Bonner County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named after Edwin L. Bonner who established a ferry on the Kootenai River in 1864 near present day Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The County Seat is Sandpoint and was founded February 21, 1907. It is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Bonner County Courthouse  215 South First Ave Sandpoint, ID 83864-1392 Phone: 208-265-1432 Bonner County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1911 marriage, divorce and court records from 1907 probate from 1890 and land records from 1889.

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:

Resources
Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Bonner County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Sandpoint.

Census Records
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census. For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

Church Records
 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) In 1930, Bonner County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.


 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Bonner County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
 * Sandpoint
 * 21 February 1907: Bonner County was created from Kootenai County, Idaho.

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

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Civil actions, 1904-1928; register, 1911-1912; index, 1904-1911; Power of attorney, 1883-1938; index, 1891-1986; Judgments, 1891-1931; index, 1882-1949

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Civil actions, 1904-1928; register, 1911-1912; index, 1904-1911; Deeds, 1885-1906; index, 1885-1910; Miscellaneous court records, 1905-1933

Local Histories

 * Beautiful Bonner, The History Of Bonner County, Idaho. c1991. By Bonner County History Book Committee; Marylyn Cork, project director. Dallas, Texas : Curtis Media. Online at:.
 * Beautiful Bonner: History and Memories. c1991. Marceline, Missouri. : Walsworth Publishing Co. Online at:.
 * Hoodoo Valley History. c2004. By Virginia Judge Overland. [S.l.] : Morton History Committee. Online at:.
 * Morton Valley Memories. c1996. By the Morton History Committee; Virginia J. Overland, editor. [S.l.] : Morton History Committee. Online at:.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Bonner County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Bonner County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1917-1918 at FamilySearch
 * 1917-1918 World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1917-1918 World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Bonner County GenWeb

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

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

 Current
 * Bonner County Bee
 * Priest River Times

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed some of the early Sandpoint newspapers as well as other Bonner County newspapers which can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho. The newspapers are listed under the name or town where the newspaper was published.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Bonner County. The originals are held in the Bonner County courthouse in Sandpoint, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

(Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions and many other court actions.) Miscellaneous records are outlined in the Miscellaneous Series below.
 * Judgments, 1891-1931; index, 1882-1949

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1905-1933 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1933 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

FamilySearch Centers

 * Bonners Ferry Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Hayden Lake Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Priest River Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Sandpoint Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * West Bonner District Library 219 Main St Priest River, ID 83856 Phone: (208) 448-2207 Website Facebook
 * East Bonner County District Library 1407 Cedar St Sandpoint, ID 83864 Phone: (208) 263-6930 Website Facebook
 * Priest Lake District Library 28769 Hwy 57 Priest Lake, ID 83856 Phone: (208) 443-2454 Website Facebook

Museums
Bonner County Historical Society and Museum 611 S. Ella Ave Sandpoint, ID 83864 Phone: 208-263-2344 Website

Societies

 * Bonner County Genealogy Society 602 Schweitzer Cut-off Road Sandpoint, Idaho Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho Phone: 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * Bonner County IDGenWeb regularly updated online resources for genealogical research
 * Bonner County at Idaho USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
 * USGenWeb May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Bonner County, Idaho at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
 * – 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.