Valley County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Idaho Online Genealogy Records

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 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death

Description
The County was named for the outstanding topographical feature of the area, Long Valley. The County has Cascade as its seat and the County was created February 26, 1917. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Clerk
Valley County Clerk 219 North Main Street Cascade, ID 83611-0737 Phone: (208) 382-4297 Fax: (208) 382-4955 County records has marriage records from 1929, and land records from 1904. County Clerk has divorce records from 1950, probate records from 1934 and court records from 1917.

Parent County
1917--Valley County, Idaho was created 26 February 1917 from Idaho and Boise Counties. County seat: Cascade

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

Places/Localities
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:

The above list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have websites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

This list of places in Valley County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Valley County in Virtual Earth.

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Valley County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their FamilySearch centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Cascade.

Census
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.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
In 1930, Valley County was part of Northwestern States Mission.


 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Valley 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--Valley County, Idaho was created 26 February 1917 from Idaho and Boise Counties.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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.

Court Records
Some of the early court records of Valley County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Valley County courthouse in Cascade, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

Some of the records of the courts of Valley County that have been microfilmed include:


 * County records, 1917-1937 Idaho. District Court (Valley County)
 * Register of action, 1917-1934 Idaho. Probate Court (Valley County)

Judgment Books


 * Judgment index Idaho. County Court (Valley County)
 * Judgment record, 1892-1925 Idaho. District Court (Valley County)

Land and Property
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Valley County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Cascade, Idaho.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many deeds, homestead records, etc., of Valley County, and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Some have been microfilmed by the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and are available for viewing there or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers.

Maps

 * A digital Valley County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Valley County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Valley 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.

Online Records

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images

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. The following Valley County records have been microfilmed and are available for viewing at the Valley County courthouse in Cascade, Idaho or at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho:


 * Index to Misc. Records, Book 1 1879-1973 Court
 * Transcribed Miscellaneous Records, Idaho County, Book 1, pp 1-149 (con't on Valley-2/1) 1888-1903 Court
 * Transcribed Miscellaneous Records, Idaho County, Book 1, pp 150-472 (con't from Valley-1/5) 1901-1903 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 1 1879-1917 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 2 1917-1925 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 3 1917-1924 Court
 * Miscellaneous Record, Book 4

The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also has microfilmed copies of these records which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City and at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

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

Current

 * Cascade Advocate
 * Star - News

Historical
The Idaho State Archives has issues of many Idaho Newspapers in its collections.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — index and images

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Valley County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index. This index is available online. Microfilmed copies of these records are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho and at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers.

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Some early for Valley County have been microfilmed by the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are available for viewing at their Library in Salt Lake or at any of their FamilySearch Centers. The Idaho State Archives has also made copies of early Valley County records which can be viewed at their facility.

For more recent or other probate records, it is suggested that you visit the Valley County courthouse in Cascade.

Taxation
Any existing tax assessment rolls for Valley County should be in the courthouse in Cascade and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Birth
Online Records
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

There is more detailed information on where to access Idaho birth records at this website.

See also Idaho Vital Records.

Marriage
Online Records


 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Over 600 marriages, 1917-1939, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

See also Idaho Vital Records

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Death
Online Records
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — index

See Idaho Vital Records

Societies and Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.


 * Cascade Public Library 105 N Front St Cascade, ID 83611 Phone: (208) 382-4757 Website
 * Mccall Public Library 218 E Park St Mccall, ID 83638 Phone: (208) 634-5522 Website
 * Central Idaho Historical Museum‎ 1001 State Street Mccall, ID 83638-3705 (208) 634-4497 Website Facebook Page
 * Valley County Museum ‎13131 Farm to Market Road Donnelly, ID 83615 (208) 325-8628‎ Website Facebook Page
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website


 * Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website


 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar


 * Idaho State Archives


 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter


 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cascade Idaho Family History Center
 * Fruitland Idaho Family History Center
 * Challis Idaho Family History Center
 * Garden Valley Idaho Family History Center
 * McCall Idaho Family History Center
 * Weiser Idaho Family History Center

Websites

 * The Valley County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * Valley County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Valley County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)