Benton County, Washington Genealogy

Guide to Benton County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1905, when the county was formed.

Parent County(s)
was created 8 March 1905 from Klickitat and Yakima counties

County Seat: Prosser. See also Towns and Communities in. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

For animated maps illustrating Washington County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Washington County Boundary Maps" (1843-1915) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse 600 Market Street Prosser, WA 99350-0190 Phone: 509.786.5624 County Auditor has birth records 1905-1907 and marriage records from 1905. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records. County Assessor has land records.


 * Inventory of the county archives of Washington, no. 3. Benton County (Prosser) (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Neighboring Counties
isurrounded by:Franklin | Grant | Klickitat | Walla Walla | Yakima | Oregon counties: Morrow | Umatilla

Census

 * Washington State Digital Archives Census indexes: (Free)
 * Federal 1910
 * These were indexed by local societies and individuals.


 * School census record 1910-1926 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images) An index is available from the Tri-City Genealogical Society
 * See what genealogical information may bee in these records.

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the.

American Indian

 * 1911 - 1919 - at FamilySearch — images

Japanese

 * World War II Files, 1942-1946. Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives.

History
Local Histories


 * Benton County, Washington Facts at Genealogyinc.com (mis-labeled as Benton County, Alabama)

History Resources


 * "TCGS Digital Collections" online at Tri-Cities Genealogical Society

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Elizabeth Gibson. Benton County -- Thumbnail History, HistoryLink.org, Essay 5671.


 * 1803 - The first inhabitants were the, Umatillas, Klickitats, and Wallulas.
 * 1853 - March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes.
 * 1858 - A gold rush to British Columbia brought the first influx of white people, as rushers traveled through on their way north.
 * 1880s - Steamboats and railroads connected what would become known as Kennewick to the other settlements along the Columbia River.
 * 1880s and earlier - Benton County has very little rainfall, and some farmers had been successful at dryland farming.
 * 1890s - Irrigation came to the county and brought many changes.
 * 1905 - March 6, Washington State Legislature creates Benton County (out of Klickitat).
 * 1942 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Manhattan District, surveyed the northern part of the county for a secret government project.
 * 1943 - The government ordered everyone living in the town sites of Hanford and White Bluffs to evacuate. Shortly thereafter, a huge government construction project began, known only as the . Thousands of people moved to the Eastern Washington desert. No one knew what they were building, just that it would help the war effort. Only when they heard the news of the devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6, 1945, did the workers know what they had built. "Our bomb clinched it!" read the Richland Villager.

Land and Property

 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps, 1878-present (prior records having been destroyed in a fire).
 * Online Document Searching Deeds, mortgages, etc. from 1985

Military

 * World War II (1941–1945) army enlistments at the county GenWeb site has about 400 entries, mostly from Okanogan and other counties. Key (at end of the list) explains codes and columns. Gives year and state of birth. Free.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization Records, 1905-1954 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free index, no images)
 * Includes Declarations of Intention, Petitions for Naturalization and Certificate Stubs.


 * Naturalization and Citizenship 1901-1954 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Declarations of intention 1901-1954; Petitions 1907-1954; Naturalization Records 1907-1929.

Newspapers

 * Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)

Probate Records

 * Probate case files 1895-1930 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Public Records

 * Benton Postmaster Index}. Prior to 1965 Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)


 * Petition Records 1912-1984 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Petitions for roads, courthouse removal, other civil matters.


 * Mother's pension records 1913-1937 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * These were single mothers trying to qualify for welfare support.

School Records

 * School census record 1910-1926 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records. These give exact birth dates of the children.

Birth

 * Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Benton County Birth Register.
 * For FHL entries, 1905-1907, click.


 * Birth Returns, 1905-1907 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * Birth Returns, Register, Index, 1905-1907 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Marriage

 * 1855–2008 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1905-1920 - Washington State Digital Archives has a database of Benton County Marriages from 1905 to 1920. This database is an index to marriage certificates filed with the Auditor in Benton County, Washington. For FHL entries, click.


 * 1905-1980 - Marriage Records, 1905-1980 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * 1901-1954 - Marriage Records 1901-1954 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may bee in these records.
 * Includes Marriage license applications 1939-1980, certificates 1905-2008, license index 1906-1926; Marriage affidavits 1905-1922.

Death

 * Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Family History Centers

 * Kennewick Washington Family History Center 895 W Gage Blvd, Richland, WA United States Location Map.


 * Prosser Washington Family History Center 1835 Highland Dr., Prosser, WA United States Location Map


 * Richland Family History Center 1314 Jadwin Ave., Richland WA 99352 United States Location Map

Libraries

 * Mid-Columbia Public Libraries -
 * Branches and Locations
 * Genealogy Research Tools
 * Special or unique Collections: collections of genealogical value are available from 1800s to the present. (Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and others)

Museums

 * East Benton County Historical Museum is located at 205 Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick, WA 99336-0602 (509) 582-7704 / ebchs @ frontier.com
 * The Reach is the new museum that has replaced CREHST. Visit: www.visitthereach.org/ The museum is located in Columbia Park West. The photo collections are no longer available.
 * CLOSED** The Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology (CREHST) is a museum and science center created to tell the dynamic story of the Columbia Basin and surrounding region." It features an excellent exhibit and materials available on the Hanford project and the huge influx of people to support it in the 1940's. Two collections of interest specifically to genealogists are their photos collections (indexes for Marlin's Columbia Photography, North Light Studio and Wendland Studio) and their collection of General Electric Company newsletters.

Societies

 * East Benton County Historical Society primarily runs a museum of local history and a research library. The museum features local history, from the ancient petrified forests to the Native Americans to the pioneers and settlers. Of special note is an extensive photograph collection depicting life in Kennewick, Richland, Finley, Hover, Hanford, White Bluffs and surrounding areas. "The museum library houses an extensive collection of materials including obituaries, local history files, family history information, high school annuals and books of local and regional interest. There are also 121 books from Dr. Glen Axford's Audubon Collection." (From the http://ebchs.org/ website under Museum Info: Research Library)
 * The Tri-City Genealogical Society has an extensive collection of local and regional resources as well as references for other areas. Check their resources page for an updated list of their holdings. They also provide genealogical help at the Mid-Columbia Library, have online resources, and conduct local research for a small fee.

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in Benton County per Wikipedia.

Extinct Communities