Benewah County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Benewah 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 for a Coeur d'Alene Indian chief. The County Seat is St. Maries and was founded January 23, 1915. It is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Benewah County Courthouse 701 W College Ave. St. Maries, ID 83861 Phone: 208-245-3212 Benewah County Website

County Clerk has marriage, burial, divorce, court and land records from 1915.

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:

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
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Benewah County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * In 1930, Benewah County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Benewah 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.

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

Court Records
Court records and more recent records are housed at the Benewah County courthouse in St Maries, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there. Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1885-1970 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1890-1968 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1911-1930 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images; Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions and many other court actions
 * 1915-1930 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has in its collections copies of many city, county, state and regional directories.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1890-1948 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1897-1985 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories
The Official website of the State of Idaho and Genealogy Trails holds archival materials and photographs on the history of Benewah County.
 * These My Children. c1976. By Alberta Murray. Fairfield, Washington : Ye Galleon Press. Online at:.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Family Maps of Benewah County, Idaho (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * A digital Benewah County map of Idaho is available online.
 * Map of Benewah County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
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

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

 Current
 * Gazette-Record

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.

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Benewah County. The originals are held in the Benewah County courthouse in St Maries, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records Any existing original probate records for Benewah County should be housed in its county courthouse in St Maries, Idaho. These can be accessed by visiting the courthouse.
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1915-1927 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1915-1928 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1915-1943 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1925-1946 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - 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

Birth

 * 1856-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 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
 * 1907-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * State-wide Death Index at BYU-Idaho

Divorce
 ''Online Records
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives

FamilySearch Centers

 * Hayden Lake Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Kellogg Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * St Maries Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Moscow Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Thompson Falls Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Plummer Public Library 800 D St Plummer, ID 83851 Phone: 208-686-1812 Website
 * Benewah District Library 4345 Fox Rd Tensed, ID 83870 Phone: 208-274-3002 Website

Societies
State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho Phone: 208-334-2774 Website National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Website The Idaho Welsh Society''' -- excellent cultural and historical siteWebsite

Websites

 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Website
 * The Idaho Welsh Society Website
 * The Benewah County ID GenWeb Project, and The ID GenWeb 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.