Wright County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Wright County was named for Silas Wright and is located in central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Wright County Courthouse 115 North Main Street Clarion, IA 50525 Phone: 515-532-3113 Wright 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:

Bible Records

 * USGW Archives.net Wright County Bibles

Biographies

 * IA GenWeb Biographies of the people in Wright County.
 * Wright 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
List of Churches and Church Parishes Lutheran
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Local Histories

 * History of Wright County, Iowa : its people, industries and institutions with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families. 1915, By B. P. Birdsall. Indianapolis, IN.: B. F. Bowen.  Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * Wright County Iowa Topographic Maps at Topozone: Choose Airport, Bridge, Building, Cemetery, Church, Civil, Hospital, Lake, Locale, Park, Populated Place, Post Office, School, Stream, Summit, Trail
 * 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 Wright 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:
 * - 4th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company K

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Belmond Independent Belmond, Iowa
 * Eagle Grove Eagle Eagle Grove, Iowa
 * Wright County Monitor Clarion, Iowa
 * 1951-59 and 1961-68 Ancestry.com ($) Wright County Monitor

Obituaries

 * IAGenWeb Obits

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — 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 ($)

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

Libraries
Belmond Public Library 440 E Main Street Belmond, IA 50421 641-444-4160 Website

Museums
Heartland Museum 119 SW 9th Street PO Box 652 Clarion, IA 50525 515-602-6000 E-mail:[mailto:heartlandclarion@gmail.com heartlandclarion@gmail.com] Website Belmond Historical Museum 223 E Main Street Belmond, Iowa 515-571-3264 Website

Societies
Wright County Genealogical Searchers 714 3rd Street NE Clarion, Iowa 50525-0225 E-mail:[mailto:genealogysearcher2013@gmail.com genealogysearcher2013@gmail.com] Website Belmond Historical Society 223 East Main Street Belmond, Iowa 50421 515-571-3264 E-mail:[mailto:BelmondHistory@gmail.com BelmondHistory@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Wright County at IAGenWeb Project
 * Wright County at USGenWeb Archives
 * 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
 * Wright County at Cyndi's List.
 * Wright County at Genealogy Trails.
 * Wright County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History at Linkpendium.
 * – 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.