Palo Alto County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Palo Alto County was created in 1851 and was named for the Battle of Palo Alto. It is located in northwestern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Palo Alto County Courthouse 1010 Broadway Emmetsburg, IA 50536 Phone: 712-852-3603 Palo Alto 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:

Biographies

 * History of Palo Alto County, Iowa. 1910. By Dwight Gaylord McCarty. Rapid City, IA: The Torch Press. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Palo Alto 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
Lutheran
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1857-1900   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1859-1926   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1869-1958   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1871-1902   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1872-1931   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1883-1966   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1907-1936   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images

Local Histories

 * Official souvenir program of the semi-centennial of Palo Alto County, Iowa: at Emmetsburg, Iowa July 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1906. 1906. By Palo Alto County, Iowa Old Settlers Committee. Emmetsburg, IA: Tribune Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * History of Palo Alto County, Iowa. 1910. By Dwight Gaylord McCarty. Rapid City, IA: The Torch Press. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Palo Alto County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1885-1934 Fire Insurance Maps for Palo Alto County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1885 and 1934.
 * 1904-2007 Palo Alto County 1904-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * IAGenWeb - Palo Alto County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Palo Alto County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Palo Alto County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Palo Alto County at State Library of Iowa.
 * 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

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

Newspapers

 * 1917-1944 The Ruthven Free Press. 1917-32 and 1934-44. Ruthven, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1956 West Bend Journal. 1956. West Bend, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1864-1940   at FamilySearch Catalog - index & 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
Ruthven Public LIbrary 1301 Gowrie Street P.O. Box 280 Ruthven, IA 51358 712-837-4820 E-mail: [mailto:info@ruthven.lib.ia.us info@ruthven.lib.ia.us] Website West Bend Public Library 316 S Broadway Avenue P.O. Box 46 West Bend, IA 50597 515-887-6411 Email: [mailto:wbplib@ncn.net wbplib@ncn.net] Website

Societies
Palo Alto County Genealogical Society Emmetsburg Public Library 707 N Superior Street Emmetsburg, IA 50536 Website

Websites

 * Palo Alto County at IAGenWeb Project
 * Palo Alto County at USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
 * State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
 * Palo Alto County at Genealogy Trails.
 * – 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.