Adams County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Idaho Online Genealogy Records

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Description
The county was named for John Adams, the second President of the United States. The County Seat is Council and was founded March 3, 1911. It is located in the west central area of the state.

County Clerk
Adams County Clerk PO Box 48 Council, ID 83612 Phone: (208) 253-4561 Email:[mailto:sward@co.adams.id.us sward@co.adams.id.us] Website County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court, and land records from 1900. .

Adams County Government's History page

Wikipedia



The original courthouse was built in 1915 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been replaced by a modern, more efficient courthouse which now serves the people of the county.

Parent County
3 March 1911: Adams County was created from Washington

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

Places/Localities
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:

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Some early deeds and probate records, a marriage register from 1911-1984, and some other miscellaneous county records have been microfilmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Copies are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers and at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Council.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Adams County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Adams County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Census
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)

In 1930, Adams County was part of Union Stake, Oregon.


 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Adams 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 Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Adams County, Idaho was created from Washington County, Idaho on 3 March 1911.
 * Adams County, Idaho was created from Washington County, Idaho on 3 March 1911.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court
Some of the early court records of Adams County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. The records filmed are for about 1865 through 1940 and include civil suits, divorce papers, and judgment dockets. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City or in any of the Library's family history centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the courthouse in Council.

Some of the records of the courts of Adams County that have been microfilmed include:


 * District Court:


 * Judgment Books, v. 1-2, 1911-1929
 * Index to Judgment Books, 1911-1924


 * Probate Court:


 * Wills, 1889-1936
 * Notice of Action, v. A, 1886-1911

Judgment Books

 * Judgment records, 1911-1924; index, 1911-1924

(Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions, and many other court actions.)

History
A brief history of the county is available online at the Adams County website, including short histories of each of the major communities of the county.

A combined History of Washington County and Adams Countywas written by Frank Harris. The two counties were also the subject of Salute to Pioneers of Washington and Adams counties.

A History of the Council Valley Area is also available online at the Adams County Historical Preservation Commission website.

Council Valley Museum, has various histories of the area and links to area historical pages and sites.

Land and Property Records
Some of the early land records of Adams County have been microfilmed. Since Adams County was not created until 1911 from Washington County, some of these records are transcripts from those found in the parent county. Microfilm copies of the records are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's family history centers. Original copies of these and later records are housed at the Adams County courthouse in Council.

Among the land records of Adams County which have been microfilmed are:


 * Deeds, 1876-1907
 * Index to Deeds, 1881-1935
 * Possessory land claim records, v. A, 1884-1916

Mining Records
Some records of mining claims and other records pertaining to mining in Adams County, 1902-1927, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and the in Salt Lake City.

Maps

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

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Adams County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The Adams County GenWeb site also has these records available. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509. An index to these records is also available at the Idaho GenWeb Archives page.

Online Records

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images

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.

There do not appear to have any Miscellaneous Series in Adams County. Check the Adams County courthouse in Council, Idaho for current records and possible other records by visiting there.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Current
Adams County Record P.O. Box R Council, ID 83612 Ph. 1-208-253-6961 Fax 1-208-253-6801

Historical
The following newspapers have been published in Adams County, Idaho. Copies for the dates indicated are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Some probate records for Adams County have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City or at any of the Library's family history centers. Other probate files remain with the county courthouse in Council. Included among the records that have been microfilmed are:


 * 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $


 * Wills, 1889-1936
 * Notice of Action, v. A, 1886-1911

Public Records
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.

School Records
The Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the Adams County School Census Marshall's Report 1913-1926. This School Census can be viewed at the Adams County courthouse in Council, Idaho by visiting there, or at the Idaho State Archives by visiting the Archives in Boise. The can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its family history centers.

Taxation
Any existing tax assessment rolls for Adams County should be in the courthouse in Council and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Births
The Birth Registers for Washington County, 1907-1911, recorded the births of residents of what became Adams County in 1911. That volume has been microfilmed and is available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah. Birth records, 1911 to present, are recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.

Online Records
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $

Several of the original marriage records of Ada County have also been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City. Included are:


 * Register of Marriages, 1911-1984
 * Marriage Licenses and Certificates, 1911-1929

Online Records
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Marriages from other sources:


 * About 800 marriages of Adams County, 1900-1940, are available on the Western States Marriage Index.

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Deaths
The Death Register for Washington County, 1907-1911 recorded the deaths of members of families who became residents of Adams County when it was created in 1911. That volume has been microfilmed and is available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Death records, 1911 to present, are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as mandated by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under Idaho for details.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations. They may also be used on loan through local family history centers.

Online Records


 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1911-1956 - A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is the Idaho GenWeb Death Index, 1911-1956.


 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — index

Societies and Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.

Adams County Historical Society P.O. Box 352 New Meadows, ID 83654
 * Adams County Historic Preservation Commission Offical website]


 * Council Valley Museum P.O. Box 252 Council, ID 83612 208-253-4582 located one block south of downtown, on Galena Street
 * Idaho State Historical Society - Adams County
 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Adams County

Family History Centers

 * Baker Oregon Family History Center
 * Cascade Idaho Family History Center
 * McCall Idaho Family History Center
 * Pine Valley Oregon Family History Center

Websites

 * The Adams County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Adams County Historic Preservation Commission
 * Adams County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Adams County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)