Cascade County, Montana Genealogy
Guide to Cascade County, Montana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Cascade County was created 19 Dec 1887[2] and was named for the falls ("cascade" means waterfall in French) on the Missouri River. Its county seat is Great Falls. It is located in the west central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Cascade County Courthouse
425 2nd Ave N
Great Falls, MT 59401
Phone: 406–454–6800
Cascade County Website
Cascade County, Montana 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 |
| 1897* | 1888* | 1897* | 1887 | 1897 | 1887 | 1860 |
Compliance for recording births was 1922 and 1915 for deaths.[5] | ||||||
Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Boundary Changes
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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 | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
Some small towns have vanished. Montana is a newer State so land offices have a record of the populated or once populated towns. Many people homesteaded farms and did not live in towns records. Homestead records are part of the BLM or Bureau of Land Management and may not listed by county but by plot numbers. The County courthouse land records have several types of records, one type is plot.
Resources
Bible Records
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Cascade County. To find more resources, go to the Montana Bible Records page.
Biographies
- 1917-1919 The Honor Roll, Cascade, Montana, 1917-1918-1919. 1919. Great Falls, MT: War Book Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- 1880-2009 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1890 | 8,755 | — |
| 1900 | 25,777 | 194.4% |
| 1910 | 28,833 | 11.9% |
| 1920 | 38,836 | 34.7% |
| 1930 | 41,146 | 5.9% |
| 1940 | 41,199 | 0.1% |
| 1950 | 53,027 | 28.7% |
| 1960 | 73,418 | 38.5% |
| 1970 | 81,804 | 11.4% |
| 1980 | 80,696 | −1.4% |
| 1990 | 77,691 | −3.7% |
| 2000 | 80,357 | 3.4% |
| 2010 | 81,327 | 1.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Before Montana was a state in 1889, the western portion of Montana was included in the 1860 Washington Territory and the eastern was in the unorganized parts of 1860 Nebraska Territory. The 1870 and 1880 Federal Censuses included Montana Territory. No state censuses have been taken.[8] See links listed below.
Territory and State Censuses
- 1860 United States Census, 1860 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index & images; Montana was included in the 1860 Washington and Nebraska Territory Censuses
- 1870 United States Census, 1870 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index & images; Montana Territory Census
- 1880 United States Census, 1880 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index & images; Montana Territory Census
Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of Montana starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Montana Census.
- 1910-1956 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Church Records
Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Montana denominations, view the Montana Church Records wiki page.
Online Church Records
Lutheran Church
- 1875-1940 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county
Presbyterian Church
- 1911-1923 U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Grace Presbyterian Church of Great Falls, Baptisms, Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1911-1923
- 1916-1921 U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Square Butte, Baptisms, Births, Deaths, 1916-1921
- 1919-1924 U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Community Presbyterian Church of Square Butte, Baptisms, Births, Deaths, 1919-1924
List of Churches and Church Parishes
County Records
1880-2009 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images.
Court Records
- 1880-2009 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1916-1937 Montana, Cascade County, Court Orders for Dependent Children, 1916-1937(*); 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
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Croxford Funeral Home in Great Falls
- O'Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls
- Schnider Funeral Home in Great Falls
Genealogies
- 1500-2000 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Montana Land and Property for additional information about early Montana land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
- 1863-1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry - - index & images ($)
- 1880-1936 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and 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 Cascade County, Montana Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Montana Local Histories.
On September 12, 1887, "An Act Creating Cascade County, its Boundaries, provisions for its organization and the officers to fill the various positions until the first election," was passed by the Territorial Legislative Assembly. Cascade County had been formed from parts of Meagher, Choteau and Lewis and Clarke* Counties. Great Falls was designated as the County Seat until otherwise determined by law.
Many communities have published histories of the area. Example: Great Falls Memories, A Photo album - 1884 to 1939. A compilation of photo histories of the city, transportation, people, commerce, industry, education, community, disasters, recreation and celebrations, business profiles. This a typical type of project that cities and communities undertake to commemorate the subject.
Most Cascade County local histories have been indexed by the Great Falls Genealogy Society and are available to the the public on their web site: Great Falls Genealogical Society
- Mountains and Meadows: A Pioneer History of Cascade, Chestnut Valley, Hardy, St. Peter's Mission and Castner Falls 1805 to 1925. c190-?. By Mrs. Clarence J Conrad Rowe. Great Falls, Montana : Blue Print & Letter Co. At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- See an interactive map of Cascade County cemeteries and modern-day townships. (Histopolis)
- Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Montana - shows boundary changes for Montana Counties
- Historical Maps and Atlases of Montana - maps and atlases of Montana
Migration
Military Records
Online Collections
These collections are unique to Montana. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Montana Military Records.
Civil War
- 1890 United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1890-1918 Montana Military Enlistments at Montana Memory Project
- 1896-1911 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
World War I
- 1904-1918 Montana, Military Records, 1904-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1917-1918 U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- Soldiers of the Great War from the State of Montana at USGenWeb.
- Honor rolls Containing a Pictorial Record of the Gallant and Courageous Men from Cascade County, Mont., U.S.A. Who Served in the Great War, 1917-1918-1919 (digitized book)
- Military Enlistments Montana World War I at Montana Memory Project
World War I
World War II
- WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties for Montana - Index only
For further information see Montana Military Records.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Please see the Montana Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1791 - 1992 U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 at Ancestry($), index only
- 1868 - 1999 Montana Naturalization Records, 1868-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1870 - 1999 Montana, Federal Naturalization Records, 1870-1999 at Ancestry($), index only
- 1888 - 1966 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
- 1924 - 1999 Montana Naturalization Records, 1868-1999 – Browseable images only.
Naturalization records are located at the History Museum. The complete index to the records is located at the Great Falls Genealogy Society Library.
Newspapers
For more information, see Montana Newspapers.
Montana Newspapers Online
- Chronicling America - contains images of some Montana newspapers; searching tips
- GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Montana newspapers
- Great Falls Tribune - Based out of Great Falls, MT
- Montana Newspapers by the Montana Historical Society
- Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Montana newspapers
- 1800s-Current Montana, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Montana Newspaper Catalogs
- U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper
Obituaries
- 1880-2002 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
- Obituary Daily Times - large obituary index from newspapers across the United States.(Ancestry)
See also United States Obituaries for more about finding United States obituaries.
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1889-1934 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
- 1937-2000 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Public Records
County Clerk has birth, death and land records from 1917.
Clerk of the Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records.[9]
Cascade County Courthouse is located at 425 Second Ave North, old stone structure. The Clerk and Recorder office is located on the main floor in the east end of building. Local US Census film readers are available. The deeds and land records office is also on the main floor.
- Cascade County Montana Courthouse link
- 1958–1978 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Pension Records
- 1923-1935 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Montana, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, inventories, claim registers, inheritance records, probate packets, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for Montana, Cascade - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1831–1952 Montana Wills and Probate Records 1831-1952 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1880–2009 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1884-1927 Abstracts of Wills, Cascade County, Montana, 1884-1927(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1888-1978 Montana, Cascade County, Index to Probate Records and Abstracts of Wills, 1888-1978(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1888-1978 Montana, Cascade County, Probate Case Files, 1903-1926, 1888-1978(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — District Court
- 1888-1978 Montana, Cascade County, Probate Records, 1888-1978(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1889-1903 Montana, Cascade County, Probate Records : Case Files, 1889-1903(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1895-1930 Montana, Cascade County, Record of Wills, 1895-1930(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1896–1955 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Montana tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records.
- 1891–1898 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most birth and death original records can be purchased from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. For information about marriages, divorces, and requirements for obtaining any vital records, see the CDC Where to Write website.
- 1900-1999 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Birth
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1897-1988 Montana, U.S., Birth Records, 1897-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1885-1933 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
Marriage
- 1800-1994 Montana, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1865-1950 Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1865-1950 Montana, County Marriages, 1865 - 1950 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1887-1950 Montana, Cascade - Marriage records, 1887-1950; Index 1887 - 1953
- 1889- 947 Montana Marriages, 1889-1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1889-1947 Montana Select Marriages 1889 - 1947 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1943-1988 Montana, U.S., Marriage Records, 1943-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1950-1967 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
- Western States Marriage Index - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
Death
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1860-2007 Montana Death Index, 1860-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1868-2011 Montana, Death Index, 1868 - 2011 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1895-1907 Montana, Cascade County Records, 1880-2009 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images.
- pre 1954-2002 Montana State Death Registry Index Pre 1954 & 1954 - 2002 at Montana State Genealogical Society — index
- 1954-2011 Montana Death Records at Findmypast ($) — index
- 1954-Onward Montana Deaths at MyHeritage — index($)
Divorce
- 1943-1988 Montana, U.S., Divorce Records, 1943-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Voting Records
- 1884-1992 Montana, County Voting Records, 1884-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Cascade County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Montana 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
Listed below are libraries in Cascade County. For state-wide library facilities, see Montana Archives and Libraries.
Great Falls Genealogy Society Library
301 2nd Avenue North, 3rd Floor
Great Falls, MT 59401
406-727-3922
Email: gfgenealogy@genlibrary.org
Website
Great Falls Public Library
301 2nd Ave North
Great Falls, MT 59401
406-453-0349
Email: questions@greatfallslibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Museums
Cascade County Historical Society Museum and Archive
422 2nd St. S
Great Falls, MT 59405
406-452-3462
Email: info@greatfallshistorymuseum.org
Website
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Cascade County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Montana Societies.
Cascade County Historical Society and Museum
422 2nd St. S
Great Falls, MT 59405
406-452-3462
Email: info@greatfallshistorymuseum.org
Website
Facebook
Great Falls Genealogical Society
301 2nd Avenue North, 3rd Floor
Great Falls, MT 59401
406-727-3922
Email: gfgenealogy@genlibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Cascade County at Cyndi's List — a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Cascade County at Genealogy Trails — volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Cascade County at Montana USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Cascade County at Montana USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
- Cascade County, Montana at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
- Cascade County, Montana Genealogy at LDSGenealogy.com - collection of links by state, county, city, and record type
- 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
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Montana: Individual Chronologies, Montana Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/MT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cascade County, Montana," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cascade_County,_Montana&oldid=1220793410 (accessed June 18, 2024).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Cascade County, Montana. Page 415 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), 106.
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Rev. ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 1992), 439.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cascade County, Montana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_County,_Montana, accessed 5 December 2016.
- ↑ ’'Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 409. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), p. 415.