Benton County, Iowa Genealogy
Guide to Benton County, Iowa ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Benton County was named for Thomas Hart Benton and is located in eastern Iowa.[3]
County Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse
111 East 4th Street
P.O. Box 719
Vinton, IA 52349-1771
Phone: 319-472-2766
Benton County Website
Benton County, Iowa Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1880 | 1852 | 1880 | 1850 | 1846 | 1872 | 1847 |
Record Loss
|
1853 Courthouse burned but there was no record loss. |
Boundary Changes
|
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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Benton County. To find more resources, go to the Iowa Bible Records page.
- Benton County Bible Records at USGenWeb Iowa Archives
Biographies
- History of Benton County, Iowa: A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1878. Online at: Internet Archive, HathiTrust, Benton GenWeb.
- History of Benton County, Iowa: from Materials in the Public Archives. By Luther B. Hill. Chicago, IL: Lewis Pub., 1878. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
- Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa. Chapman Brothers. Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers, 1887. Online at: HathiTrust.
- Benton County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Iowa, State Employees at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Cemeteries
Census Records
Iowa recorded not only federal, but state censuses for several in-between years as well. For more information, see the very informative Iowa Census article.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 672 | — |
| 1860 | 8,496 | 1164.3% |
| 1870 | 22,454 | 164.3% |
| 1880 | 24,888 | 10.8% |
| 1890 | 24,178 | −2.9% |
| 1900 | 25,177 | 4.1% |
| 1910 | 23,156 | −8.0% |
| 1920 | 24,080 | 4.0% |
| 1930 | 22,851 | −5.1% |
| 1940 | 22,879 | 0.1% |
| 1950 | 22,656 | −1.0% |
| 1960 | 23,422 | 3.4% |
| 1970 | 22,885 | −2.3% |
| 1980 | 23,649 | 3.3% |
| 1990 | 22,429 | −5.2% |
| 2000 | 25,308 | 12.8% |
| 2010 | 26,076 | 3.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1885 Iowa State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1895 Iowa State Census, 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1905 Iowa State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images (individual cards, not family context)
- 1915 Iowa State Census, 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1925 Iowa State Census, 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Church Records
Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information about these major repositories, see Iowa Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Lutheran
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1845-1987 Iowa, Church and Civil Deaths, 1845-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
Court Records
- 1864-1931 Iowa, Benton County, District Court Records, 1864-1931(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1934-1940 Iowa, Benton County, Widow Pension Records, 1934-1940(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- Plat Book of Benton County, Iowa(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service and Cremation Service in Belle Plaine
- Phillips Funeral Homes in Blairstown, Keystone and Vinton
- Teahen Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Vinton
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. They include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Iowa Land and Property for information about early Iowa land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, transactions were usually recorded and housed at the county courthouse.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1847-1885 Deeds, 1847-1885; index, 1847-1902 at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Benton County, which may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Iowa Local Histories.
- History of Benton County, Iowa: from Materials in the Public Archives. By Luther B. Hill. Chicago, IL: Lewis Pub., 1878. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Benton County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1878. Online at: Internet Archive, HathiTrust, Benton County IAGenWeb; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers
County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For online maps and collections in libraries and societies, see Iowa Maps. Historical maps may be especially useful.
for more resources
- 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Benton County at Ancestry ($) - index.
- 1875-2007 Benton County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
- 1883-1941 Fire Insurance Maps for Benton County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1941.
- Benton County at IAGenWeb.
- Atlas of Benton County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Benton County at Iowa Digital Library.
- Map of Benton County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Plat Book of Benton County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Benton County at State Library of Iowa.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Multiple Wars
- 1835-1998 Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
- 1862-1910 Iowa, Records of Persons Subject to Military Duty, 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Civil War
- 1861-1949 Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Civil War service men in Benton County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
- - 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
- - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
- - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
- - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
- - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
- - 28th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies A and D
- - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C
Naturalization and Citizenship
Please see the Iowa Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1859-1990 United States, Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1860-1929 Naturalization Records, 1860-1929(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1891-1902 Iowa, Benton County, Naturalization Records, 1891-1902(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Iowa, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1866-1868 Belle Plaine Transcript at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1869-2008 The Belle Plaine Union at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1883-1886 Independent at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1895-1896 Lever at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1897-1906 Every Other Daily Union at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1919-1921 The Belle Plaine Union and Herald at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1972-1972 The Bedford Times Press at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1982-2008 South Benton Star Press at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1988-1988 Fontanelle Observer at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 1993-1993 Preston Times at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- 2009-2016 Star Press Union at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
- NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a large collection of digitized Iowa newspapers online. This database is sometimes free at libraries.
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Iowa, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1847-1925 Iowa, Benton County, Probate Records, 1847-1925(*) Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1856-1910 Will Records, vol. A-C, 1856-1910(*) District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- Probate Records Indexes(*) District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Iowa tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. Iowa's unique Old Age Assistance tax gives names, addresses and birth years. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see the wiki page Iowa Taxation.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1934-1958 Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded by civil officials on registers, certificates, and other documents. Copies or extracts may be purchased from the Iowa Department of Public Health or the County Clerk's office. See also Iowa Vital Records.
Birth
- 1850-1939 Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1880-1935 Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1921-1942 Iowa, Birth Records, 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1921-1947 Iowa, Birth and Stillbirth Records, 1921-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images, coverage may vary
Marriage
- 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836-1926 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1838-1934 Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1941-1951 Iowa, Marriage Records, 1941-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death
- 1845-1987 Iowa, Church and Civil Deaths, 1845-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1850-1990 Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1880-1992 Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1888-1904 Iowa, Death Records, 1888-1904 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images, coverage may vary
- 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1904-1951 Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Divorce
- 1906-1925 Divorce Records, 1906-1925(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Benton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Belle Plaine Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Cedar Falls/Waterloo Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Cedar Rapids Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Iowa City Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Marshalltown Iowa FamilySearch Center
- African American Museum Of Iowa - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Benton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.
Vinton Public Library
510 2nd Avenue
Vinton, IA 52349
Phone: 319-472-4208
Email: vintonpl@vintonlibrary.com
Website
Blairstown Public Library
305 Locust St NW
PO Box 187
Blairstown, IA 52209
Phone: 319-454-6497
Website
Norway Iowa Public Library
108 Railroad St
Norway, IA 52318
Phone: 319-227-7487
Facebook
Museums
Belle Plaine Area Museum
901 Main St
Belle Plaine, IA 52208
Phone: 319-434-6093
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Benton County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Iowa Societies.
Benton County Historical Society
P.O. Box 22
Vinton, IA 52349
Phone: 319-472-4325
Email: bentoncohistorical@gmail.com
Website
Websites
- Benton County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Benton County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Benton County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Benton County at Iowa USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
- State Historical Society of Iowa — select from research collection topics
- State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
- The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
- FamilySearch Catalog – 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.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Benton, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_County,_Iowa.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Benton County, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_County,_Iowa, accessed 22 August 2019.