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Douglas County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Waterville
Organized: November 28, 1883
Parent County(s): Lincoln
Neighboring Counties
Chelan • Grant • Kittitas • Okanogan
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Douglas County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-douglas.png

Three Devils grade Moses Coulee, Douglas County, Washington

County Information

Description

The county was named for American statesman Stephen A. Douglas. The county is located in the northcentral area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Douglas County Courthouse
203 S Rainier Street
Waterville, WA 98858
Phone: 509-745-9063
County Website

County Auditor has marriage records from 1907, burial records to 1909, land records to 1925, marriage, death, divorce, probate and court records. [2]

Douglas County, Washington Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1887 1891 1888 1884 1887 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

  • Parent County(s): Douglas County, Washington was created 28 November 1883 from Lincoln County.[4].
  • County Seat: Waterville[5]

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:[6]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
  • Lamoine
  • Leahy
  • Mold
  • Orondo
  • Palisades
  • Saint Andrews
  • Withrow
Ghost towns
  • Bonita
    		•
    • Jameson
    • Sanderson

    ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

    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 Paula Becker. Douglas County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7961.

    • The Colville tribe, a Salishan people, inhabited much of the area that would become Douglas County.
    • 1860s Chinese immigrants placer-mined for gold along the banks of the Columbia River.
    • 1875 Indians from the Methow River attacked these Chinese miners, killing an unknown number of miners and driving many others away from their mining operations.
    • 1877 Phillip McEntee, a member of a surveying party that was determining the boundary line between the United States and British Columbia, traveled through the future Douglas County.
    • 1881 McEntee returned to the area and settled near present-day Coulee City (now part of Grant County) and began a cattle ranching operation. He was one of the first permanent non-Indian residents of the region.
    • 1883 November 28, Douglas County was carved out of Lincoln County.
    • Lincoln County was created from Spokane County four days prior to the creation of Douglas County. Prior records would be held at Spokane County for 1879 to 1883, and Stevens County for 1860 to 1879. Stevens County holds the Spokane County commissioner and earliest land records.

    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 Douglas 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.

    Census Records

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

    Historical populations
    Census Pop. %±
    1890 3,161 —
    1900 4,926 55.8%
    1910 9,227 87.3%
    1920 9,392 1.8%
    1930 7,561 −19.5%
    1940 8,651 14.4%
    1950 10,817 25.0%
    1960 14,890 37.7%
    1970 16,787 12.7%
    1980 22,144 31.9%
    1990 26,205 18.3%
    2000 32,603 24.4%
    2010 38,431 17.9%
    Source: "Wikipedia.org".
    Federal: 1910
    Territorial: 1885, 1887, 1892

    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.

    Online Court Indexes and Records

    • 1853-1888 Douglas Frontier JusticePart of "Frontier Justice": Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1888 at Washington State Archives - index & images
    The court procedures of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of the Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.

    Directories

    Emigration and Immigration

    Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

    American Indian

    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

    • County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.
    • Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

    Local Histories

    Local histories for Douglas 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

    OkanoganLincolnGrantKittitasChelanWA DOUGLAS.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. Select search codes for state and county. These are partial lists. 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

    Voting 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.

    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.[7]

    Birth

    Includes Delayed births 1941-1943

    Marriage

    Includes Marriage certificates 1892-1975; certificates and returns 1900-1946; license applications 1939-1970; licenses 1884-1899; returns and license applications 1939-1970.

    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 Douglas 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 Douglas County. For state-wide library facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

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

    Libraries
    Online Resources:
    The public libraries in Douglas County are part of North Central Regional Library. Their Research and Homework Center includes Heritage Quest. Library cards and passwords may be required for access.

    Bridgeport Community Library
    1206 Columbia Street
    Bridgeport, WA 98813
    Phone: 509-686-7281
    Website

    East Wenatchee Community Library
    271 9th St NE
    East Wenatchee, WA 98802
    Phone: 509-886-7404
    Website

    Waterville Community Library
    107 W. Locust Street
    Waterville, WA 98858
    Phone: 509-745-8354
    Website

    Museums

    Societies

    Listed below are societies in Douglas County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies.

    Douglas County Washington Historical Society
    113 East Locust Street
    Waterville, Washington, 98858
    509-745-8800
    Website

    Websites

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

    • 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. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Washington. accessed 11 Jan 2023
    2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Clark County, Washington page 732, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
    3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Douglas 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.
    4. ↑ 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.
    5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
    6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Washington, accessed 13 March 2019.
    7. ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection & Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Death Records About Death Records
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