Latah County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Latah 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 Latah Creek. The County Seat is Moscow and was founded May 14, 1888. It is located in the north area of the state.

County Courthouse
Latah County Courthouse 522 S. Adams Moscow, ID 83843 Phone: 208-882-8580 County Website

County Clerk Recorder has birth and death records 1907-1911, marriage, land and military discharge records from 1888 and naturalization records 1845-1898. District Court has probate records from 1896, court records from 1891 and divorce records from 1940.

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:

Census Records
For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho 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.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * In 1930, Latah 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.


 * 14 May 1888: Latah County was created from Nez Perce County.
 * Moscow

 Lutheran
 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Kendrick, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

 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
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Court records, 1889-1939; Power of attorney, 1879-1947; index, 1879-1986

Judgment Books
 * Judgments, 1889-1942

Directories
The Idaho State Archives as a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1884-1986
 * 1888-1907
 * 1881-1986

Local Histories

 * Idaho Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Family Maps of Latah County, Idaho (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * A digital Latah County Idaho map is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

World War I

 * 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
 * 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
 * Daily News, published in Moscow.
 * Latah Eagle

 Historical
 * Idaho State Archives digital newspaper project.

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 Latah County. The originals are held in the Latah County courthouse in Moscow, 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 itsFamily History Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Probate records are usually housed in the county in which the transactions took place, so the Latah County records should be available in Moscow, Idaho by visiting the county courthouse there.
 * Some have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and are available for viewing in Salt Lake or its affiliate family history centers.
 * The Idaho State Archives has also microfilmed many Latah County probate records, and these copies can be accessed by visiting their facility 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

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
 * 1907-1911 The death registers for Latah County, 1907-1911 have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library (FS Library) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * 1911-1954 Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives, the Family History Library, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * 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

Family History Centers

 * Kamiah Idaho Family History Center
 * Lewiston Idaho Family History Center
 * Moscow Idaho Family History Center
 * Orofino Idaho Family History Center
 * St Maries Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Latah County District Library 110 S Jefferson St Moscow, ID 83843 Phone: 208-882-3925 Website Facebook Page

Museums

 * McConnell Mansion Museum‎ 110 South Adams Street Moscow, ID 83843-2829 Phone: 208-882-1004

Societies

 * Latah County Historical Society 327 East Second Street Moscow, ID 83843 Phone: 208-882-1004 Website Facebook Page
 * Historic Sites from Latah County Website
 * 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

 * Latah County ID GenWeb, a member of ID GenWeb


 * – 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.