Grant County, Washington Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Grant County Courthouse 35 C Street NW Ephrata, WA 98823-0037 Phone: 509-754-2011 Grant County Website

County Auditor has marriage and land records from 1909. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records.

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Eric L. Flom. Grant County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 8010.
 * Indian cultures such as the Interior Salish, Wenatchi, and Okanogan were the earliest inhabitants of the region.
 * Mid 1800s The first white settlers devoted themselves primarily to raising livestock.
 * 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes.
 * 1909 February 24, The Washington state Legislature formally created Grant County.
 * 1942 was completed.
 * 1950 Construction on the bringing the water of the Columbia River to irrigate Grant County's dry land.

Cemeteries

 * "Old Pioneer Cemetery" online at Washington Digital Archives
 * "Ephrata Cemetery" online at Washington Digital Archives

Census Records

 * Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free); and Ancestry ($)
 * Federal or territorial census indexes by local societies and individuals: 1910 (Free)

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Grand Coulee

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

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
American Indians
 * 1911-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Japanese
 * 1942-1946 Public Welfare/Social Security Department, Evacuee (Japanese) Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 at Washington State Archives - index and images; Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946

Local Histories

 * "Grant County, Washington Facts" online (mis-labeled as Grant County, Alabama)

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records

 * 1885-1907 Military Department, National Guard Enlistment Register, 1885-1907 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * Quincy Servicemen Index at Washington State Archives - index and images

Indian Wars
 * 1855-1856 Military Department, Indian War Muster Rolls, 1855-1856 at Washington State Archives - index and images

World War I
 * 1921-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

World War II

Japanese
 * 1942-1946 Public Welfare/Social Security Department, Evacuee (Japanese) Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 at Washington State Archives - index and images; Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1803-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1909-1978 Naturalization Records, 1909-1978 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. Includes Declarations of intention, 1909-1945; Depositions, 1924-1945; Naturalization cards, 1909-1979; Petition evidence, 1909-1945; Petitions for naturalization, 1898-1946; Orders of the court (admitting the petitioner or denying the petition), 1930-1947.

Newspapers

 * Grant County, Washington Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
 * 1855-2009 Washington Newspapers, 1855-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * Washington Digital Newspaper at Washington State Library

Obituaries
Also check:
 * Newspapers of Grant County, Washington Genealogy
 * Local Funeral Homes, Libraries or Family Records
 * Obituaries of Grant County and Neighboring Counties

Other Records
Public Records
 * Prior to 1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only

Voting Records
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Periodicals

 * Washington Periodicals

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
 * Includes Probate bond record 1909-1930; case files 1907-1930.

School Records
Online School Indexes and Records
 * 1803-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)

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

Birth

 * 1852-1963 Washington, Births at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1871-1921 Department of Health, Delayed Birth Records at Washington State Archives - index and images; includes some earlier and later dates
 * 1873-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1801-1962 Washington, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1803-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only; Includes General index to marriage affidavits 1909-1948; General index to marriage records 1909-1992; affidavit record 1890-1954; Marriage certificates (out of county) and unclaimed certificates 1909-1959; certificates 1909-2002; license applications 1955-2004; returns 1909-1942; waivers 1925-1981; Register of marriage statistics 1909-1936.
 * 1855-2008 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1909-2003 Grant County Auditor, Marriage Records, 1909-2003 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * 1968-1997 Department of Health, Marriage Certificates, 1968-1997 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1969-2022 Department of Health, Marriage Index, 1969-2022 at Washington State Archives - index and images

Death

 * 1881-1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1907-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * 1907-1997 Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907-1997 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * 1907-2020 Department of Health, Death Index, 1907-1960; 1965-2020 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * 1915-1928 Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Fatal Accident Cards, 1915-1928 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * 1919-1921 Department of Health, Fetal Death Records, 1919-1921 at Washington State Archives - index and images

Divorce

 * 1968-1997 Department of Health, Divorce Certificates, 1968-1997 at Washington State Archives - index and images
 * 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1969-2017 Department of Health, Divorce Index, 1969-2017 at Washington State Archives - index and images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Ellensburg Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Ephrata Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Moses Lake Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Othello Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Quincy Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Ritzville Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Royal Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Wahluke Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Warden Washington FamilySearch Center
 * Wenatchee Washington FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Resources for Grant County are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Online Resources: The public libraries in Grant County are part of North Central Regional Library. Their Research and Homework Center includes Heritage Quest. Library cards and passwords may be required for access. Coulee City Community Library 405 W Main Coulee City, WA 99115 Phone: 509-632-8751 Website Ephrata Community Library 45 Alder NW Ephrata, WA 98823 Phone: 509-754-3971 Website Grand Coulee Community Library 225 Federal Grand Coulee, WA 99133 Phone: 509-633-0972 Website Mattawa Community Library 61 Government Way Mattawa, WA 99349 Phone: 509-932-5507 Website Moses Lake Community Library 418 E 5th Ave Moses Lake, WA 98837 Phone: 509-765-3489 Website Quincy Community Library 108 B St SW Quincy, WA 98848 Phone: 509-787-2359 Website Royal City Community Library 356 Camelia Royal City, WA 99357 Phone: 509-346-9281 Website Soap Lake Community Library 32 E Main Soap Lake, WA 98851 Phone: 509-246-1313 Website Warden Community Library 305 S Main Warden, WA 98857 Phone: 509-349-2226 Website

Museums
Grant County Historical Museum 742 Basin St NW Ephrata, WA 98823 Phone: 509-754-3334

Societies
Grant County Historical Society 742 Basin Street NW Ephrata, WA 98823 509-754-3334 Website

Websites

 * Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society
 * Grant County WAGenWeb Project
 * USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Washington State Digital Archives


 * – 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.