Ringgold County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Samuel Ringgold. The County has Mount Ayr as its seat and the County was created February 24, 1847. The County is located in the south central area of the state.

Parent County
1847--Ringgold County was created 24 February 1847 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Taylor and Appanoose Counties prior to organization 31 January 1855. County seat: Mt. Ayr

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1858 A cyclone blew down the courthouse on June 8, and many records were lost.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

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:

Neighboring Counties
Adams • Clarke •  Decatur •  Taylor •  Union •  Harrison County, Missouri •  Worth County, Missouri

Census
State Census
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * Ringgold City, Iowa 1844-2002 : from first settlement to forgotten community. By Raymond V. Banner. Mount Ayr, Iowa : R.V. Banner, c2002. Online at:,.
 * Ringgold County history, Iowa at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa

Military

 * 1835-1998 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1949 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1862-1910 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Ringgold County Military Links

Civil War

 * - 4th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 29th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company E

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Mt Ayr Journal. 1888 and 1897. Mount Ayr, Iowa, United States Of America. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Taxation

 * 1934-1958 - at FamilySearch — index

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1921-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Deaths

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Ringgold County, Iowa Obituary Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. From Various Funeral Homes in the Mount Ayr and Ringgold County area.

Societies and Libraries
Ringgold County Chapter Iowa Genealogical Society 204 W. Jefferson Mount Ayr, IA 50854

Ringgold County Genealogical Society % Betty Jo Ruby 202 Adams Street Diagonal, IA 50845-1001

Ringgold County Historical Society, Inc. Mount Ayr, Iowa 50854 Telephone:515-464-2615

Websites

 * Ringgold County, IA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Ringgold County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Ringgold Co. IAGenWeb Project
 * Ringgold Co. IAGenWeb Project