Yakima County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Yakima County

County Courthouse
Yakima County Courthouse 128 N 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 Phone: 509.574.1430 County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907, marriage records from 1880 and land records; County clerk has probate, divorce and court records from 1881

Historical Facts

 * Parent County: created 21 January 1865 from Walla Walla
 * County Seat: Yakima
 * Neighboring Counties: Benton | Grant | King | Kittitas | Klickitat | Lewis | Pierce | Skamania

Indian Reservation
The Yakama Indian Reservation is located primarily in Yakima County, with a small portion in Klickitat County.

Census

 * 1870
 * 1880
 * 1890 Veterans
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930

Military
Some military records for this county have been digitized at the Washington State Digital Archives.

Newspapers
The Yakima Valley Genealogical Society has a massive collection of obituaries starting from 1860 on, from counties in and around Yakima. They are in the process of putting this collection online. For now, contact the Society at 509-248-1328 or [mailto:yvgs1901@gmail.com yvgs1901@gmail.com]. They have researchers who are willing to look things up from this collection.

Vital Records

 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence, occupation and certificate numbers.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

 * Yakima Valley Genealogical Society  This society has a collection of over 18,000 records and books, including a massive obituary collection starting in 1860 for areas in and around Yakima County.  Local librarians are willing to help with research and will look up information from their various collections.  The site contains a catalog of all their holdings.  Contact them by clicking on Contact Us or calling 509-248-1328, email [mailto:yvgs1901@gmail.com yvgs1901@gmail.com].  This Society is located at 1901 South 12th Avenue, Union Gap, Yakima, Washington  98903.

Gerald Shephard - current librarian

Sue Ericksen - Treasurer and President of the Washington State Genealogical Society

Judy Schuster - researcher

LIBRARY HOURS:The library is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm Monday-Saturday. The library is closed on Saturdays in November, December &amp; January; January 1st, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day,Thanksgiving and December 24-25. The library can be opened during closed hours by appointment. Please call several days ahead to make arrangements.

Web Sites

 * Yakima County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Yakima County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)