Garfield County, Utah Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for James A. Garfield, late President of the United States, who had been assassinated in 1881. The County is located in the south center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Garfield County Courthouse 55 S Main St Panguitch, UT 84759 Phone: 435-676-1100 Garfield County Courthouse

County Clerk has marriage records from 1890. County Recorder has land records from 1882 and divorce records from 1896-1905.

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
NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia for Garfield County.
 * 1864 City of Panguitch settled by Mormon pioneers.Timber and livestock production.Tourism plays major role.Located near Bryce Canyon National Park.
 * 1875 City of Escalante settled. Named for Franciscan missionary and first European explorer in the area.Southern Utah militia passed through area during Black Hawk Indian War.Members of John Wesley Powell expedition investigated area.
 * 1882 Garfield County created.Named for James A. Garfield, twentieth President of the United States.

Cemeteries

 * Territorial-1966 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Garfield County Cemeteries at the Utah State Historical site

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

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Historically, most people in Utah were Latter-day Saints. Their records are, therefore, very important for early Utah research. For additional information, see Tracing Latter-day Saint Ancestors and Utah Church Records.
 * 1877-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1847-1868 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & links to images

Funeral Homes

 * Garfield County Funeral Homes

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories
Reuben C. "Ruby" Syrett built a lodge and cabins at this location in 1916, when the promotion of Bryce Canyon for tourism was just beginning. Syrett's business grew along with the park's popularity, particularly once it was made a National Park in 1928. Ruby's Inn became an important junction; its travelers' services developed into a small community. Syrett donated land to the state for construction of a road (now Utah State Route 63), strategically placing Ruby's Inn right at the entrance to the park. Bryce Canyon City is a company town, consisting solely of the property of Ruby's Inn and the Syrett family, its third-generation owners. Woolsey, Nethella G., 1964, "The Escalante Story", Springville Press,Utah.
 * Newell, Linda King and Vivian Linford Talbot. A history of Garfield County, Utah Centennial County History Series
 * Golden nuggets of pioneer days a history of Garfield County. Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Google highway map of Garfield County 2012
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Territorial-1966 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images at Partner site

World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 World War II
 * 1939-1945 at FamilySearch — [[Utah, World War II Index to Army Veterans of Utah, 1939-19
 * 1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1848-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1906-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1906-1930 Utah, Federal Naturalization Records, 1906-1930 at Ancestry- index & images, ($)

Newspapers

 * 1850-2003 Utah Newspapers, 1850-2003 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * Utah Digital Newspapers Project gives newspaper images online. Search All Newspapers by name or keywords, or Browse by County to view the digitized newspapers.
 * Garfield County News 1923-1950 is included

Obituaries
Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, and living family members. See Utah Obituaries for state level compendiums and United States Obituaries for tips and insights regarding this record type.
 * 1850-2005 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & links to images
 * 2010-2013 Utah, U.S., Obituary Index, 2010-2013 at Ancestry - index ($)

Prisons

 * 1892-1949 Board of Pardons Prisoners' Pardon Application Case Files, 1892-1949 at Utah Division of Archives and Records Service – index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1985 Utah Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth
Below are the best sources to find birth information (dates and places of birth and names of parents) for this county.
 * 1898-1905 | Register of Births
 * 1903-1914 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1906-1910 1906-1910 Vital Records and Statistics Birth
 * Southwest Utah Public Health Department
 * How to Find Birth Information in Utah

Marriage

 * 1805-1992 Utah, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1887-1937 Utah, County Marriages, 1887-1937 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1871-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1999 Utah, Marriages, 1887-1999 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho — includes some divorces and alternative sources

Death

 * Pre 1904 Utah State Burial Index for death before 1904
 * 1904-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Archives

 * 1848-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Boulder Utah FamilySearch Center
 * Circleville Utah FamilySearch Center
 * Escalante Utah Ward FamilySearch Center
 * Gunnison Utah Correctional Facility FamilySearch Center
 * Loa Utah FamilySearch Center
 * Panguitch Utah FamilySearch Center
 * Tropic Utah FamilySearch Center
 * Utah Correctional Facility - South Point FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Garfield Public Library 86 West Factory Street Garland, UT 84312 Phone 435-257-3117 Website
 * Panguitch City Library 25 South 200 East P.O. Box 75 Panguitch, UT 84759 Phone:435-676-2431 Website
 * Utah Public Library Directory, which provides links to library web pages, addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps.

Websites

 * Garfield County UTenWeb, Utah GenWeb
 * Utah USGW Archive, Garfield
 * 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.