Union County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Union County was named for the "Union" of states that the people wanted to preserve and is located in southwestern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Union County Courthouse 300 North Pine, Suite 6 Creston, IA 50801 Phone: 641-782-7315 Union County Website

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:

Biographies

 * Union County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Census Records
State Census
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 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

Directories

 * Creston, Iowa Directory, 1889 at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

 * Illustrated centennial sketches, map and directory of Union County, Iowa. 1876, Creston, IA: C. J. Colby. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust
 * Mount Pisgah: history of a temporary settlement of the "Mormons" while on their westward journey. By Andrew Jenson. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Union County for European settlers included:
 * Mormon Trail 1846 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War service men in Union County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
 * - 29th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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

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

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1935 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 ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

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, ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Divorce

 * 1906-1973 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers
To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Libraries
Gibson Memorial Library 200 West Howard Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2277 E-mail:[mailto:crestonlibrary310@gmail.com crestonlibrary310@gmail.com] Website Union Public Library 406 Commercial Street P.O. Box 146 Union, IA  50258 641-486-5561 E-mail:[mailto:director@union.lib.ia.us director@union.lib.ia.us] Website

Societies
Union County Genealogical Society Matilda Gibson Memorial Library 200 W. Howard Street Creston, IA 50801 E-mail:[mailto:webmaster@unioncgs.org webmaster@unioncgs.org] Website

Websites

 * GenealogyTrails Union County
 * Union County IAGenWeb
 * Union County USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection
 * Union County at Cyndi's List.
 * Union County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)


 * – 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.