Graham County, Arizona Genealogy
Guide to Graham County, Arizona 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
Graham County was created on 10 March 1881 and named after the mountain which was likewise named for Lt. Col James Duncan Graham. It was the first Arizona county to break the tradition of naming counties for Native Americans.[1] Its county seat is Safford.[2] It is located in the southeastern area of the state.
County Courthouse
Graham County Courthouse
800 W Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: 928-428-3100
Graham County Courthouse
Clerk of Superior Court has marriage, probate, divorce and court records from 1881 and naturalization records 1907-1973.
County Recorder has land records.[3]
Graham County, Arizona Record Dates
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1889 | 1881 | 1889 | 1881 | 1881 | 1881 | 1830 |
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:[7]
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History Timeline
- Until 1821 New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
- 24 Aug 1821 The Treaty of Cordoba was signed by Spain, which recognized Mexico's independence.[8] The land in present day Arizona became part of Mexico. Land north of the Gila River was claimed by the State of Alta California and the State of New Mexico. Land south of the Gila River was in the State of Sonora. Look for records in the Spain and Mexico Archives.
- 18 Aug 1846 During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory.[9] Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 4 July 1848 In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona.[10] The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. The land in present day Graham County was split between the US and Mexico. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 9 Jan 1852 New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. Land in present-day Graham County, Arizona was once part of Socorro (NM) and Dona Ana (NM) counties of New Mexico.[11] [12] [13] Look for records in Dona Ana and Socorro counties.
- 30 Dec 1853 The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land in Arizona south of the Gila River, including part of the land in present day Graham County.[14] Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 4 Aug 1854 The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory, it became non-county land.[15] Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 3 Feb 1855 Dona Ana (NM) gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.[16] Its boundary stretched across present day Arizona to the Baja California border. This county included part of the land in present day Graham County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
- 24 Feb 1863 The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory.[17] All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
- 10 Nov 1864 Arizona created Pima and Yavapai counties.[18] Both of these counties named for Indian tribes. Look for records in Pima and Yavapai counties.
- 14 Feb 1879 Arizona created Apache County from land in Yavapai County.[19] This county named for the Apache Indians. Look for records in Apache and Yavapai counties.
- 10 Mar 1881 Arizona created Graham County from lands in Apache and Pima counties. [20]
- 10 Mar 1909 Arizona created Greenlee County from land in Graham County.[21] This county named for an early Arizona pioneer. Look for records in Graham and Greenlee counties.
See also Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- 1860-Onward Arizona, Biographical Database at MyHeritage — index ($)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
For tips on accessing Census records online, see: Arizona Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1890 | 5,670 | — |
| 1900 | 14,162 | 149.8% |
| 1910 | 23,999 | 69.5% |
| 1920 | 10,148 | −57.7% |
| 1930 | 10,373 | 2.2% |
| 1940 | 12,113 | 16.8% |
| 1950 | 12,985 | 7.2% |
| 1960 | 14,045 | 8.2% |
| 1970 | 16,578 | 18.0% |
| 1980 | 22,862 | 37.9% |
| 1990 | 26,554 | 16.1% |
| 2000 | 33,489 | 26.1% |
| 2010 | 37,220 | 11.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For more about Arizona denominations, see Arizona Church Records.
Church and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Artesia, Ashurst, Bryce, Central, Eden, Emery, Ft. Thomas, Graham, Hubbard, Kimball, Layton (Safford), Lebanon, Mathews, Pima, Safford, Solomonsville, Thatcher, Thatcher East and Thatcher West.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
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
American Indians
- 1876-1920- Arizona, Mohave County, Voting Records, 1876-1920 - at FamilySearch, index & images.
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Arizona Land and Property for additional information about early Arizona land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse.
Graham County Recorders Office
921 Thatcher Blvd
Safford AZ 85546
(928) 428-3560
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Land Search at General Land Office Records
- Land Records, 1982 to the present at Graham County Recorders Office
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section Arizona Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Arizona Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- 1940-1945 Arizona, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Arizona, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-Current Arizona, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Graham Guardian(Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923 is available for searching free Online. Click Browse Issues tab.
- Safford Rattler (Safford, Ariz.) 1896-189? is also available Online.
Obituaries
- 1959-2014 Arizona, Mesa LDS Family History Center, Obituary Index, 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
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Other Records
- 1876-1920- Arizona, Mohave County, Voting Records, 1876-1920 - at FamilySearch, index & images.
Periodicals
Probate Records
From 1850 to 1864, probate records of Arizona were kept by the probate courts of New Mexico. From 1864 to 1912, the records were handled by county probate courts. 1912 to present, records such as wills, claims, administrations, case files, and calendars are kept in the custody of the clerk of the superior court in the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Arizona Department of Health Services or the county clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth
- 1800-1946 Arizona Genealogy Birth Certificates, 1800-1947 at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
- 1855-1930 Arizona, Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1855-1930 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1887-1935 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1887-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1909-1917 Arizona, Births and Christenings, 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry($)
- 1909-1917 Arizona Birth Certificates, 1909-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Marriage
- 1809-2011 Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1833-1949 US Marriages – Arizona, 1833-1949 at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1864-1982 Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1865-1949 Arizona Marriages, 1865-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1871-1964 Arizona, County Marriages, 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index ($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: FamilySearch
Death
- 1800-1972 Arizona Genealogy Record Search at Arizona Department of Health Services — images
- 1870-1951 Arizona Deaths, 1870-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1870-1963 Arizona Death Certificates, 1870-1963 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Divorce
- 1877-1937 Arizona, Various County Divorce Records, 1877-1937 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Graham County. For state-wide facilities, see Arizona 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
- Clifton Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Duncan Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Safford-Thatcher Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Forest Lakes Community Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Graham County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arizona Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Graham County Historical Society and Museum
3430 W. Main St. (Hwy 70)
Thatcher, AZ 85552
Phone: 928-348-0470
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Graham County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Arizona Societies.
Graham County Historical Society and Museum
3430 W. Main St. (Hwy 70)
Thatcher, AZ 85552
Phone: 928-348-0470
Website
Websites
- Graham County Arizona AZGenWeb
- Graham County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- 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
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Graham, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_County,_Arizona 7/10/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Gila County, Arizona p. 56. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Graham County, Arizona. Page 56-57 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), 52.
- ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1909, 25th assy./ pp. 43-56
- ↑ 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, "Graham County, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_County,_Arizona, accessed 23 February 2019.
- ↑ Beers, 100; "Mexican War of Independence," New Handbook of Texas, 4:698
- ↑ Williams 108-110
- ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 9, pp. 922-943; Parry, 102: 29-59; Van Zandt, 11, 28-29; Walker and Bufkin, 19, 20A
- ↑ William Thorndale, and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1987), 26. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 X2th.
- ↑ Original Counties of New Mexico Territory (map).
- ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 1st sess./p. 119; N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /pp. 266, 292
- ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 10, pp. 1031-1037; Van Zandt, 11, 29, 162
- ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 10, ch. 245[1854]/p. 575; Van Zandt, 162; Walker and Bufkin, 21-22
- ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1854, 4th assy. /p. 57
- ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 56[1863]/pp. 664-665; Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy./ pp. vii-viii; Van Zandt, 162
- ↑ Howell Code, Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy., ch. 2/ pp. 24-25
- ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1879, 10th assy./ pp. 96-97
- ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1881, 11th assy./ pp. 155-157
- ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1909, 25th assy./ pp. 43-56