Benton County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Oregon Online Genealogy Records

Description
Benton County was named for Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator who advocated American control over the Oregon Country. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1907 marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1850 and military discharge records from 1919.

Quick Facts


Named after Thomas Hart Benton, U.S. Senator from Missouri, who advocated U.S. control over Oregon Country.

Parent County
23 December 1847: from Polk County.

Boundary Changes
20 February 1893: Lincoln County. 28 January 1851: Umpqua County.

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.

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
 * Alpine: The post office was established in 1912.
 * Alsea: The post office was not established until July 1871, with Thomas Russell postmaster.

Neighboring Counties
Lane | Lincoln | Linn | Polk

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

Cemeteries

 * Oregon Metro
 * Oregon Genealogy Cemeteries

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

County Records

 * 1856-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection — index and images
 * County Records Inventory lists record collections and locations held.

Gazetteers

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

Maps

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

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

World War I

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

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1850-1885 Benton County Oregon list of probate files SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 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. &gt;&gt; Rivers and Waterways

Vital Records
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

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.
 * 1852-1979 Oregon, Benton County, marriage records, 1852-1979 at FamilySearch
 * 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
Benton County Genealogical Society 1100 Block of Main St, 2nd Floor Philomath, OR 97370 Website Facebook

Benton County Historical Society 1101 Main Street Philomath, OR 97370 Phone: 541-929-6230 Website Facebook

Corvallis-Benton County Public Library 645 NW Monroe Ave Corvallis, OR 97330 Phone: 541-766-6793 Website Facebook

Family History Centers

 * Corvallis Oregon Family History Center
 * Eugene Oregon Family History Center
 * Newport Oregon Family History Center
 * Salem Oregon Family History Center
 * Oregon Genealogical Society, Inc. - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Benton County OR GenWeb Project, an member of The ORGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Benton County
 * Pioneers of Benton County
 * Cyndis List for Benton County
 * Benton County, OR History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Oregon Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Linkpendium
 * FamilySearch Catalog for Benton County
 * Oregon, Benton County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records