Cochise County, Arizona Genealogy

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

Description
Cochise County was named from the legendary Chiricahua Apache war chief Cochise. The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Cochise County Courthouse 100 Quality Hill Road / PO Box CK Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone: 520-432-8600 Cochise County Courthouse

Clerk Superior Court has marriage divorce, probate and court records. County Records has land records

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:

History Timeline

 * Until 1821New Spain controlled the land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
 * In 1821 Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Cochise County, Arizona. Some records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
 * 4 July 1848 In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded a small part of northeast Cochise County in present day Arizona. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 9 Jan 1852 New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of Dona Ana (NM) was expanded to include some land in present day Cochise County Arizona. But most of the land that later became Cochise County still belonged to Mexico. Look for records in the Mexico Archives and Dona Ana County.
 * 30 Dec 1853 The US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including most of the land in present day Cochise County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 Aug 1854 The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory, it became non-county land. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 3 Feb 1855 Dona Ana (NM) gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.  This county included all the land in present day Cochise County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
 * 24 Feb 1863 The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * 10 Nov 1864 Arizona created Pima County. This county is named for the Pima Indians. It included all the land in present day Cochise County. Look for records in Pima County.
 * 1 February 1881 Cochise County was created from Pima County. This county named for Cochise, the great Apache warrior who had died seven years before. Look for records in Cochise and Pima counties.
 *  14 Mar 1968 Cochise County gained a very small amount of land from Santa Cruz County when the boundary was redefined to run along the east line of range 18 east. Look for records in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties.

See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

Biographies
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Biographical Index Search

Census Records
Early School Census Records from the Cochise Genealogical Society. 1864 Territorial Census (A-Z) from the Cochise Genealogical Society. The 1890 Territorial Great Register (A-Z) from the Cochise Genealogical Society. Paper copies of specific pages of the Federal population census can be ordered through the National Archives in Washington, DC either online (using NARA's Microfilm Catalog) or you can download the NATF Form 82, print it, and send it through the mail. How to Use NARA's Census Microfilm Catalogs
 * Names Beginning With: A, B, C, D-F, G, H-K, L, M-Mi, Mo-O, P-Ri, Ro-Rz, S, T-W, X-Z
 * Names Beginning With: A-E, F-K, L-R, S-Z

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

Court Records
Justice Court No. 1 (Bisbee) 207 N. Judd Dr., Bisbee, Arizona 85603 Phone: 520-432-9540

Justice Court No. 2 (Douglas) 661 G Ave., Douglas, Arizona 85607 Phone: 520-805-5640

Justice Court No. 3 (Benson) 126 W. 5th Street, Ste. 1, Benson, Arizona 85602 Phone: 520-586-8100

Justice Court No. 4 (Willcox) 450 S. Haskell Ave., Willcox, Arizona 85644 Phone: 520-384-7000

Justice Court No. 5 (Sierra Vista) 100 Colonia De Salud, Ste. 108, Sierra Vista, Arizona Phone: 520-803-3800

Justice Court No. 6 (Bowie) 201 N. Central Ave., Bowie, Arizona 85605 Phone: 520-847-2303

Superior Court Divisions I-III (Bisbee) 100 Quality Hill, 1st Floor, Bisbee, Arizona 85603 Phone: 520-432-8520

Superior Court Division IV (Sierra Vista) 100 Colonia De Salud, Suite 108, Sierra Vista, Arizona Phone: 520-803-3800

Superior Court Division V (Bisbee) 4 Ledge Ave., 2nd Floor, Bisbee, Arizona 85603 Phone: 520-432-8480

Cochise County’s records date back to Territorial days when it was carved out of a portion of Pima County on February 1, 1881. Records are available for you to research in person, free of charge at the courthouse in Bisbee. If you want the Clerk’s office to research a record for you it will cost ($)26.00 for each search request (Arizona law governs our fees). Our records index is available electronically, for certain case types, dating back to 1996. If you find your case number or book and page number for a marriage record it will save you $26.00 in research fees. Public Access to Court Information Clerk Superior Court has marriage divorce, probate and court records County Records has land records

"The main office in Bisbee is the records repository. We are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for government holidays. Many of our older records are stored in an upstairs Archives Section. There may be a wait of up to an hour when asked to retrieve these records so please be prepared for this."

"Cochise County, Clerk of the Superior Court" Marriage, Divorce and Probate Records 100 Quality Hill P.O. Box CK Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone: 520-432-8570 Fax: 520-432-4850

The Clerk of the Superior Court officially maintains all civil, domestic, criminal, juvenile and probate records. The Clerk takes and transcribes all court minutes for all court proceedings; is the Registrar of Probate matters; issues and records marriage licenses.

Cochise County Recorder Land Records and Voting 1415 Melody Lane Bldg. B Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone: (520) 432-8350 Fax: (520) 432-8368

"Instruments recorded include real estate transactions, mortgages, deed of trust, family trusts, personal property, tax liens, mining locations, subdivision plats, records of survey, military discharges, official appointments of office, and other documents required to be made of public record. The second major duty concerns elections since the County Recorder is also the registrar of voters for the county. This involves maintaining the county register, conducting early voting, verifying petition signatures, lists for political parties and candidates, and jury lists."

Emigration and Immigration
Arizona USGenWeb Archives, Cochise County Naturalizations - Declarations of Intent 1881-1897 National Archives and Records Administration has microfilm publications related to Mexican Border Crossing Records for Arizona and a few other states.

Arizona Ports

Ajo Arizona '' A3377, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, Dec. 1950-May 1955 (2 rolls) '' - "Contains over 6,400 alien arrivals at these Arizona ports of entry. Arrivals at Ajo are interfiled with those from Lukeville and Sonoyta (Sonoita) on rolls 1 and 2 in four record series: (1) index to manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (2) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence and aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged, but is indexed by Series 1."

Aros Ranch, Arizona  A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls)  - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Aros Ranch, Feb.-Sept. 1908 and Jan.-Mar. 1909, are on rolls 3 and 4."

Douglas, Arizona  M1759, Nonstatistical Manifests and Statistical Index Cards of Aliens Arriving at Douglas, Arizona, July 1908-December 1952 (4 rolls)  - "Contains over 43,000 alphabetically-arranged records."

Lochiel, Arizona  A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls)  - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Lochiel, July-Dec. 1908, are on rolls 3 and 4."

Lukeville, Arizona '' A3377, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, Dec. 1950-May 1955 (2 rolls) '' - "Contains over 6,400 alien arrivals at these Arizona ports of entry. Arrivals at Lukeville are interfiled with those from Ajo and Sonoyta (Sonoita) on rolls 1 and 2 in four record series: (1) index to manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (2) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence and aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged, but is indexed by Series 1."

Naco, Arizona  A3365, Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, May 1903-June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco, and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906-December 1910 (5 rolls)  - "Contains lists arranged chronologically by quarter-year, then by port of arrival. Arrivals at Naco, July 1906-June 1909, are on rolls 1 through 5."

Nogales, Arizona

San Luis, Arizona Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona

Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona '' A3377, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, Dec. 1950-May 1955 (2 rolls) ''- "Contains over 6,400 alien arrivals at these Arizona ports of entry. Arrivals at Sonoyta (Sonoita) are interfiled with those from Ajo and Lukeville on rolls 1 and 2 in four record series: (1) index to manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (2) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jan. 1919-June 1924; (3) manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence and aliens readmitted as returning U.S. residents, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952; and (4) manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, July 1924-ca. Dec. 1952. Series 1, 3, and 4 are alphabetically arranged. Series 2 is chronologically arranged, but is indexed by Series 1."

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Deed Search, 1989 to present at Cochise County Recorder - For earlier records, you may have the office staff search the records for you for a fee of ($)26 per year searched, starting in 1881. If you visit the offices, there is no charge to search, except for copies.
 * Land Search at General Land Office Records
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories
 City of Willcox  Klump, Kathy, and Peta-Anne Tenney for the Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society. Images of America: Willcox. Arcadia Publishing, 2009. Schultz, Vernon B. Southwestern Town: The Story of Willcox, Arizona. Fabe Litho, Ltd., 1994.

Maps and Gazetteers
1895 Map of Cochise County Arizona
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Arizona Range News (Willcox, Arizona) 122 S. Haskell (85643), P.O. Box 1155, Willcox, AZ 85644 Phone: (520) 384-3571 Fax: (520) 384-3572 E-Mail: [mailto:rangenews@willcoxrangenews.com rangenews@willcoxrangenews.com] Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon

Issues from 2006-2009 available in Google News Archive


 * Douglas Dispatch (Douglas, Arizona) 530 E 11th Street, Douglas AZ 85607 Phone: (520) 364-3424 Fax: (520) 364-6750

Ancestry.com has a searchable database for the Douglas Dispatch ($Paid Subscription Necessary)


 * San Pedro Valley News-Sun (Benson, Arizona) 200 S. Ocotillo Ave., P.O. Box 1000, Benson, AZ 85602 Phone: (520) 586-3382 Fax: (520) 586-2382 E-Mail: [mailto:newssun@bensonnews-sun.com newssun@bensonnews-sun.com] Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


 * Sierra Vista Herald (Sierra Vista, Arizona) 102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 Phone: 520-458-9440


 * Tombstone News (Tombstone, Arizona) P.O. Box 1760, Tombstone, Arizona 85638 Phone: 520-457-3086 Fax: 520-457-3126 Email: [mailto:editor@thetombstonenews.com editor@thetombstonenews.com]

Cochise county AZ Newspapers found at Library of Congress

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014  at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Voting Records
Cochise County Recorder has county voter lists (the early ones are called "Great Registers") Some of these are also in the Family Search Catalog
 * 1882-1932 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803–1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Cochise County Clerk of the Superior Court (Marriage, Divorce and Probate Records)
 * 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

 * 1800-1946 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1947 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1833-1949 US Marriages – Arizona, 1833-1949 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1865-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1880-1890 Cochise County Marriages, 1880-1890 at Sierra Vista Genealogy Society
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1889-1893 Cochise County Marriages, 1889-1893 at Sierra Vista Genealogy Society
 * 1893-1901 Cochise County Marriages, 1893-1901  at Sierra Vista Genealogy Society
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: 

Death

 * 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1910-1911, 1933-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)

Divorce

 * 1877–1937 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Archives
Cochise County Archives 1415 Melody Lane, Building E Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone: 520-432-8400 Email: [mailto:kpyles@cochise.az.gov kpyles@cochise.az.gov] Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Bisbee Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Douglas Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Sierra Vista Arizona FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Cochise County Library District Old Bisbee High School, 2nd Floor, 100 Clawson Avenue, Bisbee, AZ 85603 Mailing: Drawer AK, Bisbee, AZ 85603 Fax: 520-432-7339 Website Multiple locations

Museums
Douglas-Williams Home Museum 1001 Ave. D Douglas, AZ 85608 Website

Societies
Cochise County Historical Society P.O. Box 818 Douglas, AZ 88608-0818 Phone: 520-558-2580 Email: [mailto:info@cochisecountyhistoricalsociety.org info@cochisecountyhistoricalsociety.org] Website Facebook Douglas Historical Society 1001 Ave. D Douglas, AZ 85608 Phone: 520-364-7370 Email: [mailto:douglasazhistory@gmail.com douglasazhistory@gmail.com] Website Sierra Vista Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1084 Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-1084 Website Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society Contact: Kathy Klump 127 E. Maley, Willcox, AZ 85643 Phone: 520-384-3971 Email:[mailto:ssvhs@ssvecnet.com ssvhs@ssvecnet.com] Website

Websites

 * USGenWeb project may have maps, name indexes, history, or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Cochise County AZGenWeb.
 * Cochise County, Arizona 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.

Research Guides
BYU Family History Library, Family History &amp; Genealogy Resources, Research Outlines, Arizona (PDF).

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Law &amp; Research Library Division, "How do I...? Selection of Research Guides"