Valley County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Valley 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 outstanding topographical feature of the area, Long Valley. The County has Cascade as its seat and the County was created February 26, 1917. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Valley County Courthouse 219 North Main Street Cascade, ID 83611 Phone: 208-382-7178 Valley County Website

County records has marriage records from 1929, and land records from 1904. County Clerk has divorce records from 1950, probate records from 1934 and court records from 1917.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Valley County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Valley County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

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, Valley County was part of Northwestern States Mission.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Valley 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 FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * 1917--Valley County, Idaho was created 26 February 1917 from Idaho and Boise Counties.

 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
 * Valley County Court Records at Idaho State Archives
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * County records, 1917-1937 Idaho. District Court (Valley County)
 * Register of action, 1917-1934 Idaho. Probate Court (Valley County)

Judgment Books
 * Judgment record, 1892-1925 Idaho. District Court (Valley County)

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Valley County Land Records at Idaho State Archives
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Valley County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Valley 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 I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Valley County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the FamilySearch Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and 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 ($)

 Current
 * Cascade Advocate
 * Star - News

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has issues of many Idaho Newspapers in its collections.

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. The following Valley County records have been microfilmed and are available for viewing at the Valley County courthouse in Cascade, Idaho or at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho:


 * Index to Misc. Records, Book 1 1879-1973 Court
 * Transcribed Miscellaneous Records, Idaho County, Book 1, pp 1-149 (con't on Valley-2/1) 1888-1903 Court
 * Transcribed Miscellaneous Records, Idaho County, Book 1, pp 150-472 (con't from Valley-1/5) 1901-1903 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 1 1879-1917 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 2 1917-1925 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 3 1917-1924 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 4

The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also has microfilmed copies of these records which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City and at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Valley County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index. This index is available online. Microfilmed copies of these records are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * (*) FamilySearch Catalog
 * Valley County Probate Records at Idaho State Archives
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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
 * 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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cascade Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Fruitland Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Challis Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Garden Valley Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * McCall Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Weiser Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Cascade Public Library 105 N Front St Cascade, ID 83611 Phone: (208) 382-4757 Website
 * Mccall Public Library 218 E Park St Mccall, ID 83638 Phone: (208) 634-5522 Website

Museums

 * Central Idaho Historical Museum‎ 1001 State Street Mccall, ID 83638-3705 (208) 634-4497 Website


 * Valley County Museum ‎13131 Farm to Market Road Donnelly, ID 83615 (208) 325-8628‎ Website

Societies

 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website


 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter


 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * Valley County ID GenWeb, a member of ID GenWeb
 * Genealogy Village


 * – 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.