Caribou County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Caribou 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 the Caribou Mountains, which in turn are named for Cariboo Fairchild, who had taken part in the gold rush in the Cariboo region of British Columbia in 1860. The County Seat is Soda Springs and was founded February 11, 1919. It is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Caribou County Courthouse 159 South Main Soda Springs, Idaho 83276 Phone: 208-547-4324 Caribou County Website

County Clerk has marriage from 1919, divorce, probate, court and land records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit hometownlocator. 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 Caribou County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Caribou County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

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

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

 Judgment Books The Miscellaneous records are found under the Miscellaneous Series
 * Judgments, 1891-1933

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1889-1964 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Local Histories

 * 2 Nov. 1948 - Caribou gained from Bannock County. Areas gained were described in two separate acts approved 18 Mar, 1948, became effective through a vote in the general election of 2 Nov. 1948. This annexation involved the residents of Commissioner's District #3 of Bannock County which included all of Gem Valley from Chesterfield to the Devils Hand Canyon, (Bancroft, Grace, and the lower Gem Valley).
 * The book Caribou County Chronologyis a brief history, published in 1930.
 * The Soda Springs Chamber of Commerce has compiled the Oregon Trail in Caribou County, a self-guided tour of sites documented by diaries and journals of early pioneers and explorers, available online.
 * A work highlighting the county's mining history is The mountain: Carriboo and other Gold Camps in Idahoavailable at various libraries nationwide.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Caribou County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Caribou County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Caribou County for European and African American settlers included:
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon
 * California Trail 1846 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California

Military Records

 * Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Caribou County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index which is available online

World War I

 * Because Caribou County was not formed until 1919, those who were of military draft age for World War I were included in the draft registration records of Bannock County, the parent county of Caribou.

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and 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 Caribou County Sun, published in Soda Springs. Caribou County Sun P.O. Box 815 Soda Springs, Idaho 83276 Ph. 208-547-3260 email - ccsun10@aol.com Weekly

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed copies of early Caribou County newspapers which can be accessed at their facility in Boise: Bancroft Standard: 1933:1:28:-1934:12:28 Caribou County Sun: 1955:3:31-9999 Caribou County Sun &amp; Soda Springs Sun: 1954:2:11-1955:3:24 Grace Citizen: 1967:11:2-1990:12:26 Grace Herald: 1929:3:21-1966:12:29 Grace Herald: 1941:12:18-1946:9:12 Soda Springs Chieftain: 1906:3:1-1931:3:12 Soda Springs Sun: 1933:5:11-1955:2:4

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.

Miscellaneous Series

 * Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.
 * Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Teton County. The originals are held in the Teton County courthouse in Driggs, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index & 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

Birth

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 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
 * 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*Eastern Idaho Death Index.
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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

 * Arimo Idaho Family History Center
 * Bancroft Idaho Family History Center
 * Fort Hall Idaho Family History Center
 * Grace Idaho Family History Center
 * Malad Idaho Family History Center
 * McCammon Idaho Family History Center
 * Pocatello Idaho FamilySearch Library
 * Soda Springs Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Grace District Library 204 S Main St Grace, ID 83241 Phone: (208) 425-3695 Website
 * Soda Springs Public Library 149 S Main St Soda Springs, ID 83276 Phone: (208) 547-2606 Website

Museums

 * Enders Hotel &amp; Museum‎ 76 South Main Street Soda Springs, ID 83276-1426 (208) 547-4980‎

Societies

 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * The Caribou County Idaho GenWeb Project, a member of ID GenWeb
 * Genealogy Trails Caribou County Website


 * – 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.