Gila County, Arizona Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Gila County Courthouse 1400 East Ash Street Globe, AZ 85501-1414 Phone: 520-425-3231

County Clerk has marriage records from 1881 divorce, probate and court records from 1914 County Recorder has land records

Description
The County was named from a Spanish contraction of Hah-quah-sa-eel, a Yuma word meaning "running water which is salty". The County has Globe as its seat and the County was created February 8, 1881. The County is located in the central area of the state.

History
Gila County is located northeast of Maricopa and Pinal Counties in Arizona. It contains some of the early settlements in Arizona going back to the 1870s. Gila County is named for the Gila River that flows through portions of the southern part of the county.

Payson is the largest town today, its name came from a situation where the town needed a post office and a congressman was reported to have said that if they named the town Payson they would get a post office. The second town that took up the dare was Payson, Utah.

Other towns include Pine, Roosevelt, and Claypool. Defunct localities include 'Motel Point' where a motel once stood just yards northeast of the present-day Roosevelt Dam.

Parent County

 * Until 1821 - New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
 * In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Arizona. Some records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
 * 18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona, including all of Gila County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of Socorro County was stretched across present day Arizona to the California border. Land in present-day Gila County, Arizona was once part of Socorro county of New Mexico. Look for records in Socorro County.
 * 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * 10 Nov 1864 - Arizona created two counties: Pima and Yavapai counties. These counties named for Indian tribes. Look for records in Pima andYavapai counties.
 * 14 Feb 1871 - Arizona created Maricopa County from land in Yavapai County. This county named for the Maricopa Indians. Look for records in Maricopa and Yavapai counties.
 * 1 Feb 1875 - Arizona created Pinal County from lands in Maricopa and Pima counties. This county named for the Pinal mountains. Look for records in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties.

8 February 1881 - Gila County was created from lands in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. County seat: Globe This county named for the Gila River. Look for records in the Gila, Maricopa, and Pinal counties.

Boundary Changes

 * 12 Mar 1885 Gila County exchanged property with adjacent Graham County. Look for records in Gila and Graham counties.
 * 21 Mar 1889 Gila County added a portion of Yavapai County. Look for records in Gila and Yavapai counties.
 * 19 Mar 1891 Gila County gained additional land from Yavapai County. Look for records in Gila and Yavapai counties.

See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

For animated maps illustrating Arizona county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arizona County Boundary Maps" (1852-1993) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Coconino County, Arizona
 * Graham County, Arizona
 * Maricopa County, Arizona
 * Navajo County, Arizona
 * Pinal County, Arizona
 * Yavapai County, Arizona

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Gila County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Arizona cemetery records by county.

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records: Globe, Hayden, Miami, Nephi and Pine.

Civil War

 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1803 – 1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth Records
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1909-1917 - Arizona Select Births and Christenings 1909-1917 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage Records
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * Many early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.


 * 1864-1982 - Arizona Marriage Collection 1864-1982 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1871-1964 - at FamilySearch.org — index and browse images, incomplete
 * 1888-1908 - Arizona Select Marriages 1888-1908 at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * Gila County, Arizona Obituary and Death Notices Collection From GenealogyBuff.com ~ Free. This collection is from Various Funeral Homes in the Payson, Globe, Miami, Winkelman, Hayden, and Dudleyville areas.


 * 1910-1911 and 1933-1994 - Arizona Select Deaths and Burials 1910-1911 and 1933-1994;at Ancestry.com — index

Societies and Libraries
Arizona Cornish Society P.O. Box 1 Claypool, Arizona 85532 Contact: Mrs Linda Carnahan Telephone: 925-473-2071 E-Mail: lyddy@cableone.net

Northern Gila County Historical Society PO Box 2532 Payson, AZ 85547 Telephone 928-474-3483

Gila County Historical Society  1330 N. Broad St. Globe, AZ 85502 Telephone 928-425-7385 Hours 10-4 M-F; 11-3 Sat.

Family History Centers
Introduction to Family History Centers

Globe Arizona 1701 Ensign St Globe, Gila, Arizona, United States Telephone: 928-425-9570

Payson Arizona 913 N Ponderosa St Payson, Gila, Arizona, United States Telephone: 928-468-0249

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Websites

 * Gila County, AZ History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * Gila County AZGenWeb. Has info on Cemeteries, Funeral Homes, Military, Vitals, Towns, Schools, Obituaries, Newspapers, Misc., Marriages, &amp; Death.
 * Gila County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Gila County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)