Jefferson County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Jefferson 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 Thomas Jefferson. The County Seat is Rigby and was founded February 18, 1913. It is located in the east central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse 210 Courthouse Way Rigby, ID 83442-0538 Phone: 208-745-6313 Jefferson County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1914.

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:

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.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Jefferson County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which existed in Jefferson County, Idaho prior to 1950. Many of the original records of these church units are in the Historical Library in Salt Lake City. Many of the membership records covering these units from the date of their creation to about 1948 have been microfilmed and are available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. An entire set of local Idaho records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are at BYU-Idaho Library and the Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center.
 * Stakes:

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

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

 Judgment Books
 * Judgments, 1891-1936; index, 1914-1986

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories
Note: This is not a comprehensive list. Many other works exist. WorldCat lists materials on history, biography, ethnic and religious groups, as well as other features of Jefferson County. The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also has: Memories of Market Lake: a history of Beaver Canyon, Camas, Dubois, Gilmore, Humphrey, Lidy's, Medicine Lodge, Monida, Nicholia, Roberts, Spencer and the pioneers of Yore, plus many other early south-eastern Idaho settlements...by Wm. Stibal Pettite
 * 100 years of Jefferson County progress, by Willard Adams
 * Jefferson County, by Patricia Lyn Scott and Marjorie J Scott
 * Centennial farm families, by Louis J Clements
 * Settlement of Idaho by Utah pioneers: Bingham and Jefferson Counties, by Lou Jean S Wiggins
 * History of Grant Ward, by the Jefferson County Historical Society
 * Mud Lake memories, by Mildred R Staley et al.
 * The Rigby Stake bicentennial history, by the Rigby Stake Bicentennial Committee

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records
World War I


 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)

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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and 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
 * Jefferson Star

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed a number of earlier Jefferson County newspapers, and these can be viewed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho. (Check Rigby and Roberts) BYU Library Digital Collections includes some searchable editions of the Rigby Star newspaper at: https://lib.byu.edu/collections/rigby-star-newspaper/

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 Jefferson County. The originals are held in the Jefferson County courthouse in Rigby, 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 $
 * 1920-1941 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

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

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Idaho

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
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * Eastern Idaho Death 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 Family History Center
 * Rigby Idaho Family History Center
 * Rexburg Idaho Family History Center
 * St Anthony Idaho Family History Center
 * Terreton Idaho Family History Center
 * David O McKay Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Lewisville Public Library 3453 E 480 N Lewisville, ID 83431 Phone: (208) 754-8608 Website Facebook Page
 * Menan, Annis, Grant Public Library 623A N 3500 E Menan, ID 83434 Phone: (208) 754-0021 Website
 * Ririe Public Library 464 Main St Ririe, ID 83443 Phone: (208) 538-7974 Website
 * Rigby Public LIbrary 110 N State St Rigby, ID 83442 Phone: (208) 745-8231 Website Facebook Page
 * Roberts Public Library 2870 E 650 N 2870 E Roberts, ID 83444 Phone: (208) 228-2210 Website

Societies

 * Museum Jefferson County Historical Society‎ 118 West 1st South Rigby, ID 83442-1303 (208) 745-8423 Website
 * 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 Jefferson County ID GenWeb Project, a member of ID GenWeb


 * – 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.