Bonneville County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Bonneville 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 Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, of the U. S. Army, who explored throughout the Snake River area in the 1830s. The County Seat is Idaho Falls and was founded February 7, 1911. It is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Bonneville County Courthouse 605 North Capital Street Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Phone: 208-589-9872 Bonneville County Courthouse

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, land, probate, and court records from 1911.

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

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)
 * List of Bonneville County stakes and wards up to about 1948
 * The following are local congregations (wards) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which existed in Bonneville County, Idaho prior to 1950. Many of the records of these church units are in the Historical Library in Salt Lake City. Many of the membership records covering these units from the date of their creation to about 1948 have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. An entire set of the local Church membership records are also available at BYU-Idaho Library and the Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center.

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

Court Records
,br> Online County Records'
 * 1867-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1911-1924 at FamilySearch. Judgment records, 1911-1924; index, 1911-1924; Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions, and many other court actions.
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1867-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Local Histories

 * Beautiful Bonneville: County Of Contrasts. c1989. By Alice Horton. Logan, Utah : Herff Jones. Online at:.
 * Bonneville County In The Making. c1941. By Barzilla W. Clark. Idaho Falls, Idaho : B.W. Clark Online at:.
 * Captain Bonneville's County. c1963. By Edith Haroldsen Lovell. Idaho Falls, Idaho : Eastern Idaho Farmer. Online at:.
 * The County: Concerning Idaho Counties. N.d. N.p: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * Historic Bonneville County: A Centennial History. c2011. By Mary Jane Fritzen. [Idaho Falls, Idaho] : Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce.  Online at:.
 * Second Stories Revisited: Historical Narratives Of Idaho Falls Women. c1986. By Cheryl A. Cox. Idaho Falls, Idaho : Cheryl A. Cox.  Online at:.
 * Sesquicentennial Memories: Idaho Falls' Mormon Pioneer Heritage. c1997. By Mary Jane Fritzen. Idaho Falls, Idaho : ZIP Print.  Online at:.
 * Settlement of Idaho By Utah Pioneers: Bonneville County. c2005. By Lou Jean S Wiggins. [Salt Lake City, Utah] : Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Online at:.
 * The People Of The Hills. c1963. By Miranda Campbell Stringham. Idaho Falls, Idaho : n.p.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 1;.
 * Taylor Mountain Homesteaders: The Compiled Histories Of The Settlers Of Bingham and Bonneville Counties Of Southwest Idaho. c2008. By Lynn Blatter. Bountiful, Utah : emCole Design. Online at:.
 * Unsung Heroes and Settlers, Bonneville County, Idaho. c2005. By Connie B. Otteson. [Idaho Falls, Idaho?] : C.B. Otteson. Online at:.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Bonneville County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Bonneville 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
 * 1917-1918
 * 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
 * 1867-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

 ''Online 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

Historical The Idaho State Archives holds microfilmed copies of the following Bonneville County newspapers: Idaho Register: 1885:4:4-1890:7:11 Resources of Idaho: 1885:4 Eastern Idaho Farmer: 1948:8:6-1979:3:11 (Also see specific town pages at this website, such as Idaho Falls.)

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.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry $
 * 1888-1914 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1906-1960 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1932 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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
 * 1867-2012 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 at BYU-Idaho
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Eastern Idaho Death 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

 * American Falls Idaho Family History Center
 * Blackfoot Idaho Family History Center
 * Blackfoot Idaho West Family History Center
 * Driggs Idaho Family History Center
 * Firth Idaho Family History Center
 * Fort Hall Idaho Family History Center
 * Idaho Falls East Family History Center
 * Idaho Falls Idaho FamilySearch Library
 * Pocatello Idaho FamilySearch Library
 * Rexburg Idaho Family History Center
 * Rigby Idaho Family History Center
 * David O McKay Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Idaho Falls Public Library 457 W Broadway Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Phone: 208-612-8450 Website Facebook

Societies

 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * Bonneville County Genealogy Trails Website
 * Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website
 * Bonneville County Historical Society and Museum of Idaho 200 N Eastern Ave. Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Phone: 208-522-1400 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * The Bonneville County ID GenWeb Project, ID GenWeb
 * Wikipedia


 * – 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.