Malheur County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Oregon Online Genealogy Records

Description
Malheur County was named for Malheur River, which runs through the county. "Malheur" is French for misfortune or tragedy. The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage, probate, and land records from 1887.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Oregon County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Oregon County Boundary Maps" (1843-1975) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

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:

Post Offices


 * Adrian: When a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad was built into this part of the county, there was a post office called Riverview on east side of Snake River, and railroad officials did not desire to have a station of the same name on the west side. Reuben McCreary, who platted the townsite of Riverview on the west side, suggested that if that name was unsatisfactory, the name Adrian be used, which was adopted by the railroad on Feb. 13, 1913. This was to commemorate his birthplace, Adrian, Hancock County, Illinois. Riverview post office with its descriptive name was established on the east side of the river Aug. 22, 1911, with John E. Holley postmaster. About 1915 the office was moved west across the river to the vicinity of Adrian station, and the name of the office was changed to Adrian on Nov. 10, 1919. Earlier editions of Oregon Geographic Names ascribe the name to James Adrian, a local sheepman, but Adrian did not arrive in the area until 1916.

Neighboring Counties
Baker | Grant | Harney | Idaho counties: Canyon | Owyhee | Payette | Washington | Humboldt, Nevada

Trivia Tidbits
Information about localities, too small or too brief to describe in separate pages. Exception to this are Post Offices. Trivia Tidbits

Biography
Trivia Tidbits: Little biographic bits associated with the names of non-population localities.

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

County Records

 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Maps

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

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for European and African American settlers included:


 * Snake River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Oregon Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records
Online Records


 * 1833–1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($)

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

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

See also How to order Oregon Vital Records, order electronically online or download an application for Oregon Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

Birth Records

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images (*); Also at: Ancestry
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Delayed Birth Certificates

Marriage Records

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1842-1917 Oregon, U.S., State Births, 1842-1917 at Ancestry - index & images, ($); Also at: 
 * 1849-1884; 1991-2006 at FamilySearch — index and images; collection is incomplete.
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * Extractions of early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index
 * Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection

Societies, Libraries and Museums
Malheur County Historical Society PO Box 691 Ontario, OR 97914 Email: [mailto:malheurcountryhist@gmail.com malheurcountryhist@gmail.com] Website

Ontario Library District 388 S.W. 2nd Avenue Ontario, OR 97914 Phone: 541-889-6371 Website Facebook

Nyssa Public Library 319 Main Street Nyssa, OR 97913 Phone: 541-372-2978 Website Facebook

Emma Humphrey Library 150 A St E Vale, OR 97918 Phone: 541-473-3902 Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Fruitland Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Nyssa Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Ontario Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Klamath County Library - an affiliate library
 * Oregon Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Malheur County History and Genealogy
 * Malheur County, OR History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Oregon Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Malheur County GenWeb Project, part of The ORGenWeb Project
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives