Douglas County, Nevada Genealogy
Guide to Douglas County, Nevada 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 created November 25, 1861[2] and was named for Stephen A. Douglas who was famous for his 1860 Presidential campaign and debates with Abraham Lincoln. Its county seat is Minden. It is located in the northwestern area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Douglas County Courthouse
1594 Esmeralda Ave, Rm 105
Minden, NV 89423-0218
Phone: 775-782-9014
Douglas County Website
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records. [4]
Douglas County, Nevada 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 |
| 1885 | 1862 | 1887 | 1887 | 1855 | 1887 | 1850 |
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]
There are no incorporated towns or cities in Douglas County. The following communities are census-designated places, or un-incorporated communities, meaning population and demographic data is available from the U.S. Census Bureau for each one.
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| Census-designated places | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Douglas County. To find more resources, go to the Nevada Bible Records page.
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Print (Often more complete) |
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The following web site has additional information on Douglas county cemeteries.
- Interment.net Nevada cemetery records by county.
Census Records
The first enumeration for Nevada before it was a state in 1864, was in the 1850 Census in both New Mexico and Utah Territories, but the area had not been divided into counties. Those living there may be in the Utah 1851 Census. For 1860, Nevada was again enumerated in New Mexico and Utah Territories. [8] A partial state census exists for Nevada in 1862 and 1863 and a full state census exists for 1875. [9] See links listed below.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 1,215 | — |
| 1880 | 1,581 | 30.1% |
| 1890 | 1,551 | −1.9% |
| 1900 | 1,534 | −1.1% |
| 1910 | 1,895 | 23.5% |
| 1920 | 1,825 | −3.7% |
| 1930 | 1,840 | 0.8% |
| 1940 | 2,056 | 11.7% |
| 1950 | 2,029 | −1.3% |
| 1960 | 3,481 | 71.6% |
| 1970 | 6,882 | 97.7% |
| 1980 | 19,421 | 182.2% |
| 1990 | 27,637 | 42.3% |
| 2000 | 41,259 | 49.3% |
| 2010 | 46,997 | 13.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State and Territory Census Records
- 1850 United States Census, 1850 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index & images; Nevada was included in both the 1850 New Mexico and Utah Territory Censuses. - How to Use this Collection
- 1860 United States Census, 1860 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index & images; Nevada was included in both the 1860 New Mexico and Utah Territory Censuses. - How to Use this Collection
- 1860 Nevada, Compiled Census Index, 1860-1910 at Ancestry ($), index
- 1862-1863 1862-1863 Nevada Territory Tax List - Index
- 1875 Nevada State Census, 1875 at Ancestry ($), index
Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of Nevada starting in 1870. Although, those living in south-eastern Nevada in 1870 may be enumerated in Utah or Arizona because of disputed boundaries with Nevada.[10] For links to Federal Census indexes, see Nevada Census.
Church Records
Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information about these major repositories, see Nevada Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- 1868-1869 Nevada Directory 1868-1869 at Ancestry ($), index only, includes settlers of Nevada.
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- EastSide Memorial Park in Minden
- FitzHenry’s Carson Valley Funeral Home in Minden
- Waltons Funerals and Cremations in Gardnerville
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
The county recorder's office keeps land records once the land was transferred to private ownership. Abstracts and indexes for these records are generally available at the county courthouse.
In the FamilySearch Catalog, land records for Nevada are listed in the Place Search under: NEVADA, Douglas – LAND AND PROPERTY
- Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
- 1863-1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
- Land Patents at Nevada State Library and Archives and Public Records — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
For more information see Nevada Land and Property
Local Histories
County histories may include biographies of early settlers and residents, church and school information, and local military regiments at the time of publication.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Nevada - shows boundary changes for Nevada Counties
- Historical Maps and Atlases of Nevada - maps and atlases of Nevada
Migration
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Early migration routes to and from Douglas County, Nevada Genealogy for emigrant settlers included:
- California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California[11]
- Carson (River) Trail 1848 (aka Mormon Emigrant Trail) crossed the Forty Mile Desert past the west side of the Carson Sink to pick up the Carson River near Fallon, Nevada up to Hope Valley and Red Lake. The Devil's Ladder then climbed 700 feet (210 m) in half a mile so ropes, chains, and pulleys were required to lift the wagons. Carson Pass was followed by the relatively easy West Pass (Kirkwood, California) and then on to Pollock Pines, Placerville, and Sutter's Fort, California
- Johnson's Cutoff 1850-1851 (aka Placerville Route, Lake Tahoe Route and Day's Route) from Carson City, Nevada past the south end of Lake Tahoe going south and then west to Placerville, California and Sacramento
- Daggett Pass 1850 (aka Georgetown Pack Trail) Carson Valley, Nevada to Johnson's Cutoff near South Lake Tahoe, California
- Walker River-Sonora Road 1852-1854 from the Carson Trail south to the Walker River along the base of the Sierra Nevada until it ascends to Sonora Pass and then down to Strawberry and Sonora, California
- Central Overland Trail 1859-1869 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Carson City, Nevada through central Nevada on a route south of the Humboldt River][12]
Military Records
Online Collections
These collections are unique to Nevada. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Nevada Military Records.
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Nevada, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- 1863-1866 Nevada Civil War Volunteers, 1863-1866 ($) at Ancestry — index
World War I
World War II
- Nevada Casualties of World War II
- 1940-1945 Nevada, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
Korea War
- Nevada Military Killed in Action in Korea
- U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Korean War for Nevada
Vietnam War
- Nevada Military Killed in Action in Vietnam
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Nevada
- Vietnam Conflict Casualty Lists - Nevada
Other Conflicts
For further information see Nevada Military Records.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Please see the Nevada Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1956-1991 Nevada, Naturalization Petitions, 1956-1991 at Ancestry($), index
Newspapers
For more information, see Nevada Newspapers.
- 1875-1932 Nevada Newspapers at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800s-Current Nevada, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Chronicling America, contains images of some Nevada newspapers;
searching tips
- GenealogyBank ($), contains images of Nevada newspapers
- Newspaper Archive ($), contains images of Nevada newspapers
- Newspaper Archive ($), contains images of Reno newspapers going back to 1870. This database is sometimes free at libraries.
- U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. They may include the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc. See Nevada Probate Records for additional information.
Online Probate Records
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Nevada tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records. Most tax records can be obtained from the county treasurer or assessor. For more information, see the wiki page Nevada Taxation. The FamilySearch Library does not have copies of Nevada tax records (as of June 2013).
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 Nevada original records can be purchased from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Nevada Vital Records. For information about restrictions and costs for certificates, see the CDC Where to Write for Vital Records site.
Birth
- 1871-1992 Nevada County Birth and Death Records, 1871-1992 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1975-2012 Nevada Birth Index 1975-2012 at Ancestry ($)
Marriage
- 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
- 1862-1992 Nevada County Marriages, 1862-1993 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1949-Onward Nevada, Douglas County Marriages at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1956-2005 Nevada Marriage Index 1956-2005 at Ancestry ($)
Death
- 1871-1992 Nevada County Birth and Death Records, 1871-1992 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
Divorce
- 1968-2015 Nevada Divorce Records 1968-2015 at Ancestry ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Douglas County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Nevada 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
- Carson City Nevada FamilySearch Center
- Fallon Nevada FamilySearch Center
- Fallon Nevada South FamilySearch Center
- Fernley Nevada FamilySearch Center
- Hawthorne Nevada FamilySearch Center
- Silver Springs Nevada FamilySearch Center
- South Lake Tahoe California FamilySearch Center
- Yerington Nevada FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Douglas County. For state-wide library facilities, see Nevada Archives and Libraries.
Douglas County Public Library
1625 Library Ln
Minden, NV 89423
Phone: 775-782-9841
Email: info@douglas.lib.nv.us
Website
Museums
Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center
1477 Old US Highway 395 N, Suite B
Gardnerville, NV 89410
775-782-2555
Email: dchs@HistoricNV.org
Website
Courthouse Museum Genoa
2304 Main St
Genoa, NV 894111
775-782-4325
Email: dchs@HistoricNV.org
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Douglas County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Nevada Societies.
Clark County Nevada Genealogy Society
280 S Green Valley Pkwy
PO Box 1929
Henderson, NV 89012
Website
Douglas County Historical Society
Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center
1477 U. S. Highway 395 N, Suite B
Gardnerville, NV 8941
Phone: 775-782-2555
Fax: 775-783-8802
Email: dchs@HistoricNV.org
Website
Nevada Historical Society
1650 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89503
Phone: 775-688-1190
Email: shayeszorn@nevadaculture.org
Website
Nevada State Genealogical Society
4751 Neil Road
Reno, NV 89515-0666
Website
Tri-State Genealogical Society
For Arizona, California, Nevada
PO Box 21902
Bullhead City, AZ 86439
Website
Websites
- Douglas County at Cyndi's List — a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Douglas County at Genealogy Trails — volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Douglas County at Nevada USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Douglas County at Nevada USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
- Douglas County, Nevada at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
- Douglas County, Nevada 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).
- ↑ Nevada: Individual Chronologies, Nevada Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/NV_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ [Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Nevada," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Douglas_County,_Nevada&oldid=1250550493 (accessed November 9, 2024).]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Douglas County, Oregon page 442, 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), 428.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Nevada," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County%2C_Nevada accessed 1 November 2016.
- ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 211.
- ↑ ’'Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 437. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ‘’Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources,’’ 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 2004), 422. Free online version; FS Library Book 973 D27rb 2004; WorldCat entry.
- ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 212.
- ↑ National Park Service, "California Trail" (map) in California National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisit/upload/CALImap1-web.pdf (accessed 2 August 2011).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Central Overland Route" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route (accessed 4 August 2011).
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