Washington County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Washington County was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington Pres. George Washington] and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse 224 West Main Street Washington, IA 52353 Phone: 319-653-7741 Washington County Website

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:

Biographies

 * Washington County, Iowa Biographical Dictionary at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of promin at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Washington County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Census Records
State Census
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images (individual cards, not family context)
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * FamilySearch Places

Lutheran
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Local Histories

 * The history of Washington County, Iowa, its cities, towns, and c., a biographical directory of its citizens. 1880, Des Moines, IA: Union Historical Company. Online at: Internet Archive
 * Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent men... 1887, Chicago, IL: Acme Publishing Company. Online atAncestry.com ($)
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Multiple Wars Civil War
 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images


 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War service men in Washington County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company F
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 10th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 11th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I and K
 * - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 25th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A and I
 * - 30th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E and K
 * - 31st Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
 * - 45th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company B

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1939 — Wellman Advance at Ancestry.com ($) — Wellman, IA, USA
 * 1949 — Evening Journal Farm Edition at Ancestry.com ($) — Washington, IA, USA
 * Washington County Newspapers etc

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

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 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index ($)
 * 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Divorce

 * 1838-1927 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1906-1923 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers
To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Libraries
Washington Public Library 115 W. Washington Washington, IA 52353 319-653-2726 Website

Kalona Public Library 510 C Avenue Kalona, IA 52247 319-656-3501 Website

Museums
Kalona Historical Village 715 D Avenue Kalona, IA 52247 319-656-3232 E-mail:[mailto:kalonatours@gmail.com kalonatours@gmail.com] Website Conger House Museum 903 E Washington Street Washington, Iowa 52353 319-653-3125 Email:[mailto:thelevys@iowatelecom.net thelevys@iowatelecom.net] Website

Societies
Washington County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 446 c/o Washington Public Library Washington IA 52353-0446 E-mail:[mailto:washia_genweb39@yahoo.com washia_genweb39@yahoo.com] Website Washington County Historical Society P.O. Box 924 Washington, Iowa 52353 319-653-4329 E-mail:[mailto:wchsiowa@yahoo.com wchsiowa@yahoo.com] Website Facebook Kalona Historical Society 715 D Avenue Kalona, IA 52247 319-656-3232 E-mail:[mailto:kalonatours@gmail.com kalonatours@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Washington County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History Linkpendium
 * GenealogyTrails Washington County
 * Washington County IAGenWeb
 * Washington County USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection
 * Washington County at Cyndi's List.


 * – 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.