Clark County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Clark 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 Sam K. Clark, state senator & pioneer. The County Seat is Dubois and was founded February 1, 1919. It is located in the east central area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Clark County Courthouse 320 West Main Street Dubois, ID 83423-0007 Phone: 208-589-9872 Clark County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court and land records from 1919.

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:

 ''Other Communities


 * Small
 * Medicine Lodge
 * U.S. Sheep Experiment Station

The preceding 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 web sites. 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.

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.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

 * List of Clark County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * In 1930, Clark County was part of Idaho Falls Stake.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Clark 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.


 * Camas
 * Kilgore
 * Woodrow

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Judgment Books

 * Judgment book, 1893-1965; index, 1919-1986

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1894-1966 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1890-1919 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories
Two published works are Settlers of the Silver Sage by Bonnie Stoddard (Clark County Historical Society) and Settlement of Idaho by Utah Pioneers: Clark, Fremont, and Teton Counties, by Mary N. P. Harris. A brief history of Clark County History is posted at the Clark County GenWeb website. A digital history is available at the Idaho Historical Society Idaho State Archives. The Clark County, Idaho Historical Photographs collection has 5,000 photos online.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records
Because Clark County was not formed until 1919, those who were of military draft age for World War I were included in the draft registration records of Fremont County, the parent county of Clark.

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
The in Salt Lake City has microfilmed some Clark County naturalizations, from 1914-1925. These films can be viewed in Salt Lake City or in any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Online 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  Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following Clark County newspapers: Clark County Enterprise, 1921: 1921:11:17-1922:10:26 Clark County Enterprise, 1959: 1959:7:24-1970:12:31 Clark County Enterprise, Misc: 1919:5:15, 1922:6:29, 1954:2:26 Clark County Enterprise-Banner: 1924:5:8 -1959: Dubois Banner: 1917:6:1-1918:6:29 Dubois Enterprise,1914: 1914:8:27-1928:6:29 Dubois Enterprise,1919: 1919:02:20 Enterprise-Citizen: 1971:1:7-1972:12:28

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 Clark County. The originals are held in the Clark County courthouse in Dubois, 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
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1909-1963 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1915-1937 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1913-1986 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Marriage

 * 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
 * 1907-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Divorce

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

Archives

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Ashton Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Moore Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Rexburg Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Rigby Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * St Anthony Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Terreton Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * St Anthony Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * David O McKay Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Clark County Public Library 21 East Main St Dubois, ID 83423 Phone: (208) 374-5267

Museums

 * Heritage Hall Museum‎ 110 South Reynolds Street, Dubois, ID 83423

Societies
Genealogy Trails Clark CountyWebsite
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * The Clark County Idaho GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:Idaho, Clark County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records


 * – 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.