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Benton County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Prosser
Organized: March 8, 1905
Parent County(s): Klickitat, Yakima
Neighboring Counties
Franklin • Grant • Klickitat • Walla Walla • Yakima • Morrow (OR) • Umatilla (OR)
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Benton County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-benton.png

Hot air balloon event in Prosser, Benton County, Washington

County Information

Description

Benton County was named for U.S. Senator from Missouri (1821–51) and later U.S. Representative (1853–55) Thomas Hart Benton. The county is located in the south-central area of the state.[1]

Eastern Benton County is dominated by the Tri-City Metropolitan Area.[2]. The area has been a gathering place from prehistoric times because of the intersection of three major rivers. Any resident in or near the confluence of the rivers may have records in Benton, Franklin or Walla Walla county.

County Courthouse

Benton County Courthouse
7122 W Okanogan Place Ste A110
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: 509-735-8476
Benton County Courthouse

County Auditor has birth records 1905-1907, and marriage records from 1905.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records.
County Assessor has land records. [3]

Benton County, Washington Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1905 1905 1915 1884 1885 1884 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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
Unincorporated communities
  • Apricot
  • Audrey
  • Badger
  • Berrian
  • Bettie
  • Chaffee
  • East White Bluffs
  • Edna
  • Ethel
  • Geneva Junction
  • Gibbon
  • Ginger
  • Helen
  • Highland
  • Horse Heaven
  • Kiona
  • Longview
  • May Junction
  • Nancy
  • North McNary
  • North Prosser
  • North Prosser
  • Pearl
  • Pierce
  • Plymouth
  • Ruby
  • Ruth
  • Susie
  • Wahluke
  • Whitcomb
  • Whitstran
  • Willa
  • Yellepit
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
  • Mottinger


History Timeline

Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Elizabeth Gibson. Benton County -- Thumbnail History, HistoryLink.

  • 1803 The first inhabitants were the Yakima Indians, Umatillas, Klickitats, and Wallulas.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1858 A gold rush to British Columbia brought the first influx of white people, as rushers traveled through on their way north.
  • 1880 Steamboats and railroads connected what would become known as Kennewick to the other settlements along the Columbia River.
  • 1880 and earlier - Benton County has very little rainfall, and some farmers had been successful at dryland farming.
  • 1890 Irrigation came to the county and brought many changes.
  • 1905 March 6, Washington State Legislature creates Benton County (out of Klickitat).
  • 1942 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Manhattan District, surveyed the northern part of the county for a secret government project.
  • 1943 All residents in the town sites of Hanford, White Bluffs, and [Old] Richland and the rural communities in northern Benton County were evacuated. Shortly thereafter, the Matthattan Project began.

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Biographical information is often found in Local Histories and in Genealogies (please see those headings). See also Washington Biography.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Benton County, Washington online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Washington Cemeteries for more information.
  • Many of the graves in the White Bluff Cemetery were moved to Prosser Cemetery (a few moved to Richland or Kennewick). The graves were moved on very short notice by the family members then present. All remaining graves have no record whatever, and are completely unreachable.

Census Records

See Washington Census for online censuses, including territorial. For more information, see United States Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1910 7,937 —
1920 10,903 37.4%
1930 10,952 0.4%
1940 12,053 10.1%
1950 51,370 326.2%
1960 62,070 20.8%
1970 67,540 8.8%
1980 109,444 62.0%
1990 112,560 2.8%
2000 142,475 26.6%
2010 175,177 23.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

The information church records provide depends upon the church practices and the record keepers. Records may include names, ages, and dates of events such as baptism, marriage, or burial. See Washington Church Records.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Highly variable in personal information, court records can mention relatives, occupations, or pinpoint residences and dates. See Washington Court Records for the various courts used through the years.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

American Indians

Japanese

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. Local histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons. See also Washington Compiled Genealogies.

Guardianship

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by Probate or District courts. See Washington Court Records and Washington Probate Records.

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

Local histories for Benton County may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.

Maps and Gazetteers

GrantFranklinWalla WallaYakimaKlickitatUmatilla County, ORMorrow County, ORWA BENTON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Most residents came to Washington from other states or crossed the border from Canada. (See Seattle Passenger Lists for those who came from other countries.) Although few other migration records exist, try:
• Censuses: (use birthdates and places of children as clues)
• Land Records: (1st deed may reveal previous residence)
• Death-related records of children may give town or county of birth
• Records of relatives and neighbors

Military Records

Indian Wars

World War I

World War II

  • World War II enlistments of Benton County, Washington residents. This is a partial list. The NARA website cautions: "This series does not contain records of all World War II Army enlistees."

Japanese

Naturalization and Citizenship

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. Note: Until 1922 in the United States, women's citizenship was based on that of their husbands.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

Small town newspapers provide historical content and contain obituaries, birth or death notices, legal notices, and community news, such as visits to or from out-of-town relatives. See Washington Newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Obituaries

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, living family members, education, occupation, and more. See Washington Obituaries for state level collections and United States Obituaries for tips and insights.

Other Records

Public Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate records identify heirs of the decedents, give the (approximate) death dates, and provide specifics about property holdings. The records were kept by the county judge.

These include wills, inheritance records, dockets, and other documents regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. See also Court Records for civil actions involving estates. Also see Washington Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Online School Indexes and Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Washington tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Washington Taxation.

Vital Records

In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. On July 1, 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility.[8]

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

The county clerk has the divorce records. To order certificates, see Washington State Department of Health.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Benton County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington 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

Libraries

Local public libraries—even smaller ones—often have Unique Genealogical Collections that are not online for the area they serve. Many libraries in Washington have an area dedicated to local history and genealogy. Listed below are libraries in Benton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

Resources for Benton County are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Mid-Columbia Public Libraries

Branches and Locations
Genealogy Research Tools
Special or unique collections: collections of genealogical value are available from 1800s to the present.

Museums

East Benton County Historical Museum
205 Keewaydin Drive
Kennewick, WA 99336-0602
Phone: 509-582-7704
Email: ebchs@frontier.com
Website

The Reach Museum
1943 Columbia Park Trail
Richland, WA 99353
Phone: 509-943-4100
Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in Benton County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies. East Benton County Historical Society & Museum
205 West Keewaydin Drive
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: 509-582-7704
Website
Facebook

Tri-City Genealogical Society
PO Box 1410
1314 Jadwin Ave
Richland, WA 99352-1410
Website

Websites

Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Benton County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_County,_Washington. accessed 15/07/2019
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Tri-Cities metropolitan area," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-Cities_metropolitan_area, accessed 7/11/2023
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Benton County, Washington page 732, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Benton County, Washington . Page 732-735 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 733-734.
  5. ↑ The Evolution of Washington Counties by Newton Carl Abbott, Fred E. Carver, 1979. Published by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society and Klickitat County Genealogical Society.
  6. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Benton County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_County,_Washington, accessed 4 March 2019.
  8. ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection & Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Death Records About Death Records
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