Douglas County, Nebraska Genealogy
Guide to Douglas County, Nebraska ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Douglas County was named after Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861), U.S. Senator from Illinois. The county is located in the east central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Douglas County Courthouse
Hall of Justice
1701 Farnam Street, #300
Omaha, NE 68102
Phone: 402.444.7018
Douglas County Website
County Judge has marriage and probate records.
Clerk District Court has divorce records.
County Clerk has military discharge records. [1]
Douglas County, Nebraska 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 |
| 1869 | 1856 | 1873 | 1855 | 1854 | 1855 | 1854 |
Record Loss
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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:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Douglas County Bible and Family Records at Rootsweb-Nebraska Ancestree
- Omaha and Douglas County, Nebraska, pioneers & Bible records(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 4,328 | — |
| 1870 | 19,982 | 361.7% |
| 1880 | 37,645 | 88.4% |
| 1890 | 158,008 | 319.7% |
| 1900 | 140,590 | −11.0% |
| 1910 | 168,546 | 19.9% |
| 1920 | 204,524 | 21.3% |
| 1930 | 232,982 | 13.9% |
| 1940 | 247,562 | 6.3% |
| 1950 | 281,020 | 13.5% |
| 1960 | 343,490 | 22.2% |
| 1970 | 389,455 | 13.4% |
| 1980 | 397,038 | 1.9% |
| 1990 | 416,444 | 4.9% |
| 2000 | 463,585 | 11.3% |
| 2010 | 517,110 | 11.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Federal Censuses were taken for Nebraska starting in 1860. For links to Federal census indexes, see Nebraska Census.
For tips on accessing Douglas County, Nebraska Genealogy census records online, see: Nebraska Census.
State Census Records
- 1854 - 1870 Nebraska, Compiled Census Index, 1854-1870 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1860 - 1885 Nebraska State Census Collection 1860-1885 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
- 1885 Nebraska State Census 1885 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1885 Nebraska State Census 1885 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
Church Records
Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Nebraska denominations, view the Nebraska Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Online Church Records
- 1875-1899 Nebraska, Church Records, 1875-1899 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Google maps shows many Douglas County churches
Lutheran
- Records of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Millard, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records
- Omaha Branch Record of Members 1929-1942 at FamilySearch Library
- Omaha South Branch Record of Members 1941 at FamilySearch Library
- Winter QuartersBishops Accounts 1840-1859 for Bishop Edward Hunter. Also includes Nauvoo, Illinois 5th Ward and Salt Lake City, Utah 13th Ward,
Court Records
- In the Supreme Court of Nebraska : Marjorie H. Baker, Plaintiff and Appellee, Erna Mae Bradley ... [and Others], Intervenors and Appelles vs. Gertrude L. Somerville, Robert S. Somerville, and Emil Holmstrom, Defendants and Appellants : Brief of Appellants. By Somerville, Gertrude L. Douglas County, Nebraska : Douglas County, Nebraska. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Directories
- 1956 Polk's Omaha, Nebraska, City Directory, 1956 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1956 Polk's Omaha, Nebraska, Directory of Householders, 1956 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1957 Polk's Omaha, Nebraska, Directory of Householders, 1957 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1957 Polk's Omaha, Nebraska, Directory of Householders, 1957 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 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
- Italians of Omaha Online version of book written and compiled by workers of the Writers' Program Work Projects Administration in the State of Nebraska; sponsored by Order of Sons of Italy. Published: Omaha : Independent Printing Company, 1941.
Funeral Homes
- Braman Mortuary and Cremation Services in Omaha
- Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Mausoleum in Omaha
- Good Shepherd Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Omaha
- Heafey Hoffman Dworak Cutler Mortuaries and Crematory in Omaha
- John A Gentleman Mortuaries and Crematory in Omaha and Ralston
- Korisko Larkin Staskiewicz Funeral Home in Omaha
- Kremer Funeral Home in Omaha
- Murray Funeral Services in Omaha
- Reichmuth Funeral Homes in Bennington, Elkhorn, and Omaha
- Roeder Mortuaries in Omaha
- Thomas Funeral Home in Omaha
- Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home and Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha
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. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Nebraska Land and Property for additional information about early Nebraska 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
- Douglas County land viewer(page a little slow at coming up) Geographical Information Systems for Douglas County. Locate addresses and land parcels in the county
- 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.com - - index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
For more information see Nebraska Land and Property
Local Histories
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Local histories are available for Douglas County, Nebraska 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 Nebraska Local Histories. It is also noted as part of the local history that there are "Mormon Cemetery" in this area. Burials here are largely from the late 1840s, when the Latter-day Saints began their trek west, this general area very close to this spot is where they stopped for the winter of 1846 and subsequent groups heading for what is now known as Utah staged from this general area. This area is also known as "Winter Quarters" due to the fact that the first group stopped for the winter around this location. There may be a very few later than that here as well.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Nebraska Gazetteer - database for all known places found in 1890 and 1911 Nebraska gazetteers
- Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Nebraska - shows boundary changes for Nebraska Counties
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
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Early migration routes to and from Douglas County for European and African American settlers included:
- Missouri River
- Platte River
- Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon[6]
- California Trail 1846 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California[7]
- Mormon Trail 1846 to 1869 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah[8]
Railroads
In December 1863 the First Transcontinental Railroad started from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Union Pacific Railroad
- American Memory from Library of Congress has maps of the Union Pacific Railroad
- Wikipedia article on the Union Pacific Railroad
Military Records
Revolutionary War
- 1775 - 1783 United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- For more nationwide Revolutionary War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
Civil War
- 1861 - 1865 Nebraska Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1861 - 1948 Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic, Burial Records, 1861-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Grand Army of the Republic in Douglas County, Nebraska -- Provisional Organization - July 10, 1867 -- Permanent Organization June 12, 1877
- 1891 Nebraska Resident Military Roster on June 1, 1891 at Ancestry.com - ($), Roster of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines of the War of 1812, the Mexico War, and the War of the Rebellion, residing in Nebraska June 1, 1891
- 1893 Roster of Nebraska Veterans - list of veterans in 1893
- For more nationwide Civil War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
- History of Nebraska GAR
- GAR information is available through the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
- Original Post
- Post # 1 OMAHA Chartered Dec. 13, 1866 by National Headquarters 15 members
- Later Posts
- Post #2 FT. OMAHA Phil Kearny Jan. 1, 1876-1896 Post moved to South Omaha Membership: Total-136+
- Post #2-A South Omaha Phil Kearny Oct 5, 1896-1924 Charter surrendered April 30, 1924 Membership: Total-304+
- Post # 7 Omaha George Custer June 5, 1876-1946 Changed Jan 9, 1922 when last 3 Omaha posts were combined to Old Guard (A reference to their being the last of their kind) Membership: Total-477+
- Post #110 Omaha Aug. 18, 1882-1921 Combined with Post #7 Omaha, changed on July (23), 1888 to U.S.Grant, Membership: Charter-18 Total-344+
- Post # 262 Omaha April 6, 1888-1921, Combined with Post 7 Gate City , (Post originally requested name of Thomas J. Potter) changed January 30, 1889 to Phil Sheridan, changed March 21, 1890 to George Crook, Membership: Total-400+
- Post # 282 South Omaha R.R. Livingston May 7, 1889-1896 Combined with Post 2-A 1827-1888 Membership: Charter-N/A Total-66+
- Post # 300 Florence James Isom March 29, 1890-1890 Charter surrendered 1/29/189,1Membership: Total-12
- Post # 337 South Omaha Samuel Dennis April 16, 1895-1896 Combined with Post 2-A Membership: Charter-27 Total-34
World War I
- 1917 - 1918 World War I Drafts 1917-1918 - index only
- For more nationwide World War I databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
World War II
- 1940 - 1945 Nebraska, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1855-1989 Nebraska, Naturalization Records, 1855-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1867-1991 Naturalization Index, Omaha, Nebraska, Records of the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, Record Group 21- index of records available from National Archives, Kansas City
- 1867-1964 Douglas County Declarations of Intention : Request Naturalization records online or email research@douglascohistory.org
- 1881-1936 Douglas County Petitions for Citizenship, : Request Naturalization records online or email research@douglascohistory.org
Newspapers
For information on Nebraska newspapers, see Nebraska Newspapers.
- Library of Congress Chronicling America newspaper project contains digital copies of newspapers for Douglas County, Nebraska. Some are foreign language newspaprs. Years of publication vary.
- 1800s-Current Nebraska, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
- Omaha Obits - site with obituary listings that includes the Omaha Bee, the Omaha Star (African-American paper) and the Jewish Press; provided by the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society. Nearly 19,000 listings from Omaha newspapers.
Other Records
- 1870 - 1990 — Nebraska Prisoner Records 1870-1990 — index only
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Nebraska, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for Nebraska - Douglas - Probate records.
Online Probate Records
- 1806-1989 Nebraska Wills and Probate Records 1806-1989 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
- 1912-1970 Probate Records, 1912-1970(*); County 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
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Nebraska tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses before 1820 or to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth
- 1873-1910 An Index to the Douglas County Birth Registers is available online through the Omaha Public Library. The index includes the full name, sex, race, date of birth, place of birth, names of parents, and residence of parents. There are five volumes of the birth registers on three reels of microfilm with about 50,000 records in the collection. Volume 1 (1873-1887) of Omaha, and volume 5 (1895-1910) of South Omaha are indexed. The Douglas County Birth Registers. Available in the Genealogy & Local History Room at Omaha Public Library in Nebraska. Call number Nebraska Reference 929.3782254.
- 1900-Onward Nebraska Births at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Douglas County index to births from early Omaha newspapers at the Genealogy & Local History Room at the Omaha Public Library. These birth announcements were extracted by those looking for obituaries in the same papers.
Marriage
- 1855 - 1995 — Nebraska Marriages, 1855-1995 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only
- 1856 - 1898 — Nebraska Marriages 1856-1898 at Ancestry.com ($), index only
- 1909-Onward Nebraska Marriages at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Marriage License Indexes for Douglas County, Nebraska: Licenses since the 1940s
- Marriage License Indexes for Omaha, Nebraska
Death
- 1900-1955 Nebraska Deaths, 1900-1955 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1873-1915 Douglas County Death Register Indexes at Omaha Public Library. The original registers are available on microfilm in the Genealogy & Local History Room, Omaha Public Library.
- 1904-1968 Nebraska, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1904-1968 at Ancestry — index ($)
- The Nebraska Death Index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Douglas County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Nebraska 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
- Blair Nebraska FamilySearch Center
- Council Bluffs Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Logan Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Omaha Nebraska FamilySearch Center
- Papillion Nebraska FamilySearch Center
- Omaha Public Library FamilySearch Affiliate
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Douglas County. For state-wide library facilities, see Nebraska Archives and Libraries.
Baright Public Library
5555 S 77th St
Ralston, NE 68127-2899
Phone: 402-331-7636
Fax: 402-331-1168
Email: library@cityofralston.com
Facebook
Website
Omaha Public Library
3020 S 84th St
Omaha, NE 68124-3215
Phone: 402-444-4800
Email: research@omahalibrary.org
Facebook
Website
Reinert-Alumni Memorial Library
Creighton University
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
Phone: 402-280-2260; Archives: 402-280-2746
Email: askus@creighton.edu
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Douglas County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Nebraska Societies.
Douglas County Historical Society
5730 N 30th St #11b
Omaha, NE 68111
Phone: 402-455-9990
Email: director@douglascohistory.org
Facebook
Website
Website - DCHS Online Collections
Greater Omaha Genealogical Society
PO Box 4011
Omaha, NE 68104-0011
Email: Info@gogsne.org
Facebook
Website
Valley Community Historical Society
218 W Alexander
PO Box 685
Valley, NE 68064
Phone: 402-359-5544; 402-359-2678
Email: vllgrl@cox.net
Facebook
Website
Websites
- NEGenWeb
- USGenWeb
- Linkpendium links for Douglas County, Nebraska
- Linkforum for Douglas County, Nebraska
- Cyndi's List For Nebraska then scroll to Douglas County. Links to websites for multiple subjects
- 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Nebraska.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ http://genealogytrails.com/neb/douglas/ accessed 09/29/2016
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Douglas County, Nebraska. Page 428-435 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), 417-420.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Nebraska.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Nebraska," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Nebraska, accessed 24 January 2019.
- ↑ Jim Tompkins, Oregon Trail Landmarks, The Oregon Trail 1841-1848 Map I (accessed 18 July 2011).
- ↑ "Oregon California Trails Association" at http://octatrails.micromaps.com/ (accessed 18 July 2011).
- ↑ "The Pioneer Story: The Mormon Pioneer Trail" in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/pioneer-trek (accessed 18 July 2011).