Gooding County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Gooding 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 for Frank R. Gooding, pioneer sheep rancher, early mayor of the city of Gooding, later Idaho Governor and U. S. Senator. The County Seat is Emmett and was founded January 28, 1913. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Gooding County Courthouse 624 Main Street Gooding, ID 83330-0417 Phone: 208-934-4261 Gooding County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1913.

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:

History Timeline

 * 8 February 1919: Jerome County created from parts of Gooding and Lincoln Counties

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
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Gooding County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Gooding 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 Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

Stakes: Blaine Stake, Idaho
 * Fairfield
 * Gooding
 * Hagerman
 * Wendell

 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

Judgment Books See also the Miscellaneous Series for Gooding County.
 * 1913-1931 Judgments, 1913-1931; general index, 1913-1940

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

 * Settlement of Oregon and western Idaho by Utah pioneers, by Mary N Porter Harris
 * Gooding County roots and branches, 1989, by the History Book Committee 
 * Gooding County roots and branches pictorial 1990, by History Book Committee
 * A centennial history of Bliss, Idaho, by Lorna Hobdey Falkner
 * Bliss historical points of interest on Clover Creek, by Lorna Bard

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Digital Gooding County Idaho map
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1917-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

World War I

 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1917-1918 Gooding County Court, Soldier records, 1917-1918 Image 365

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
The Idaho State Archivesin Boise, Idaho has copies of the following Gooding County newspapers which can be viewed by visiting the Archives: Enterprise Of Southern Idaho: 1977:5:26-1983:11:3 Gooding County Leader: 1969:4:3-1995:12:27 Gooding Independent: 1936:1:23-1939:12:28 Gooding Leader, 1921: 1921:1:20-1927:6:30 Gooding Leader, 1933: 1933:1:5-1975:1:30 Hagerman Valley Sun: 1911:06:16 Hub City Irrigationist: 1909:4:15-1912:6:14 Hub City Voice: 1974:12:18-1975:8:28 Idaho Leader: 1908:12:23-1921:1:13 Idaho Leader: 1909:6:11, 11:12 Wendell Irrigationist: 1912:8:9-1970:6:25
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

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

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com ($)

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

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

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

Family History Centers

 * Burley Idaho Family History Center
 * Carey Idaho Ward Family History Center
 * Glenns Ferry Idaho Family History Center
 * Grand View Idaho Family History Center
 * Mountain Home Idaho Family History Center
 * Shoshone Idaho Family History Center
 * Twin Falls Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Gooding Public Library 306 Fifth Ave W Gooding, ID 83330 Phone: (208) 934-4089 Website E-mail: [mailto:emailofsociety goodingpubliclibrary@gmail.com]
 * Hagerman Public Library 441 S State St Hagerman, ID 83332 Phone: (208) 837-6520 Website
 * Wendell Public Library 395 1st Ave E Wendell, ID 83355 Phone: (208) 536-6195 Website

Museums

 * Gooding County Historical Museum Euskadi Ln, Gooding, ID 83330 (208) 934-5135

Societies

 * Gooding County Historical Society 385 Euskadi Ln Gooding, ID 83330 Facebook Page
 * Hagerman Valley Historical 100 North State Street, Hagerman, ID 83332 (208) 837-6288 Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * ID GenWeb Gooding, Idaho USGenWeb


 * – 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.