Lincoln County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Lincoln 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 President Abraham Lincoln. The County Seat is Shoshone and was founded March 18, 1895. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lincoln County Courthouse 111 West B Street Shoshone, ID 83352-0800 Phone: 208-886-7641 Lincoln County Website

County Clerk has some birth and death records from 1895-1913, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1895 and some school records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline

 * 28 January 1913 -- Gooding County created from part of Lincoln County
 * 28 January 1913 -- Minidoka County created from part of Lincoln County
 * 8 February 1919 -- Jerome County created from parts of Gooding and Lincoln Counties

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 Lincoln County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Lincoln 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.
 * 1895--Lincoln County was created 18 March 1895 from Alturas and Blaine Counties. County seat: Shoshone.


 * Dietrich
 * Richfield

 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
 * Court records, 1895-1935; index, 1895-1935
 * Power of attorney, 1865-1921; index, 1865-1896
 * Power of attorney, 1882-1913

 Judgment Books
 * Judgments, 1896-1926; transcripts, 1883-1909; index, 1896-1926

Directories
The Idaho State Archiveshas a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

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

Local Histories
A brief history of Lincoln County is given on this Lincoln County GenWeb site.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * An 1895 map of Lincoln and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Lincoln County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Lincoln County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1917-1918
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)

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
Copies of issues of Idaho newspapers are in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

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.

Online County Records
 * 1886-1972 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/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.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Lincoln County. The originals are held in the Lincoln County courthouse in Shoshone, 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 $
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 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
 * 1907-1911 Index to Lincoln County Death Records, 1907-1911 are available in the site for Lincoln County
 * 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

 * Burley Idaho Family History Center
 * Carey Idaho Ward Family History Center
 * Glenns Ferry Idaho Family History Center
 * Shoshone Idaho Family History Center
 * Twin Falls Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Richfield District Library 105 South Main Richfield, ID 83349 Phone: (208) 487-1242 Website Facebook Page
 * Shoshone Public Library 211 South Rail St W Shoshone, ID 83352 Phone: (208) 886-2843 Website

Museums

 * Lincoln County Historical Museum 112 W B St Shoshone, ID 83352 Phone: (208) 886-7787 Website Faacebook Page

Societies

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

Websites

 * Lincoln County Idaho GenWeb, a member of ID GenWeb


 * – 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.