Union County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Oregon Online Genealogy Records

Description
Union County was named for the town of Union. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1875, and naturalization records 1900-1975. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1854.

Union County Government

Union was the former county seat until after 1 February 1901.

Historical Facts
14 October 1864: Union county was created from Baker County.

Named for the city of Union which is located within the boundaries, a county seat at the time of the creation of the county.


 * Records Held at the Courthouse

County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Union County Court House as of October 2005.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes
11 February 1887: Wallowa County was set off.

1 February 1901: Southeast portion of Union known as the Panhandle was annexed to Baker County by the order of the State Legislature.

For animated maps illustrating Oregon County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Oregon County Boundary Maps" (1843-1975) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org 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:

Defunct Post Offices

 * Alicel: Alicel is a station on the Joseph branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is reported when this branch line was built about 1890, Charles Ladd, a local resident, had the station named for his wife, Alcie Ladd. After the death of Mr. Ladd his widow married a Mr. Tucker and subsequently lived in Seattle. Alicel is located in the Grande Ronde Valley. Had a post office from 1890 until 1972. Alicel was platted in 1890.

Trivia Tidbits
Information about localities, too small or too brief to describe in separate pages. Exception to this are Post Offices. &gt; Trivia Tidbits

Cemeteries
Vol. 21 page 177 - Lower Cove Cemetery, Alical


 * Oregon Metro
 * Oregon Genealogy Cemeteries

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

County Records

 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Maps

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

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for European and African American settlers included:


 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — index and images

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

Probate Records
Online Records


 * 1833–1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)

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

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

See also How to order Oregon Vital Records, order electronically online or download an application for Oregon Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

Birth Records

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images (*); Also at: Ancestry
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage Records

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1842-1917 Oregon, U.S., State Births, 1842-1917 at Ancestry - index and images ($); Also at: 
 * 1849-1884; 1991-2006 at FamilySearch — index and images; collection is incomplete.
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * Extractions of early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index
 * Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection

Societies, Libraries and Museums
Union County Historical Society 333 S Main St Union, OR 97883 Website Facebook

Cook Memorial Library 2006 Fourth St La Grande, OR 97850 Phone: 541-962-1339 Website Facebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Elgin Oregon Family History Center
 * La Grande Oregon Family History Center
 * Pendleton Oregon Family History Center
 * Cook Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * The Genealogical Forum of Oregon - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Union County, OR History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Oregon Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Union County GenWeb Project, part of The ORGenWeb Project
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives