Pinal County, Arizona Genealogy

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

Description
Pinal County was created on 1 February 1875. In the August 18, 1899, issue of The Arizona Magazine, the name "Pinal" is said to come from the pine-clad Pinal Mountains. Its county seat is Florence. It is located in the central region of the state.

County Courthouse
Pinal County Courthouse 971 N Jason Lopez Circle Bldg A Florence, AZ 85132 Phone: 888-431-1311 or 520-509-3555 Pinal County Courthouse

Clerk Superior Court has marriage, probate and court records from 1875 and divorce records from 1883. County Recorder has land records.

Boundary Changes

 * Parent County(s): Created from Maricopa and Pima counties, on 1 Feb 1875. ''
 * County Seat: Florence
 * Interactive Map of Arizona County Formation History (1790-1897) - animated maps illustrating Arizona county boundary changes
 * Pinal County, Arizona Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline

 * 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. 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. The land south of the Gila River in present day Maricopa County Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. Land in present day Pinal County was split between the US and Mexico. 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 north part of present day Pinal County was then in Socorro (NM).  Look for records in Socorro County.
 * 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in Arizona, including the south part of present day Pinal County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana (NM) gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. This included the south part of present day Pinal County. Look for records in Dona Ana 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.
 * 9 Feb 1877 - Arizona expanded Pinal County by adding a small area of land that had been separated from main body of Pima County. Look for records in Pima and Pinal counties
 * See 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.

Church Records
ard and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Coolidge
 * Ray
 * Superior

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

Land and Property Records

 * See 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.

Online Land Indexes and Records

Maps and Gazetteers

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

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

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pinal County, Arizona Obituary Collection From GenealogyBuff.com ~ Free. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Apache Junction and Gold Canyon areas

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1800-1946 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1947 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 at Ancestry — index($)
 * 1833-1949 US Marriages – Arizona, 1833-1949 at Findmypast — index($)
 * 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry — index($)
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: 

Death

 * 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Casa Grande Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Kearny Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Maricopa Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * San Manuel 1st Arizona FamilySearch Center

Museums
Coolidge Historical Society Museum 161 West Harding Avenue P.O. Box 1186 Coolidge, Arizona 85228 Phone: 520-723-7186 Website Pinal County Historical Museum 715 S. Main Street Florence, AZ 85232 Phone: 520-868-4382 Website Superior Historical Society/Bob Jones Museum 300 Main Street Superior, AZ 85273 Phone: 520-689-5752 Facebook

Societies
Casa Grande Valley Historical Society and Museum 110 W. Florence Blvd. Casa Grande, AZ 85222 Phone: 520-836-2223 Website Oracle Historical Society 825 E. Mt. Lemmon Rd. Oracle, AZ 85623 Phone: 520-896-9609 Website Bouse Genealogical Society Casa Grande, AZ Email: [mailto:bousegenies@gmail.com bousegenies@gmail.com] Facebook

Websites

 * Pinal County AZGenWeb
 * Pinal County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – 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.