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Grant County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Ephrata
Organized: February 24, 1909
Parent County(s): Douglas
Neighboring Counties
Adams • Benton • Douglas • Franklin • Kittitas • Lincoln • Okanogan • Yakima
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Grant County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-grant.png

Steamboat Rock, Grant County, Washington

County Information

Description

The county was named for U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The county is located in the central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Grant County Courthouse
35 C Street NW
Ephrata, WA 98823-0037
Phone: 509-754-2011
Grant County Website

County Auditor has marriage and land records from 1909.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records. [2]

Grant County, Washington Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1909 1909 1909 1889 1909 1891 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

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
  • Adco
  • Adrian
  • Bacon
  • Beverly
  • Burke
  • Corfu
  • Lakeview Park
  • Low Gap
  • Mae
  • Ruff
  • Schawana
  • Smyrna
  • Stratford
  • Tiflis
  • Trinidad
  • Wheeler
  • Winchester
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
  • Haven
  • Jericho

‡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 Eric L. Flom. Grant County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 8010.

  • Indian cultures such as the Interior Salish, Wenatchi, and Okanogan were the earliest inhabitants of the region.
  • Mid 1800s The first white settlers devoted themselves primarily to raising livestock.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1909 February 24, The Washington state Legislature formally created Grant County.
  • 1942 Grand Coulee Dam was completed.
  • 1950 Construction on the Columbia Basin Project bringing the water of the Columbia River to irrigate Grant County's dry land.

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 Grant 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. %±
1910 8,698 —
1920 7,771 −10.7%
1930 5,666 −27.1%
1940 14,668 158.9%
1950 24,346 66.0%
1960 46,477 90.9%
1970 41,881 −9.9%
1980 48,522 15.9%
1990 54,758 12.9%
2000 74,698 36.4%
2010 89,120 19.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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.

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Grand Coulee

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.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

American Indians

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

Local Histories

Local histories for Grant 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

OkanoganLincolnAdamsFranklinBentonYakimaKittitasDogulasWA GRANT.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

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.

Also check:

  • Newspapers of Grant County, Washington Genealogy
  • Local Funeral Homes, Libraries or Family Records
  • Obituaries of Grant County and Neighboring Counties

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.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

Includes Probate bond record 1909-1930; case files 1907-1930.

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

Marriage

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

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

Online Resources:
The public libraries in Grant 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.

Coulee City Community Library
405 W Main
Coulee City, WA 99115
Phone: 509-632-8751
Website

Ephrata Community Library
45 Alder NW
Ephrata, WA 98823
Phone: 509-754-3971
Website

Grand Coulee Community Library
225 Federal
Grand Coulee, WA 99133
Phone: 509-633-0972
Website

Mattawa Community Library
61 Government Way
Mattawa, WA 99349
Phone: 509-932-5507
Website

Moses Lake Community Library
418 E 5th Ave
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Phone: 509-765-3489
Website

Quincy Community Library
108 B St SW
Quincy, WA 98848
Phone: 509-787-2359
Website

Royal City Community Library
356 Camelia
Royal City, WA 99357
Phone: 509-346-9281
Website

Soap Lake Community Library
32 E Main
Soap Lake, WA 98851
Phone: 509-246-1313
Website

Warden Community Library
305 S Main
Warden, WA 98857
Phone: 509-349-2226
Website

Museums

Grant County Historical Museum
742 Basin St NW
Ephrata, WA 98823
Phone: 509-754-3334

Societies

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

Grant County Historical Society
742 Basin Street NW
Ephrata, WA 98823
509-754-3334
Website

Websites

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

Research Guides

References

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