are outlined in the Miscellaneous Series.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Declaration of homesteads, 1881-1885; index, 1881-1884; Deeds, 1863-1926; index, 1863-1883; bonds for deeds, 1865-1889; Miscellaneous mining and land and property records, 1863-1889; Separate property of married women, 1887-1920
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * History of Blaine County
 * History of Alturas and Blaine Counties, Idaho. c1950. By George A. McLeod. Hailey, Idaho : Hailey Times. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records

 * 1913-1932 Blaine County Mother's Pension Records, 1913-1932 at Idaho State Archives

World War I

 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Blaine County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the FamilySearch Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee.
 * 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.

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
 * Mountain Express

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed early newspapers from Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley in Blaine County. These can be accessed in the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

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 Blaine 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 Blaine County courthouse in Hailey 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 FamilySearch Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1883-1928 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1883-1962 (*) 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * , Lincoln and Alturas counties

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1856-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

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
 * 1907-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * After 1911, deaths occurring in Blaine 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.
 * 1911-1954 Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives, the FamilySearch Library, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.
 * 1911-1956 state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 at BYUI Special Collections
 * 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

FamilySearch Centers

 * American Falls Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Blackfoot Idaho West FamilySearch Center
 * Carey Idaho Ward FamilySearch Center
 * Fort Hall Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Glenns Ferry Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Hailey Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Moore Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Shoshone Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Bellevue Public Library 115 E Pine Bellevue, ID 83313 Phone: 208-788-2128 Website
 * Little Wood River District Library 16 Panther Ave Carey, ID 83320 Phone: 208-823-4510 Facebook Page
 * Hailey Public Library 7 W Croy St Hailey, ID 83333 Phone: 208-788-2036 Website
 * The Community Library 415 Spruce Avenue N PO Box 2168 Ketchum, Idaho 83340-2168 Phone: 208-726-3493 Website

Museums

 * Blaine County Historical Museum 213 North Main Street (physical address) P.O. Box 124 (mailing address) Hailey, Idaho 83333 (208) 788-1801 Website

Societies

 * Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage Ski Museum 180 1st Ave E Ketchum, ID 83340 Phone: 208-726-8118 Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho Phone: 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society Website

Websites

 * The Blaine County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb 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.