Santa Cruz County, Arizona Genealogy

United States Arizona Santa Cruz County

County Courthouse
Santa Cruz County Courthouse 2150 North Congress Drive P O Box 1265 Nogales, AZ 85628-1265 Phone: 520-761-7800

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and Court Records from 1899, military records 1888-1085 and adoption records from 1940

History
Santa Cruz County lies directly south of Tucson and Pima Counties. The town of Nogales is a major border crossing between the United States and Mexico, and is part of a 'twin border city' situation. Nogales is also the county seat.

A river runs north out of Mexico towards Tucson, also named the Santa Cruz.

The historic Catholic mission near Tubac on I-19 is significant in the history of the area. However, any records that were produced when this was actively a community and an active parish are not kept there, but may be with the Diocese in Tucson. Other missions are also nearby, mainly San Xavier which is in Pima County closer to Tucson.

Parent County
Arizona was part of New Spain until 1821, and then part of Mexico until 1846. Some records of early Arizona settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.

Moreover, Arizona was part of the United States' New Mexico Territory from 1846 to 1863. In 1855 the was added to New Mexico Territory as part of Doña Ana county, including much of the land that became part of Arizona. Present-day Santa Cruz County, Arizona was once part of Doña Ana county in New Mexico. When Arizona was created in 1863, the former New Mexico counties were dissolved within Arizona's borders and eventually new counties were formed.

If an ancestor lived in what is now Santa Cruz County, Arizona between 1855 and 1863, first check for records in Santa Cruz County. However, there is also a small chance that a few papers were recorded in a parent county's courthouse in Arizona (if any), or in the corresponding parent county in New Mexico.

1899--Santa Cruz County was created 15 March 1899 from Pima and Cochise Counties. County seat: Nogales

Neighboring Counties

 * Cochise
 * Pima

Cemeteries
Arizona Cemetery Transcription and Photo Project

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Nogales

Vital Records
Many early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

The Tumacacori National Historical Parkhas created a website with searchable Spanish Mission Records as well as an annotated bibliography of the Tohono O'odham (Papago Indians). Along with transcribed marriage records from the Cathedral of Culiacan in spanish, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Societies and Libraries
Pimeria Alta Historical Society 136 North Grand Ave. Nogales, AZ 85621 PO Box 2281 Nogales, AZ 85628 Telephone 520-287-4621 Hours 10-4 Thurs.-Sat

Family History Centers
Introduction to Family History CentersNogales Arizona Family History Center

Nogales Arizona 621 W Green Pl Nogales, Santa Cruz, Arizona, United States Telephone: 520-281-0368

This is not a mailing address. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog
 * Santa Cruz County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)