Camas County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Camas 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 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 Camas County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce and court records from 1917 and incomplete burial records. Probate Court has probate records from 1890.

Populated Places
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:

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 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 Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * Fairfield Branch

 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
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Local Histories
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

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Camas County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Camas County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I World War II
 * 1917-1918
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

 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 — 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 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.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1897-1984 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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
 * 1917-1948 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 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

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

 * Carey Idaho Ward Family History Center
 * Hailey Idaho Family History Center
 * Moore Idaho Family History Center
 * Mountain Home Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Camas County District Library 519 1st Street West Fairfield, ID 83327 Phone: 208-764-2553 Website

Societies

 * Camas County Historical Society 124 East Camas Avenue Fairfield, ID 83327 E-mail:[mailto:emailofsociety tgpeck@rtci.net]
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho Phone: 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * ID GenWeb Camas and Idaho GenWeb


 * – 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.