Franklin County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Pasco
Organized: November 28, 1883
Parent County(s): Whitman
Neighboring Counties
Adams • Benton • Columbia • Grant • Walla Walla • Whitman
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Franklin County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-franklin.png

Palouse Falls, Franklin County, Washington

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for Benjamin Franklin. The county is located in the southcentral area of the state.[1]

Pasco, the Franklin County seat and largest population of Franklin County, is part of the Tri-City metropolitan area, and is just across the Columbia River from Kennewick and Richland (Benton County), and across the Snake River from Burbank (Walla Walla County). From the beginning, residents from each of these communities have crossed the rivers to go to church, get married, visit the hospitals, and bury their deceased. Records for Franklin County residents could be in Benton or Walla Walla Counties.

Residents of northern Franklin County may be found in records of Adams County. The northern part of the county has always been more rural with a lower population. They often travel to Connell for various services, but occasionally travel to Pasco (or the Tri-Cities) for larger purchases and business. They may also be found in Walla Walla and Benton county records.

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Franklin County Courthouse
1016 N. 4th Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: 509-545-3593
Franklin County Website

Franklin County Auditor has birth, death and burial records 1891-1910, marriage records from 1891; land records.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1891. [2]

Franklin County, Washington Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1891 1891 1891 1880 1891 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

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

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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
Unincorporated communities
  • Eltopia
  • Farrington
  • Harder
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
  • Drumheller
  • Levey
  • Martindale
  • McAdam


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

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. Franklin County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7452.

  • Before white settlers came to the area now known as Franklin County, the region’s Native Americans fished for salmon.
  • 1805 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers.
  • 1805 plus a few years - David Thompson, of the North West Company, arrived here and claimed the land for Great Britain.
  • 1850s After the end of the Indian Wars of the 1850s, settlers felt it was safe to move into the Columbia Basin.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1879 Travelers began settling near the site of modern-day Pasco.
  • 1883-November 28 The Washington Territorial Legislature created Franklin county.

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

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

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Franklin 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[edit | edit source]

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

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1890 696 —
1900 486 −30.2%
1910 5,153 960.3%
1920 5,877 14.1%
1930 6,137 4.4%
1940 6,307 2.8%
1950 13,563 115.0%
1960 23,342 72.1%
1970 25,816 10.6%
1980 35,025 35.7%
1990 37,473 7.0%
2000 49,347 31.7%
2010 78,163 58.4%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Federal: 1910
Territorial: 1885, and 1887

Church Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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 Franklin Frontier Justice Part 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[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

American Indian

Japanese

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Note: Pasco, the Franklin County seat and largest population of Franklin County, is part of the Tri-City metropolitan area, and is just across the bridge from Kennewick and Richland (Benton County), as well as Burbank (Walla Walla County). Residence of Franklin County often used funeral services and cemeteries in these other communities.

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories for Franklin 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[edit | edit source]

GrantAdamsWhitmanColumbiaWalla WallaBentonWA FRANKLIN.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Indian Wars

World War I

World War II

Japanese

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Public Records

Voting Records

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Online School Indexes and Records

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Includes Marriage certificates 1890-2003 and Marriage license applications 1939-2003.

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]

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

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Listed below are archives in Franklin County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

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

Libraries

Branches (additional branches shown at above website):
  • Basin City Library
    50-A N. Canal Blvd.
    Basin City, WA 99343
    Phone: 509-269-4201
  • Connell Library
    118 N. Columbia
    Connell, WA 99326
    Phone: 509-234-4971
  • Merrills Corner Library
    5240 Eltopia West
    Eltopia, WA 99330
    Phone: 509-297-4341
  • Kahlotus Library
    255 Weston
    Kahlotus, WA 99335
    Phone: 509-282-3493
  • Pasco Library
    1320 W. Hopkins
    Pasco, WA 99301
    Phone: 509-545-1019

Museums[edit | edit source]

Franklin County Historical Society and Museum
305 N 4th Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: 509.547.3714
Email: info@fchsmuseum.com
Website

Societies[edit | edit source]

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

Tri-City Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1410
Richland, WA 99352-1410
Website

The Tri-City Genealogical Society has an extensive collection of local and regional resources as well as references for other areas. Check their resources page for an updated list of their holdings. They also provide genealogical help at the Mid-Columbia Library, have online resources, and conduct local research for a small fee.

Websites[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Franklin County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_County,_Washington. accessed 17/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Franklin 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), Franklin 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, "Franklin County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_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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