Yamhill County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Description
Yamhill County was named for probably an explorer's name for a local Native American tribe, the Yamhill, who are part of the North Kalapuyan family. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Yamhill County Courthouse 535 NE 5th Street McMinnville, OR 97128 Phone: 503-434-7530 Yamhill County Website
 * County Clerk has marriage records from 1881 and land records from 1853.
 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

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:

History Timeline

 * 22 December 1845: Polk County set off.
 * 15 December 1853: Tillamook County set off.

Census Records

 * 1845 Territorial Transcription and Index
 * 1849 Territorial Transcription and Index

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

Court Records

 * 1857-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images


 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records Wiki article describing online FamilySearch Historical collection is found Oregon. Yamhill County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Migration
Details about the rivers and waterways where farms and settlements are often found along them. see Rivers and Waterways

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

World War I
 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 Additional Records
 * 1899? Jacob Calvin Cooper. The military history of Yamhill County. (1899?)
 * 1871-1902 Military enrollment list of Yamhill County, 1871-1902
 * 1919-1951; 1920-2008 Yamhill County, service discharge records, 1919-1951; index, 1920-2008

Newspapers
Oregon Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1833-1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 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

Vital Records
The FamilySearch Library has copies of some records such as: Yamhill County record of deaths 1907-1931, index 1903-1944, coroner's reports 1861-1940

Birth

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1903-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1849-1884;1991-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1885-1896 Marriage Index 1885-1896 Book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho

Death

 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1864-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1968 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * McMinnville Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Newberg Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * The Genealogical Forum of Oregon - an affiliate library
 * Hillsboro Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Lake Oswego Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * McMinnville Public Library 225 NW Adams St McMinnville, OR 97128 503-435-5562 Website

Societies

 * Yamhill County Historical Society and Museum 11275 SW Durham Ln McMinnville, OR 97128 Phone: 503-472-2842 Website
 * Yamhill County Genealogical Society 800 NE Lafayette Ave McMinnville, OR 97128 Email: [mailto:info@ycgsociety.org info@ycgsociety.org] Website

Websites

 * Yamhill GenWeb, and ORGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Oregon, Yamhill County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * – 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.