Polk County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Description
Polk County was named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse 850 Main Street Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: 503-623-3154 Polk County Website
 * County Clerk has marriage, probate and land records.
 * County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Polk County Court House as of August 2007.

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:

History Timeline
23 Dec 1847: Benton County set off. 15 Dec 1853: Tillamook County set off. 20 February 1893: Lincoln 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

 * 1857-1972  at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images;


 * County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Polk County Court House as of August 2007.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1972  at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images;
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Migration
Details about the rivers and waterways where farms and settlements are often found along them. 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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1868-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1833-1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 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

Death
Linn County records of deaths 1903-1915, 1915-1947 (the cover title of this one is "Register of Physicians, Midwives and Undertakers", death certificates 1903-1947, coroner's inquest 1909-1960, index 1909-1960.
 * 1855-1970 Oregon, U.S., County Births and Deaths, 1855-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1864-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1968 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Corvallis Oregon Family History Center
 * Florence Oregon Family History Center
 * Newport Oregon Family History Center
 * Oregon Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Siuslaw Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Polk County Oregon Libraries 850 Main St Dallas, OR 97338 503-623-8172 Website

Museums
Polk County Museum 560 S. Pacific Highway West Rickreall, OR 97371 Website Facebook

Societies
Polk County Historical Society PO Box 67 Monmouth, OR 97361 Phone: 503-623-6251 Email: [mailto:pchsoregon@gmail.com pchsoregon@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Polk GenWeb Or GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Oregon Polk County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * – 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.