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Pacific County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: South Bend
Organized: February 4, 1851
Parent County(s): Lewis
Neighboring Counties
Clatsop (OR) • Grays Harbor • Lewis • Wahkiakum
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Pacific County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-pacific.png

Cape Disappointment and Cape Disappointment Light

County Information

Description

Pacific County was named for the Pacific Ocean. The county is located on the west coast of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Pacific County Courthouse
300 Memorial Drive
South Bend, WA 98586
Phone: 360-875-9334
County Website

County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1905 and marriage records from 1868.
County Clerk Clerk has divorce, probate and court records. County Assessor has land records. [2]

Pacific County, Washington Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1868 1891 1878 1851 1851 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
Unincorporated communities
American Indian Communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns


History Timeline

  • The Chinook Indians were original inhabitants of the lower Columbia River including the future Pacific County.
  • 1775 Bruno Heceta, aboard the Spanish frigate Santiago, mapped the entrance to the Columbia River
  • 1792 May 11, Captain Robert Gray of Boston aboard the Columbia Rediviva sailed into the Columbia River as the first European to do so.
  • 1805-November 15 The Lewis and Clark expedition first viewed the Pacific Ocean from the sandy beach of the Long Beach Peninsula.
  • 1843 Englishman James A. Scarborough settled at Chinook Point on the Columbia River.
  • 1840s late, Settlement in the future Pacific County was framed first by nearby Hudson's Bay Co. fur trappers.
  • 1850 pre, The Chinook and the Chehalis were eventually decimated by introduced diseases.
  • 1851 The Oregon Territorial Legislature created Pacific County out of the southwestern corner of Lewis County.
  • 1853-March 2 U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1866-September 22 The Shoalwater Indian Reservation was established by an executive order signed by President Andrew Johnson.

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 Pacific 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. %±
1860 420 —
1870 738 75.7%
1880 1,645 122.9%
1890 4,358 164.9%
1900 5,983 37.3%
1910 12,532 109.5%
1920 14,891 18.8%
1930 14,970 0.5%
1940 15,928 6.4%
1950 16,558 4.0%
1960 14,674 −11.4%
1970 15,796 7.6%
1980 17,237 9.1%
1990 18,882 9.5%
2000 20,984 11.1%
2010 20,920 −0.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Federal: 1910
Territorial: 1883 1885, 1887.

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

  • Raymond

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.

Online Court Indexes and Records

  • Pacific Frontier Justice. Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Archives. (Free Index, no images)
The court procedure of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of 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

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

American Indian

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 Pacific 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

Grays Harbor CountyLewis CountyWahkiakum CountyClatsop CountyWA PACIFIC.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.

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

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

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

Timberland Regional Library
1308 256th Place
PO Box 310
Ocean Park, WA 98640-0310
Website

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Pacific County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies.
Pacific County Historical Society & Museum
PO Box P
South Bend, WA 98586
Phone: 360-875-5224
Email: museum@willapabay.org
Website
Facebook

Websites

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

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Pacific County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_County,_Washington, accessed 18/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ferry 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), Pacific 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, "Pacific County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_County,_Washington, accessed 20 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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