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

Description
The County was named for Battle of Buena Vista. The County has Storm Lake as its seat and the County was created 1851. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Buena Vista County Courthouse 215 E. 5th St. P. O. Box 1186 Storm Lake, IA 50588-1186 Phone: (712) 749-2546 Buena Vista County Courthouse 215 E. 5th St. P. O. Box 1186 Storm Lake, IA 50588-1186 (712) 749-2546

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:

Census Records
Iowa recorded not only the federal census but state census through out the years too. The state census contains very valuable genealogical information. Where the census information can be found, what years it was taken, mortality schedules, census substitutions and much more is discussed in the very informative Iowa Census article.

State Census
 * 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

 * FamilySearch Places

Lutheran Buena Vista County
 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Buena Vista County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Trinity Lutheran Church, Linn Grove
 * Records of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Linn Grove, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Local Histories

 * Eilers, Tom D. Buena Vista's part in the world war one Iowa county's record of service and sacrifice. Storm Lake, Iowa Tom D. Eilers, 1920.
 * *Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * Wegerslev, C. H. Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa. Chicago, Illinois S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1909.
 * *Online at FamilySearch (Free) and at Internetarchive
 * Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Buena Vista County history, Iowa at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Michael Fox Map Collection at Iowa Historical Society — browse by type or date, overlays for Google Earth.
 * Vista Buena Vista County maps at David Rumsey Map Collection

Military Records

 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only

Online Civil War Indexes and Records
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1862-1910 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
NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a large collection of digitized Iowa newspapers online. This database is sometimes free at libraries.
 * Iowa Digital Newspaper Hub at Iowa Historical Society — narrow by county, sort by Publication Date, Title, and Search for surname.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry($)

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, click here for more information.

Tax Records

 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Vital Records

 * Iowa Birth Records, 1900-1934 and Death Records, 1904-2001 at Iowa Historical Society — search by name, date, a related surname, or county.

Birth

 * 1850-1939 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 ($) — index
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry($)
 * 1885-present Iowa Official Marriage System at IA.gov — search by county, name or date, and request copy.
 * 1970-2003 Iowa Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives.com ($)

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry($)

Divorce

 * 1970-2003 Iowa Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives.com ($)

Family History Centers

 * Storm Lake Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Buena Vista County Genealogical Society 221 West Railroad Storm Lake, IA 50588 Telephone:712-732-7111 E-mail: [mailto:famhisbv@ncn.net famhisbv@ncn.net] Website Buena Vista County Historical Society 214 West 5th Street Storm Lake, IA 50588 Telephone:712-732-4955 Website

Websites

 * – 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.