Iowa County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Iowa County was named for the Iowa River and it is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Iowa County Courthouse 901 Court Ave Marengo, IA 52301 Phone: 	319-642-3914 Iowa 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

 * History of Iowa County, Iowa, and its people. 1915. By James C. Dinwiddie. Chicago, IL: The J.S. Clarke Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * The History of Iowa County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion.... 1881. Des Moines, IA., Union Historical Company Birdsall, Williams, and Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Iowa 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

Court Records

 * 1933-1946 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1887 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1857-1933 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1863-1934 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1877-1932 (*); Court Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1856-1925 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1847-1855   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1847-1927   at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images

Local Histories

 * History of Iowa County, Iowa, and its people. 1915. By James C. Dinwiddie. Chicago, IL: The J.S. Clarke Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2, Ancestry ($)
 * Amana today : a history of the Amana Colonies from 1932 to the present. 1975. By Lawrence L. Rettig.  South Amana, Iowa. Online at:  FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Pioneer recollections : stories and pictures depicting the early history and development of Iowa County selected from the family albums and libraries of the descendants of the pioneers of the county, also stories as written or dictated by these residents, from records in their possession or tales related to them by their parents. 1941. By Harley Ransom. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Historical Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Plat book of Iowa County, Iowa. 1886. By Geo G Warner & C.M. Foote. Minneapolis, MN: Warner & Foote. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The History of Iowa County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion.... 1881. Des Moines, IA., Union Historical Company Birdsall, Williams, and Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Iowa County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1874 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * 1875-2007 Iowa County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1883-1942 Fire Insurance Maps for Iowa County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1942.
 * 1917 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Atlas of Iowa county, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Iowa County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Iowa County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Iowa County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Plat Book of Iowa County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The Atlas of Iowa County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Iowa County at State Library of Iowa.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places.

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

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

Civil War service men in Iowa 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:
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company E
 * - 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 11th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 24th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 28th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B, G, I

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1869-1930 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1848-2007   at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images
 * 1853-1929   at FamilySearch Catalog - 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

 * 1877-1932 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1900-1939 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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

Libraries
Marengo Public Library 235 East Hilton Street Marengo, IA 52301 319-741-3825 E-mail: [mailto:director@marengo.lib.ia.us director@marengo.lib.ia.us] Website

Museums
Amana Heritage Society Museums 705 44th Avenue Amana, IA 52203 319-622-3567 E-mail: [mailto:amanaheritage@southslope.net amanaheritage@southslope.net] Website Pioneer Heritage Museum PO Box 288 675 East South Street Marengo, IA 52301 319-642-7018 E-mail: [mailto:marilynr@netins.net marilynr@netins.net] Website

Societies
Iowa County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 207 121 Main St North English, IA 52316 319-664-3194 E-mail: [mailto:iacogen@netins.net iacogen@netins.net] Website Williamsburg Historical Society PO Box 1091 516 Elm Street Williamsburg, IA 52361 319-668-1822 or 319-668-1651 Website

Websites

 * Iowa County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
 * Iowa County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
 * Iowa County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
 * Iowa County at Iowa USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
 * – 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.