La Paz County, Arizona Genealogy

Guide to La Paz County, Arizona ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Arizona Online Genealogy Records

County Courthouse
La Paz County Courthouse 1108 Joshua Avenue Parker, AZ 85344-6477

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records County Recorder has land records Parent County

Description
The County was named from the Spanish word for "the peace", and is taken from the early settlement (now ghost town) of La Paz along the Colorado River. The County has Parker as its seat and the County was created January 1, 1983. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

Parent County

 * Until 1821 - New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
 * In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
 * 18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona, including all of present day La Paz County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The land in present day La Paz County was then in Socorro County.  Look for records in Socorro County.
 * 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * 10 Nov 1864 - Yuma County was created as an original county of Arizona. This county named after the Yuma Indians. Look for records in Yuma County.

27 Apr 1983 - Arizona created La Paz County from the northern half of Yuma County. County seat: Parker Arizona. This county named for the town of La Paz, Arizona. Look for records in La Paz and Yuma counties.

Boundary Changes
See Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

For animated maps illustrating Arizona county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arizona County Boundary Maps" (1852-1993) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Maricopa County, Arizona
 * Mohave County, Arizona
 * Yavapai County, Arizona
 * Yuma County, Arizona
 * Imperial County, California
 * Riverside County, California
 * San Bernardino County, California

Church
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Maps

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

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

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

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803 – 1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth Records
Online Birth Indexes and Records
 * 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887 - 1935 at MyHeritage - index and images
 * 1909-1917 Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index

Marriage Records
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1833-1949 Arizona, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — index and browse images, incomplete  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages 1888-1908 at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870 - 1963 at MyHeritage ($) - index and images
 * 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994;at Ancestry.com — index

Societies and Libraries
Parker Area Historical Society 1214 California Ave. Parker, AZ 85344-1500 Telephone 928-669-8077 Hours 10-12 Friday &amp; Saturday OR by appointment.

Quartzsite Historical Society 161 W. Main St. Quartzsite, AZ 85346 Telephone 928-927-5229 Summer Hours: April through October 9am - 12 pm Thursdays Winter Hours: November - March Wed-Sun 10am to 4pm

Family History Centers

 * Bagdad Arizona Family History Center
 * Blythe California Family History Center
 * Lake Havasu City Arizona Family History Center
 * Parker Arizona Family History Center
 * Quartzsite Arizona Family History Center
 * Sun City Arizona Family History Center
 * Surprise Arizona North Family History Center
 * Yuma Arizona Family History Center


 * West Valley Genealogy Society - an affiliate library

Websites

 * La Paz County, AZ History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * La Paz County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * La Paz County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)