Malheur County, Oregon Genealogy

Guide to Malheur County, Oregon ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Malheur County was named for Malheur River, which runs through the county. "Malheur" is French for misfortune or tragedy. The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Malheur County Courthouse 251 B Street West, Vale, Or 97918 Phone: 541-473-5171 Malheur County Website
 * County Clerk has marriage, probate, and land records from 1887.
 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

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:

 Post Offices


 * Adrian: When a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad was built into this part of the county, there was a post office called Riverview on east side of Snake River, and railroad officials did not desire to have a station of the same name on the west side. Reuben McCreary, who platted the townsite of Riverview on the west side, suggested that if that name was unsatisfactory, the name Adrian be used, which was adopted by the railroad on Feb. 13, 1913. This was to commemorate his birthplace, Adrian, Hancock County, Illinois. Riverview post office with its descriptive name was established on the east side of the river Aug. 22, 1911, with John E. Holley postmaster. About 1915 the office was moved west across the river to the vicinity of Adrian station, and the name of the office was changed to Adrian on Nov. 10, 1919. Earlier editions of Oregon Geographic Names ascribe the name to James Adrian, a local sheepman, but Adrian did not arrive in the area until 1916.

Biographies
Malheur Little biographic bits associated with the names of non-population localities.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Malheur County for European and African American settlers included:
 * Snake River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

 Rivers and Waterways Details about the rivers and waterways where farms and settlements are often found along them. see Rivers and Waterways

Military Records
 Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

World War I
 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Newspapers
Oregon Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1833-1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — 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

Vital Records
Many early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

Birth

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1903-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1849-1884;1991-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1885-1896 Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho

Death

 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1864-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1968 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Nyssa Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Ontario Oregon FamilySearch Center

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

 FamilySearch Centers
 * Fruitland Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Nyssa Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Ontario Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Klamath County Library - an affiliate library
 * Oregon Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Libraries
Ontario Library District 388 S.W. 2nd Avenue Ontario, OR 97914 Phone: 541-889-6371 Website Facebook

Nyssa Public Library 319 Main Street Nyssa, OR 97913 Phone: 541-372-2978 Website Facebook

Emma Humphrey Library 150 A St E Vale, OR 97918 Phone: 541-473-3902 Website


 * Ontario Community Library 388 SW 2nd Ave Ontario, OR 97914 Website

Societies
Malheur County Historical Society PO Box 691 Ontario, OR 97914 E-mail: [mailto:malheurcountryhist@gmail.com malheurcountryhist@gmail.com] Website


 * Malheur County History and GenealogyWebsite


 * Malheur County Historical Society 1186 SW Sixth Ave Ontario, OR 97914 541-889-5073 E-mail:[mailto:malheurcountryhist@gmail.com malheurcountryhist@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Malheur County GenWeb, part of OR GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * – 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.