Kootenai County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Kootenai 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 Kootenai tribe. The County Seat is Coeur d'Alene and was founded December 22, 1864. It is located in the north area of the state.

County Courthouse
Kootenai County Courthouse 324 West Garden Ave Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 Phone: 208-446-1221 County Website

Created in 1864, but not organized until 1881. County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1912, marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1881.

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

 * 21 February 1907 -- Bonner County created from part of Kootenai County
 * 23 January 1915 -- Benewah County created from part of Kootenai County
 * 23 January 1915 -- Boundary County created from parts of Bonner and Kootenai 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)
 * In 1930, Kootenai County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.
 * 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.


 * 1864--Kootenai County was created 22 December 1864 from Nez Perce County. County seat: Coeur d'Alene

 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
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Court records, 1881-1905; journal, 1905-1927
 * Kootenai County, Idaho criminal index, 1881-1970
 * Power of attorney, 1883-1943; index, 1891-1988
 * Register of actions, 1886-1929; index, 1893-1948
 * Judgment records, 1882-1933
 * Judgments, 1884-1885

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

Local Histories
A History of Kootenai County with brief accounts of some towns is available at the official Kootenai County website.
 * An illustrated history of north Idaho embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho
 * Inventory of the County Archives of Idaho, Vol. 8. (Note: The book was written in 1939 so it only catalogs materials prior to that year.)
 * The Kootenai country Fort Steele, Libby Creek, Yakt, Rossland, Nelson, Kaslo, Slocan, Montana, Idaho, British Columbia, reached by Great Northern Railway from the east and west is available at Montana Memories.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Family Maps of Kootenai County, Idaho (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * An 1895 map of Kootenai and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Kootenai County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Kootenai 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
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1927 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 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 ($)

 Current
 * Coeur d'Alene Press

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 Kootenai County. The originals are held in the Kootenai County courthouse in Couer d'Alene, 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.

Pension Records
Old Age Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho from 1931 to 1936. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Kootenai County Old Age Pensions are included in that index.

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

School Records
The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed some school census records from Kootenai County (1898-1910) which can be viewed at their headquarters in Boise, Idaho.

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

Tax Records
(1908-1911) have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake. These records are available at the Family History Library and their affiliate family history centers.

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
 * 1907-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * A 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

 * Hayden Lake Idaho Family History Center
 * Kellogg Idaho Family History Center
 * Priest River Idaho Family History Center
 * St Maries Idaho Family History Center
 * Spokane Washington East Family History Center
 * Spokane Washington Family History Center
 * Spokane Washington North Family History Center

Libraries

 * Coeur D'Alene Public Library 702 E Front Ave Coeur D'Alene, ID 83814 Phone: (208) 769-2315 Website
 * Post Falls Public Library 821 N Spokane Post Falls, ID 83854 Phone: (208) 773-1506 Website
 * Kootenai-Shoshone District Library 8385 N Government Wy Hayden, ID 83835 Phone: (208) 772-5612 Website

Museums
Museum of North Idaho  115 Northwest Boulevard Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83816-0812 Phone: 208-664-3448 Facebook PageWebsite

Societies

 * Kootenai County Genealogical Society 8385 N Government Way Website
 * Kootenai County Historical Society Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website Facebook
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * Kootenai County ID GenWeb, a member of IDGenWeb


 * – 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.