Mohave County, Arizona Genealogy

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

Description
Mohave County is located in the northwest corner of Arizona, the county seat is Kingman, and it also contains the somewhat newer 'river city' known as Bullhead City, which is across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada. Hoover Dam is also partly included in the county due to it being built to dam the Colorado River to create Lake Mead. The word 'Mohave' is a variant spelling of 'Mojave'.

County Courthouse
Mohave county Courthouse 415 E. Spring Street / PO Box 7000 Kingman, AZ 86402 Phone: 928-753-0713 Mohave County Courthouse

Clerk Superior Court has marriage records from 1888, divorce, probate and court records from 1850, with County Records and land 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:

History Timeline

 * Until 1821 New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
 * In 1821 Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
 * 18 Aug 1846 During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 4 July 1848 In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona. This included all the land in present day Mohave County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
 * 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The land in present-day Mohave County, Arizona was once part of Taos (NM), San Juan (NM) (1861-1862 only), Rio Arriba (NM), Santa Ana (NM), Bernalillo (NM), Valencia (NM), and Socorro (NM) counties of New Mexico.  Look for records in Dona Ana County, Socorro County, Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Taos, and Valencia counties.
 * 24 Feb 1863 The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory. All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * 10 Nov 1864 Mohave County was created as one of the four original counties in Arizona.
 * 22 Dec 1865 Arizona created Pah-Ute County (extinct) from the northern half of Mohave County. This county named for the Paiute Indians, using the spelling of that day. Both Mohave and Pah-Ute counties covered land which was later given to Nevada. Look for records in Mohave County.
 * 5 May 1866 The US removed the northwest corner from Arizona Territory (parts of Pah-Ute (extinct) and Mohave counties) and gave that land to the State of Nevada. Nevada used that land by adding to Lincoln and Nye counties. But Arizona held to its previous claim on that land and opposed this transfer, twice petitioning congress to repeal the law. Up thru 1868, representatives from Pah-Ute County (extinct) attended the Arizona Legislature. Look for records in Nevada State Library and Archives and Arizona State Library. Also the Lincoln, Nye, and Mohave counties.
 * 18 Feb 1871 Arizona discontinued Pah-Ute County (extinct). In effect, withdrawing claim to the southeastern corner of Nevada after exhausting all legal recourse. The remnant of Pah-Ute County (extinct) still in Arizona was returned to Mohave County. Look for records in Mohave County.
 * 6 Mar 1883 Arizona expanded Mohave County by adding land from Yavapai County, north of the Colorado River and west of Kanab Wash. Look for records in Mohave and Yavapai counties

See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

Church Records
ard and Branch Records (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
 * Kingman
 * Littlefield
 * Moccasin
 * Mt. Trumbull

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

Land and Property Records
Mohave County Recorders Office 700 W. Beale Street Kingman, AZ 86402-0070 928-753-0701 928-753-0727

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Land Search at General Land Office Records
 * Land Records, 1 January 1970 to the present at Graham County Recorders Office
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records
Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1882-1918 Mohave County Miner (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918 is available for free Online viewing.

Obituaries

 * 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Other Records
Voting Records
 * 1876-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1800-1946 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1947 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
 * 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 at Ancestry — index($)
 * 1833-1949 US Marriages – Arizona, 1833-1949 at Findmypast — index($)
 * 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry — index($)
 * 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: 

Death

 * 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
 * 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Divorce
Online Divorce Indexes and Records
 * 1877-1937 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cottonwood Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Kingman Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Lake Havasu City Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Prescott Arizona FamilySearch Center
 * Flagstaff City - Coconino County Public Library - an affiliate library

Museums
Mohave County Historical Society Museums c/o Mohave Museum PO Box 928 400 W. Beale St Kingman, AZ 86401 Phone: 928-753-3195 Facebook Website

Societies
Lake Havasu Genealogical Society  P.O. Box 953 Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405-0953 Phone: 928-854-5447 Facebook Website

Websites

 * Mohave County AZGenWeb
 * Mohave County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – 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.