Tarija Department, Bolivia Genealogy

Guide to Tarija Department family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.



History
The valley, of where present-day Tarija is situated, was identified as "Tarija" and shared an articulation similar to its current pronunciation, prior to Spanish expeditions and occupation. In 1826 the citizens of Tarija voted to become part of Bolivia. In 1807 Tarija had become separated from Upper Peru to become part of the jurisdiction of Salta which was a part of Argentina, but its close ties to what became Bolivia provided the impetus for it to go back to its original jurisdiction. Subsequently, the Inca Empire conquered the land and dispersed the Churumatas and other local groups over wide territories of the Andes. Mitimaes is the Quechuan name that the Incas used for the resisting ethnic groups they uprooted and then dispersed geographically. When the Spanish first arrived to the valley of Tarija they encountered several stone roads, most likely the remnants of pre-Incaic cultures, such as that of the Churumatas. However, during that period, the presence of indigenous peoples remained sparse within the valley. Several of the pre-Incaic roads and trials have been preserved, and currently function as a walking trail. 

Provinces
Tarija Department is divided into the following provinces: