Gooding County, Idaho Genealogy

United States

Idaho

Gooding County

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

Idaho Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Gooding Organized: January 28, 1913 Parent County(s): Lincoln Neighboring Counties Camas • Elmore • Jerome • Lincoln • Twin Falls See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Landscape, Gooding Co., Idaho

County Information

Description

Gooding County was named for Frank R. Gooding, pioneer sheep rancher, early mayor of the city of Gooding, later Idaho Governor and U. S. Senator. The county is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Gooding County Courthouse
624 Main Street
Gooding, ID 83330-0417
Phone: 208-934-4261
Gooding County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1913.

Gooding 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1911	1913	1911	1913	1913	1913	1870
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1911. General compliance in the 1920s.

Record Loss

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

Boundary Changes

Parent County(s): Created from Lincoln 28 January 1913 County Seat: Gooding Idaho Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Idaho Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Idaho county boundary changes

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:

Cities
Bliss Gooding	Hagerman Wendell

History Timeline

• 8 February 1919: Jerome County created from parts of Gooding and Lincoln Counties

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Gooding, Idaho online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find a Grave BillionGraves USGW Tombstone Transcription Project
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Catalog WorldCat.org
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find a Grave FamilySearch Places Gooding County, Idaho Cemetery Records
See Idaho Cemeteries for more information

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	9,544		9.3%
1970	8,645		−9.4%
1980	11,874		37.4%
1990	11,633		−2.0%
2000	14,155		21.7%
sources:

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)

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• List of Gooding County stakes and wards to about 1948.
• The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Gooding County, Idaho prior to 1950.

For original or later records, check with the 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.

Stakes: Blaine Stake, Idaho

• Fairfield
• Gooding
• Hagerman
• Wendell

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

Judgment Books

• 1913-1931 Judgments, 1913-1931; general index, 1913-1940

See also the Miscellaneous Series for Gooding County.

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Funeral Homes

Demaray Funeral Service, Inc. in Gooding Demaray Funeral Service, Inc. Wendell Chapel in Wendell

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

• Settlement of Oregon and western Idaho by Utah pioneers, by Mary N Porter Harris
• Gooding County roots and branches, 1989, by the History Book Committee
• Gooding County roots and branches pictorial 1990, by History Book Committee
• A centennial history of Bliss, Idaho, by Lorna Hobdey Falkner
• Bliss historical points of interest on Clover Creek, by Lorna Bard

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Digital Gooding County Idaho map
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

• 1917-1960 Idaho, Military Discharge Records, ca.1917 - ca.1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

World War I

• 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)
• 1917-1918 Gooding County Court, Soldier records, 1917-1918 Image 365

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 ($)
• 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

The Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho has copies of the following Gooding County newspapers which can be viewed by visiting the Archives: Enterprise Of Southern Idaho: 1977:5:26-1983:11:3
Gooding County Leader: 1969:4:3-1995:12:27
Gooding Independent: 1936:1:23-1939:12:28
Gooding Leader, 1921: 1921:1:20-1927:6:30
Gooding Leader, 1933: 1933:1:5-1975:1:30
Hagerman Valley Sun: 1911:06:16
Hub City Irrigationist: 1909:4:15-1912:6:14
Hub City Voice: 1974:12:18-1975:8:28
Idaho Leader: 1908:12:23-1921:1:13
Idaho Leader: 1909:6:11, 11:12
Wendell Irrigationist: 1912:8:9-1970:6:25

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 Gooding County. The originals are held in the Gooding County courthouse in Gooding, 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.

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

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

Vital Records

Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Gooding 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 Gooding 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
• 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
• 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
• Idaho, Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)

Divorce

• 1947-1963 Idaho Divorce Index, 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Voting Records

• 1920-Onward Idaho, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Gooding 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

• Glenns Ferry Idaho FamilySearch Center
• Shoshone Idaho FamilySearch Center
• Twin Falls 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 Gooding County. For state-wide library facilities, see Idaho Archives and Libraries.

• Gooding Public Library
  306 Fifth Ave W
  Gooding, ID 83330
  Phone: 208-934-4089
  Website
  Email: goodingpubliclibrary@gmail.com
• Hagerman Public Library
  441 S State St
  Hagerman, ID 83332
  Phone: 208-837-6520
  Website
• Wendell Public Library
  395 1st Ave E
  Wendell, ID 83355
  Phone: 208-536-6195
  Website

Museums

• Gooding County Historical Museum
  Euskadi Ln, Gooding, ID 83330
  Phone: 208-934-5135

Societies

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

• Gooding County Historical Society
  385 Euskadi Ln
  Gooding, ID 83330
  Facebook Page
• Hagerman Valley Historical
  100 North State Street, Hagerman, ID 83332
  Phone: 208-837-6288
  Website
• Idaho State Historical Society
  2205 Old Penitentiary Rd
  Boise, ID
  Phone: 208-334-2774
  Website
  Facebook
  
• Malad Valley Welsh Society
• National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
  Idaho Chapter
  

Websites

• ID GenWeb Gooding, Idaho USGenWeb

• 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.

This table contains the dates the local or state government began recording in the county or county equivalent. Use substitute records for earlier dates. If you believe there is an error, email us at wikisupport@familysearch.org.

County boundary maps are currently unavailable. Download information instead.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

Users should verify which locations and dates are included in this collection.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

“Current” indicates records are available as recently as privacy laws allow. This date can change from year to year. To determine the exact dates available, contact the respective organization/repository.