Apache County, Arizona Genealogy

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

Description
Apache County was created on 14 Feb 1879 and named for the Apache people. Its county seat is St. Johns. It is located in the northeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Apache County Courthouse 70 West 3rd Street South St Johns, AZ 85936 Phone: 928-337-7555 Apache County Courthouse

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce probate and court records from 1879. County Recorder has land records from 1879

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline



 * 21 Mar 1895 - Arizona created Navajo County from the west half of Apache County. This county named for the Navajo Indians. Look for records in Apache and Navajo counties.

Also see 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.
 * 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 1846-18 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, including all of present day Apache County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 13 Dec 1850 - The US created the New Mexico Territory from unorganized federal land. This territory named after the Mexican State of New Mexico. Some counties were created, but they were small and covered land only in present day New Mexico. The land in the present day Arizona was at that time non-county land. Also the land south of the Gila River still belonged to Mexico. Look for records in the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 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 later became Arizona. The land covered by present-day Apache County, Arizona was once part of Taos (NM), San Juan (NM) (1861-1862 only), Rio Arriba (NM), Santa Ana (NM), Bernalillo (NM), Valencia (NM), and Socorro (NM) counties of New Mexico. Look for records in Socorro, Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Taos, and Valencia counties.
 * 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

Biographies

 * Lest Ye Forget. By Esther Wiltbank and Zola Whiting. Apache County, Arizona: Apache County Centennial Committee, 1980. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.WorldCat

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Alpine, Amity, Cooley, Eagar, Greer, Nutrioso, Omer, St. Johns, Union and Vernon.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
The general trial courts in Arizona are the county Superior Courts. The contact information for the Superior Court is as follows: Apache County Superior Court PO Box 667 70 West 3rd South St. Johns, Az 85936-0667 Phone: (928) 337-7555 Fax: (928) 337-7586 There is also an Apache County Superior Court Website. The Superior Court handles all cases including general civil litigation, probate, conservatorships, guardianships, juvenile cases, divorces and criminal.

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1881-1916 (*) Apache County District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
American Indians
 * 1882-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Land Records from 1986 at Apache County Recorder's Office

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War I
 * Apache County Assessor. Military enrollment list, 1917

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Other Records
Voting Records
 * 1882 – 1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index & 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1800-1946 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1947 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1833-1949 US Marriages – Arizona, 1833-1949 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: 

Death

 * 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Chinle Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Eagar Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * St Johns Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * East Flagstaff Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Flagstaff City - Coconino County Public Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Apache County Historical Society  180 W. Cleveland St. Johns, AZ 85936 Phone: 928-337-4737 Facebook Website White Mountain Historical Society 504 East Mohave St. Springerville, AZ 85938 Website

Websites

 * Apache County AZGenWeb Project.
 * Apache County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – 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.