Umatilla County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Description
Umatilla County was named for the Umatilla River. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Umatilla County Courthouse 216 SE 4th Street Pendleton, Or 97801-2590 Phone: 541-278-0341 Umatilla County Website
 * County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1862.
 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

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:

Defunct Post Offices


 * Adams: The town is about 13 miles northeast of Pendleton on Wildhorse Creek. Named for John F. Adams, part of whose homestead is now included in the town. Post Office established 9 July 1883 with William H. McCoy, postmaster.
 * Albee: A post office with the name Snipe was established at this locality on June 17, 1881, undoubtedly taking its name from nearby Snipe Creek. John H. Clifford was postmaster. On Apr. 17, 1882, the name was changed to Alba and in 1887 a plat for the community was filed using the same form. Alba is the Latin word for white. Sometime near the turn of the century the place became known as Albee for the Albee brothers, well-known locak stockmen, and on July 30, 1907 the name of the post office was changed to conform. Like many other small communities in eastern Oregon, has suffered the ravages of time begining with the depression of the 1930s and accelerating during World War II. The post office was closed on Oct. 31, 1943. All that remains are a few weatherbeaten buildings on private property.

Indian Reservation

Umatilla (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla - specifically Sahaptin-speaking Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes)

History Timeline

 * Named after the Umatilla River. The name Umatilla is derived from the Native American name for the river, which was first recorded as Youmalolam in the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
 * 14 October 1864 Grant
 * 16 February 1885 Morrow County set off.

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

 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Local Histories

 * Historic sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory, and Umatilla County, Oregon (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Umatilla County for European and African American settlers included:
 * Columbia River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

 Rivers and Waterways Details about the rivers and waterways where farms and settlements are often found along them. see Rivers and Waterways

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

World War I
 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Names and towns of people serving during the World War from Umatilla County, Oregon, in the service of the United States

Newspapers
Oregon Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1833-1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index and 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

Vital Records
The FamilySearch Library has copies of some records such as: Umatilla County record of deaths 1907-1929, certificates of death 1913-1944

Birth

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1849-1884;1991-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection

FamilySearch Centers

 * Boardman Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Hermiston Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Pendleton Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * The Genealogical Forum of Oregon - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Umatilla County Library District 425 S Main St Pendleton OR 97801 541-276-6449

Societies

 * Umatilla County Historical Society 108 S W Frazer PO Box 253 Pendleton 97801 541-276-0012 Website

Websites

 * Umatilla County GenWeb, and OR GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Project
 * – 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.