Camas County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death

Description
The county was named for the camas root, or Camassia, a lily-like plant with an edible bulb found in the region, which was used as a food source by Native Americans and settlers. The County Seat is Fairfield and was founded February 6, 1917. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Camas County Courthouse 501 Soldier Road Fairfield, ID 83327-0430 Phone: 208-764-2242 Fax: 208-764-2349 Camas County Website County Clerk has marriage, divorce and court records from 1917 and incomplete burial records. Probate Court has probate records from 1890.

Parent County
1917 --Camas County was created 6 February 1917 from Blaine County. County seat: Fairfield

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

Places/Localities
The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

This list of places in Camas County, Idaho compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Camas County in Virtual Earth.

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit hometownlocator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Camas County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available 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 Fairfield.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Camas County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Camas County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Census
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.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

 * List of Camas County stakes and wards to about 1948.


 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Camas 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 Library in Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * Fairfield Branch

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.

Court Records
Some of the early court records of Camas County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Camas County courthouse in Fairfield, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

The records of the Miscellaneous records in the courts of Camas County that have been microfilmed are included in the Miscellaneous Series below.

History
The following histories have been published and are available in various libraries nationwide


 * A Brief History of Camas Prairie, by Lucy M. Nelson
 * A History of Camas Prairie, by John F Ryan
 * Lasting legacy, 1890-1990, Camas Prairie, Idaho, by Nan Reedy and Lena Nash Rice
 * Settlement of Oregon and Western Idaho by Utah Pioneers, by Mary N Porter Harris

Land and Property
Land and property records are usually found in the county in which the transactions took place. To view the Camas county records one would have to visit the county courthouse in Fairfield, Idaho.

Both the Idaho State Archives and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City have microfilm copies of the Homestead records of Camas County 1885-1983. The films at the Archives can be accessed by visiting in Boise, Idaho. The films at the can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of itsFamily History Centers.

Maps

 * A digital Camas County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Camas County, Idaho is available online.

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Camas County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

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 Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Camas County. The originals are held in the Camas County courthouse in Fairfield, 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 itsFamily History Centers.

Historical
The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed several Camas County newspapers:

Camas County Courier: 1914:1:1-1968:12:26 Camas Prairie Courier: 1905:11:9-1913:12:25 Camas Prairie Courier: 1905:11:9-1913:12:25 Fairfield Sun: 1911:11:23-1913:10:16 Hill City News: 1913:12:12 -1915:4:2 New Soldier Sun: 1911:11:23-1912:8:1 Snowshoe: 1987:10:28-1991:10:9 Snowshoe: 1986:12:3-1988:8:3

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

The existing original probate records of Camas County are located at the county courthouse located at Fairfield, Idaho, and can be accessed by visiting there.

The Idaho State Archives has copies of the Wills of Camas County (1897-1984) which can be viewed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Copies of the Wills probated in Camas County (1897-1984) are also available at the in Salt Lake City,Utah and are available for viewing there or at any of its affiliated | Family History Centers.

Taxation
Existing original tax assessment rolls for Camas County should be in the county courthouse in Fairfield or in the Idaho State Archives in Boise.

Vital Records
A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Idaho Vital Records State Department of Health or the Clerk's Office of the county where the event occurred.

Birth
Online Records
 * 1861-1911 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1929 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage
A number of Camas County marriages (1917-1948) have been microfilmed by the in Salt Lake City, and the film is available for viewing in Salt Lake City or in one of its affiliate | Family History Centers.

Online Records
 * 1800-1987 - Idaho, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1976 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

Death
Online Records
 * 1883-1929 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1938-1961 - at FamilySearch — index

Societies and Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.


 * Camas County District Library‎

519 1st Street West; P.O. Box 292, Fairfield, ID 83327 (208) 764-2553‎


 * Camas County Historical Society

124 East Camas Avenue (PO Box 571)

Fairfield, ID 83327

[mailto:tgpeck@rtci.net tgpeck@rtci.net]

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * Camas County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Camas County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)