Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy

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Guide to Salt Lake County, Utah ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Salt Lake City
Organized: 31 Jan 1850
Parent County(s): Utah Territory
Neighboring Counties
DavisMorganSummitTooeleUtahWasatch
See County Maps
Courthouse
Utah, Scott M Matheson County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Utah-saltlake.png

Great Salt Lake Marina, Salt Lake County, UT

County Information

Description

The county was formerly called the Great Salt Lake County. The name was changed to Salt Lake 29 Jan 1868 The county is located in the north center area of the state. [1]

County Courthouse

Salt Lake County Courthouse
450 S State St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 801-238-7300
Salt Lake County Courthouse

County Clerk has marriage records from 1887, divorce and court records from 1896, and probate records from 1852. County Recorder has land records.[2]

Salt Lake County, Utah Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1898 1887 1897 1896 1852 1852 1851
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1905. 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:[5]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships
Ghost towns
± This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia for Salt Lake County

  • 1825 The first US explorer in the Salt Lake area is believed to be Jim Bridger.
  • 1843 U.S. Army officer John C. Frémont surveyed the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Valley.
  • 1846 The Donner party, a group of ill-fated pioneers, traveled through the Great Salt Lake Valley in August.
  • 1847 Salt Lake County was settled when Mormon Pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
  • 1847 On July 29, 1847 a group of Mormon Pioneers, known as the Mississippi Company, among them John Holladay of Alabama, entered the Salt Lake Valley. Within weeks, they discovered a free-flowing, spring-fed stream, which they called Spring Creek, now known as Holladay.
  • 1849 Herriman was established by Robert Dansie, Henry Harriman, and Thomas Jefferson Butterfield. A monument in the Herriman City Cemetery lists the original four families of Herriman as the Thomas Jefferson Butterfield, John Jay Stocking, Robert Cowan Petty, and Henry Harriman families.
  • 1849 The Mormon Pioneers organized a new state called Deseret and petitioned for its recognition.
  • 1850 The U.S. Congress rebuffed the settlers petition and established the Utah Territory,and designated Fillmore as its capital city.
  • 1850 March 3. Salt Lake County was created as an original county.
  • 1853 Construction started on The Salt Lake Temple.
  • 1857 The territorial capital was moved to Great Salt Lake City, when the name was shortened to Salt Lake City.
  • 1862 Fort Douglas was established on the east bench, near the University of Utah, to make sure that the territory maintained its allegiance during the American Civil War.
  • 1865 Alta was founded.
  • 1868 January 29: The original county name Great Salt Lake County was shortened to Salt Lake County.
  • 1878 An 1878 fire and an 1885 avalanche destroyed most of the original mining town of Alta.
  • 1885T he army established Camp Murray to house several companies of the Ninth Infantry Regiment.
  • 1935 In 1935, Norwegian skiing legend Alf Engen was hired to help develop the area, and Alta opened its first ski lift in 1938.
  • 1942 Camp Kearns, a massive military installation created for World War II, was created in what is now Kearns and Taylorsville on the western side of the valley.

Historical
The area that was to become Salt Lake County was settled in 1847 when Mormon Pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fleeing persecution in the East, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley after traveling through Emigration Canyon. Brigham Young, their leader, declared "This is the right place" after seeing the valley, which was at the time arid, dry, and unpromising. However, they soon developed a flourishing, self-sufficient city, Great Salt Lake City, through extensive irrigation techniques. Thousands of Latter-day Saints from around the world followed in the next several decades. The county was officially formed on January 31, 1850, with just over 11,000 residents recorded.

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Occupations

  • Digital Public Records of America Kennecott Miner Records personnel records of employment from 1900-1919. Over 40,000 records from the Utah Copper Company are handwritten and contain the following employee information: name, date employed, address, dependents, age, weight, height, eyes, hair, gender, nationality, engaged by, last employer, education, occupation, department, pay rate, date leaving employment, and reason for leaving. Also known as Bingham Canyon Mine and Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Salt Lake County, Utah online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Utah Cemeteries for more information.

 

Census Records

  • See Utah Census for databases to territorial and federal Censuses.
Historical populations
Census Pop.
1850 6,157
1860 11,295 83.4%
1870 18,337 62.3%
1880 31,977 74.4%
1890 58,457 82.8%
1900 77,725 33.0%
1910 131,426 69.1%
1920 159,282 21.2%
1930 194,102 21.9%
1940 211,623 9.0%
1950 274,895 29.9%
1960 383,035 39.3%
1970 458,607 19.7%
1980 619,066 35.0%
1990 725,956 17.3%
2000 898,387 23.8%
2010 1,029,655 14.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Census records 1850 and later list names, ages, and places of birth (state or nation) for everyone in the household. Censuses locate the family and have other clues to find more records about them.

Church Records

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

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


Historically, most people in Utah were Latter-day Saints. Their records are, therefore, very important for early Utah research. For additional information, see Tracing Latter-day Saint Ancestors and Utah Church Records.

Guide to history and records of wards and branches of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1st Ward2nd Ward3rd Ward4th Ward5th Ward6th Ward7th Ward8th Ward9th Ward10th Ward11th Ward12th-13th Ward12th-13th Ward14th Ward15th Ward16th Ward17th Ward18th Ward19th WardSalt Lake City UT Wards 1849.png


Salt Lake City Stakes (1930): Ensign Stake, UtahGranite Stake, UtahGrant Stake, UtahLiberty Stake, UtahPioneer Stake, UtahSalt Lake Stake, Utah Stakes in the county (1930): Cottonwood Stake, Utah · East Jordan Stake, Utah · Oquirrh Stake, Utah · West Jordan Stake, Utah Places in the County (1930): Click on the stake (in parentheses) for boundaries, history timeline, and records.
Bennion (Cottonwood) · Bingham Canyon (West Jordan) · Bluffdale (West Jordan) · Butler (East Jordan) · Cottonwood (Cottonwood) · Crescent (East Jordan) · Draper (East Jordan) · Granger (Oquirrh) · Grant (Cottonwood) · Granite (East Jordan) · Herriman (West Jordan) · Holladay (Cottonwood) · Hunter (Oquirrh) · Lark (West Jordan) · Magna (Oquirrh) · Midvale (East Jordan) · Millcreek (Cottonwood) · Murray (Cottonwood) · Riverton (West Jordan) · Salt Lake City · Sandy (East Jordan) · South Jordan (West Jordan) · Taylorsville (Cottonwood) · Union (East Jordan) · West Jordan (West Jordan) ·

List of Stakes and Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

  • Rees, Nesta, When the Parry Saints Went Marching Out. The author traces the John Parry family from Newmarket to Salt Lake City. Family Trees illustrated the article and a picture of a headstone, in SLC, showing John and wife Harriet, with year dates, and born North Wales. John worked as a mason on the Salt Lake Temple. Article in Hel Achau, #29, Christmas, 1989, pages 22-25. FS Library book 942.93 D25h

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

  • A History of Salt Lake County, Utah, by Linda Sillitoe. Utah State Historical Society, 1996. Online at Utah Historical Society
  • Tales of a Triumphant People: a History of Salt Lake County, Utah, 1847-1900. Salt Lake City, Utah : Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Salt Lake County Chapter, 1947. FamilySearch Library film 973489 - images(*). Online at Ancestry ($)
  • The History of Salt Lake City and its Founders, by Edward William Tullidge. Salt Lake City, Utah : E.W. Tullidge, 1886. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books.

Maps and Gazetteers

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Salt Lake County for emigrant settlers included:

Military Records

Civil War

World War I

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

Obituaries

Other Records

Prisons

Periodicals

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records


School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Vital Records

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

  • 1852-1856, 1877–1887 — Utah. Probate Court (Salt Lake County) Divorce Records, 1852–1856, 1877–1887. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1966. FS Library film 431227 This record is unindexed and is in chronological order. It gives names of each spouse and reason for separation or divorce, and date of court action.

Voting Records

Research Facilities

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

Libraries

Salt Lake City Public Library The main library in the county system
Collections: many resources for history and genealogy, local newspapers and much more
210 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 801-524-82002.
Website

Salt Lake Community College Library
Phone: 801-957-6202
Website

Salt Lake County Library System has a directory of individual branch libraries at Library Branches.Website

See also Utah's Online Library, which provides links to library web pages, addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps.

Museums

Pioneer Memorial Museum
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
300 N Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
List of satellite DUP museums
The museum history department has documents about Utah pioneers online at
Index of pioneers. Website

West Jordan Historical Society has a museum and library.
2053 West 7800 South
West Jordan, Utah 84088
Phone: (801) 568-0938
Website

Societies

Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
300 N. Main St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84103-1699
General Phone: 801-532-6479
Fax: 801-532-4436
General email: info@dupinternational.org
Website

Emigration Canyon Historical Society is a non-profit organization preserving the history of Emigration Canyon.
6463 Emigration Canyon Rd,
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Phone: 801-583-4833
Website

Sons of Utah Pioneers
3301 Louise Ave.
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Phone:801-484-4441
Website

Utah State Historical Society has a good library and photograph collection.
300 S Rio Grande Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone: (801) 533-3500
Cemetery and Burial databaseWebsite

West Jordan Historical Society has a museum and library.
2053 West 7800 South
West Jordan, Utah 84088
Phone: (801) 568-0938
Website

Websites

  • 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

  • Christy Fillerup. Focus on Salt Lake County Crossroads (June, 2009): 62-74. Utah Genealogical Association

References

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Salt Lake, Utah" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_County,_Utah accessed 4 Dec 2018
  2. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Salt Lake County, Utah Page 687 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), Salt Lake County, Utah . Page 686-688 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), 676-677.
  4. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. Wikipedia contributors, "Salt Lake County, Utah," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_County,_Utah, accessed 17 February 2019.
  6. Map Of Great Salt Lake City and Part of Salt Lake County, Utah, Showing the Route Taken by the First Group of Emigrant Pioneer Wagons. Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland, 1951.
  7. Map of Great Salt Lake City, Utah. Made According to survey by Orson Pratt, Sr., Henry G. Sherwood and assistants…1847; Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland, 1950.
  8. Pioneer Map : Great Salt Lake City, Great Basin, North America, Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland, © 1951.
  9. Portion of Township 1 North, Range 1 West, Salt Lake County, Utah, Showing Location of Great Salt Lake City, Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland, 19--?.
  10. Pioneer Map : Showing Lot Locations of First Pioneer Owners in the Five Acre Plat "A" Portion of the Big Field Survey, Great Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland; 1951.
  11. Pioneer Map : Plat "D" And Empire Mill Tract, Great Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah; Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland, © 1951.
  12. City Wall Around Great Salt Lake City, Constructed by the Utah Pioneers in 1853 and 1854; Nicholas G Morgan, Sr. and Jerome Bonaparte Ireland, 1952.
  13. "Oregon California Trails Association" at http://octatrails.micromaps.com/ (accessed 18 July 2011).
  14. "The Pioneer Story: The Mormon Pioneer Trail" in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/pioneer-trek (accessed 18 July 2011).
  15. "Jefferson Hunt" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Hunt (accessed 6 September 2011).
  16. "Central Overland Route" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route (accessed 13 September 2011).
  17. Wikipedia contributors, "Union Pacific Railroad" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Railroad (accessed 14 September 2011).
  18. Wikipedia contributors, "Central Pacific Railroad" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Pacific_Railroad (accessed 14 September 2011).
  19. Wikipedia contributors, "Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_and_Rio_Grande_Western_Railroad (accessed 14 September 2011).
  20. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1950. (FamilySearch Library FS Library Films 26553–83.)
  21. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977. (FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 485535.)