Gila County, Arizona Genealogy

United States Arizona  Gila County

County Courthouse
Gila County Courthouse 1400 East Ash Street Globe, AZ 85501-1414 Phone: 520-425-3231

County Clerk has marriage records from 1881 divorce, probate and court records from 1914 County Recorder has land records

Gila County is located northeast of Maricopa and Pinal Counties in Arizona. It contains some of the early settlements in Arizona going back to the 1870s. Gila County is named for the Gila River that flows through portions of the southern part of the county.

Payson is the largest town today, its name came from a situation where the town needed a post office and a congressman was reported to have said that if they named the town Payson they would get a post office. The second town that took up the dare was Payson, Utah.

Other towns include Pine, Roosevelt, and Claypool. Defunct localities include 'Motel Point' where a motel once stood just yards northeast of the present-day Roosevelt Dam.

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.
 * In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Arizona. Some records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
 * In 1846 - New Mexico Territory was setup, it included land that later would become Arizona.
 * In 1852 - New Mexico Territory created counties that stretched east and west from the Texas border to the California border, including all the land that became Arizona. Land in present-day Gila County, Arizona was once part of Socorro county of New Mexico. Some records during this period may have been sent to the Socorro County, New Mexico courthouse.
 * In 1863 - Arizona Territory was created from the western half of New Mexico territory. All previous counties were dissolved, and eventually four new counties were created in the new Arizona Territory.

8 February 1881 - Gila County was created from Maricopa and Pinal Counties. County seat: Globe

Boundary Changes

 * 12 Mar 1885 Gila County exchanged property with adjacent Graham County.
 * 21 Mar 1889 Gila County added a portion of Yavapai County.
 * 19 Mar 1891 Gila County gained additional land from Yavapai County.

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Coconino, Arizona
 * Graham, Arizona
 * Maricopa, Arizona
 * Navajo, Arizona
 * Pinal, Arizona
 * Yavapai, Arizona

Cemeteries
Cemeteries in Gila County at Arizona Gravestones

Cemeteries in Gila County at Fina A Grave

Individual cemeteries:


 * Mountain View Cemetery in Winkelman AZ at BillionGraves

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records: Globe, Hayden, Miami, Nephi and Pine.

Vital Records

 * Many early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.
 * Gila County, Arizona Obituary and Death Notices Collection From GenealogyBuff.com ~ Free. This collection is from Various Funeral Homes in the Payson, Globe, Miami, Winkelman, Hayden, and Dudleyville areas.

Societies and Libraries
Arizona Cornish Society P.O. Box 1 Claypool, Arizona 85532 Contact: Mrs Linda Carnahan Telephone: 925-473-2071 E-Mail: lyddy@cableone.net

Northern Gila County Historical Society PO Box 2532 Payson, AZ 85547 Telephone 928-474-3483

Gila County Historical Society  1330 N. Broad St. Globe, AZ 85502 Telephone 928-425-7385 Hours 10-4 M-F; 11-3 Sat.

Family History Centers
Introduction to Family History Centers

Globe Arizona 1701 Ensign St Globe, Gila, Arizona, United States Telephone: 928-425-9570

Payson Arizona 913 N Ponderosa St Payson, Gila, Arizona, United States Telephone: 928-468-0249

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Web Sites

 * Gila County AZGenWeb. Has info on Cemeteries, Funeral Homes, Military, Vitals, Towns, Schools, Obituaries, Newspapers, Misc., Marriages, &amp; Death.
 * Gila County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Gila County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)