Payette County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Payette 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 in honor of the area's first white settler, Francois Payette, a Canadian fur trapper and explorer. The County has Payette as its seat and the County was created February 28, 1917. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Payette County Courthouse 1130 3rd Avenue North Payette, ID 83661 Phone: 208-642-6000 County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1917 and military discharge records from 1919

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:

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

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) In 1930, Payette County was part of the Northwestern States Mission. There were no Stakes organized at that time.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Payette 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 FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * 1917--Payette County was created 28 February 1917 from Canyon County
 * New Plymouth
 * Payette

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records Judgment Books
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc
 * Payette County Court Records at Idaho State Archives
 * Judgment records, 1917-1930 Idaho. District Court (Payette County)

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

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records At this time there do not appear to be any microfilmed copies of Payette County's land and property records. Earlier records might be found in Canyon County from which it was formed.

Local Histories

 * Payette History
 * Payette County Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

 * historic maps of Payette County
 * Payette County Idaho map
 * Map of Payette County, Idaho
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Payette County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the FamilySearch Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. 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.

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
 Historical
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Early Payette Idaho Churches by Ron Marlow
 * Idaho newspapers at Idaho State Archives

 Current
 * Independent Enterprise

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.

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

Birth

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

Marriage
There are 143 Payette County marriages in the online Idaho Marriages.
 * 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
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

FamilySearch Centers

 * Eagle Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Emmett Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Fruitland Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Garden Valley Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Nyssa Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Ontario Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Weiser Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Payette Public Library 24 S 10th St Payette, ID 83661 Website
 * Fruitland Community Library ‎500 Southwest 3rd Street Fruitland, ID 83619 (208) 452-7123‎
 * Armoral Tuttle Public Library‎ 301 Plymouth Avenue New Plymouth, ID 83655 (208) 729-0123 Website

Museums

 * Payette County Museum‎ 90 South 9th Street Payette, ID 83661 (208) 642-4883 Website

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

 * Payette County ID GenWeb Project, 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.