Harney County, Oregon Genealogy

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



Description
Harney County was named for William S. Harney, a military officer of the period, who was involved in the Pig War and was popular in the Pacific Northwest. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Harney County Courthouse 450 North Buena Vista Avenue Burns, Or 97720 Phone: 541-573-2346 Harney County Courthouse
 * County Clerk has marriage records from 1911, land and probate records from 1889, military records from 1943 and naturalization records.
 * Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records.
 * County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Harney County Court House as of July 2008.

Populated Places
The following are locations in the county:

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator

Church Records
 Lutheran
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

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

Court Records
County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Harney County Court House as of July 2008. Harney County Court is structured differently. Check the County Records Inventory link for addresses for location of records (left column).

Maps and Gazetteers

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

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

Military Records
 Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 World War I
 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images


 * 1943 County Clerk has Military Records beginning 1943

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

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1833-1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1889 County Clerk has Land and Probate records beginning 1889.

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

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

Birth

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1849-1884;1991-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection
 * 1911 County Clerk has Marriage Records beginning 1911

Death

 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1864-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1968 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

Divorce
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Burns Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * John Day Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Klamath Falls Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * The Genealogical Forum of Oregon - an affiliate library
 * Klamath County Library - an affiliate library
 * Oregon Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Libraries
Harney County Library 80 W D St Burns, OR 97720 541-573-6670 Website

Societies
Harney County Historical Society 18 West D St Burns 97720-1226 Phone: 541-573-5618 Website

Websites

 * Harney County GenWeb, part of OR GenWeb
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project


 * – 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.