Gem County, Idaho Genealogy
Guide to Gem County, Idaho ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Gem County was named for the state nickname, "Gem State" and is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Gem County Courthouse
415 E. Main
Emmett, ID 83617
Phone: 208-365-4221
Gem County Website
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court, land and military records from 1915 County magistrate has probate records. [2]
Gem County, Idaho 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 |
| 1911 | 1915 | 1911 | 1915 | 1915 | 1896 | 1870 |
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 | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1920 | 6,427 | — |
| 1930 | 7,419 | 15.4% |
| 1940 | 9,544 | 28.6% |
| 1950 | 8,730 | −8.5% |
| 1960 | 9,127 | 4.5% |
| 1970 | 9,387 | 2.8% |
| 1980 | 11,972 | 27.5% |
| 1990 | 11,844 | −1.1% |
| 2000 | 15,181 | 28.2% |
| Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. | ||
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.
For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.
Church Records
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
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In 1930, Gem County was part of Boise Stake.
- The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Gem County, Idaho prior to 1950.
- For original or later records, check withthe Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
- Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
- Emmett
- Emmett 1
- Emmett 2
Some Current Churches in Gem County[6]
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (208)365-6142
Community Bible Church (208)365-3712
Emmett Christian Church (208)365-4416
First Baptist Church (208)365-4457
First Presbyterian Church (208)365-2360
First Southern Baptist Church (208)365-6568
Grace Baptist Church (208)365-5116
The Harvest Church (208)398-7584
Jehovah’s Witnesses (208)365-6446
Lutheran Church – Our Redeemer (208)365-5231
Nazarene Church (208)365-2215
New Life Christian Center (208)365-2918
Orchard View Church of God (208)365-7213
Sacred Heart Catholic Church (208)365-4320
Seventh-Day Adventist Church (208)365-6733
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (208)365-2309
United Methodist Church (208)365-3242
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Idaho Court Records for the various courts through the years.
Online Court Indexes and Records
- Gem County Court Records(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Power of attorney, 1865-1956
Judgment records
- Judgment records, 1915-1935
- Be sure to check the Gem County Miscellaneous Series.
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
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse. Many early records have been microfilmed. For more information, see Idaho Land and Property.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- History of Gem County - available on the official website of the county
- Histories by Edith Scott (Copies of handwritten and typewritten genealogies, histories, biographies, and diaries, available at the BYU Library.)
- Obituaries: Gem County plus some others: Emmett, Gem County, Idaho, obituaries from local papers up to June 1, 1991 by Edith Scott; Dorothy Kern *The Idaho State Archives holds many oral interviews pertaining to Gem County, as well as manuscripts, and personal/family records.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- A digital Gem County Idaho map is available online.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
World War I
- 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918(*) at FamilySearch Catalog
- World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com,
World War II
- 1940-1945 Idaho, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Records of the citizenship or naturalization of people born outside of the United States were kept in the county courthouses. Many volumes are included at the Idaho State Archives in Boise.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1892-1990 Idaho Naturalization Records, 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Idaho, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Current
Historical
The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following Gem County newspapers which can be accessed at their facility in Boise:
Boise County Sentinel: 1909:4:15-1916:2:17
Boise County Sentinel: 1909:5:6, 9:2
Boise County Sentinel: 1909:04:29
Boise County Sentinel: 1912:7:11, 1916:3:16, 11:30
Boise County Sentinel: 1917:04:26
Emmett Examiner: 1910:4:7-1925:11:5
Emmett Index: 1893:11:4-1957:6:27
Emmett Index: 1901:02:22
Emmett Messenger: 1934:10:11-1957:6:27
Messenger-Index: 1957:7:4-9999
Obituaries
- 1943-2013 Idaho, Southern Counties Obituaries, 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Other Records
County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.
Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.
Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.
Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Gem County. The originals are held in the Gem County courthouse in Emmett, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the FamilySearch Library can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Vital Records
Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Gem County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. Deaths occurring in Gem County after 1915 are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records.
Birth
- 1861-1911 Idaho, Birth Index, 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1883-1929 Idaho, County Birth and Death Records, 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Marriage
- 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1864-1976 Idaho Church Marriages, 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
- 1864-1962 Idaho, County Marriages, 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1878-1898;1903-1942 Idaho Marriages, 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1947-1961 Idaho Marriage Index, 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- Idaho Vital Records.
- Western States Marriage Index
Death
- 1883-1929 Idaho, County Birth and Death Records, 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1938-1961 Idaho Death Certificates, 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- Idaho, Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
Divorce
Voting Records
- 1920-Onward Idaho, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Gem County. For state-wide facilities, see Idaho Archives and Libraries.
- Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
- Idaho State Archives
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
- Caldwell Idaho FamilySearch Center
- Eagle Idaho FamilySearch Center
- Emmett Idaho FamilySearch Center
- Meridian Idaho East FamilySearch Center
- Meridian Idaho West FamilySearch Center
- Nampa Idaho FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. Listed below are libraries in Gem County. For state-wide library facilities, see Idaho Archives and Libraries.
- Emmett Public Library
275 S Hayes Ave
Emmett, ID 83617
Phone: 208-365-6057
Website - Ola District Library
11475 Ola School Rd
Ola, ID 83657
Phone: 208-584-3589
Museums
- Gem County Historical Museum Complex
501 E. 1st Street
Emmett, ID 83617
Phone: 208-365-9530 or 365-4340
Email: gemcohs@bigskytel.com
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Gem County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Idaho Societies.
- Idaho State Historical Society
2205 Old Penitentiary Rd
Boise, ID
Phone: 208-334-2774
Website
Facebook - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Idaho Chapter
Websites
- The Gem County Idaho GenWeb Project, a member of ID GenWeb
- 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
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Gem County, Idaho Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ida/gem/
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Gem, Idaho page 178, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Gem County, Idaho. Page 177-180 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), 180-181.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Gem County, Idaho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gem_County,_Idaho#Communities, accessed 4 June 2019.
- ↑ Gem County Idaho Official Website, Services Quick Guide, Churches