Santa Cruz County, Arizona Genealogy
Guide to Santa Cruz 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
Santa Cruz County was created on 15 Mar 1899[1] and was named in the late 17th century by Father Kino. Santa Cruz means "holy cross" in Spanish.[2] Its county seat is Nogales.[3] It is located in the south-central area of the state.
County Courthouse
Santa Cruz County Courthouse
2160 N Congress Drive
Nogales, AZ 85621
Phone: 520-375-7700
Santa Cruz County Courthouse
Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and Court Records from 1899, military records 1888-1085, and adoption records from 1940. [4]
Santa Cruz County, Arizona Record Dates
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1903 | 1899 | 1903 | 1899 | 1864 | 1899 | 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:[8]
| Cities | ||
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| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Santa Cruz County lies directly south of Tucson. The town of Nogales is the county seat. Nogales is also a major border crossing between the United States and Mexico, and is part of a 'twin border city' situation. The Santa Cruz river runs north out of Mexico towards Tucson.
The historic Catholic mission near Tubac on I-19 was significant in the history of the area. However, any records that were produced when this was an active parish were not kept there, but may be in the Diocese in Tucson. Other missions are also nearby, mainly San Xavier which is in Pima County closer to Tucson.
- 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.
- In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
- 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. This included all of present day Santa Cruz County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including all of present day Santa Cruz County.[11] 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.[12] Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.[13] This county included all of present day Santa Cruz County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
- 1 Feb 1860 - New Mexico created Arizona County from land in Dona Ana County.[14] Arizona County was located entirely within present day Arizona, including all of present day Santa Cruz County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
- 18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued Arizona County returning the land to Dona Ana County.[15] Look for records in Dona Ana County.
- 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory.[16] 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 County.[17] This county named for the Pima Indians. Look for records in Pima County.
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. | %± |
| 1900 | 4,545 | — |
| 1910 | 6,766 | 48.9% |
| 1920 | 12,689 | 87.5% |
| 1930 | 9,684 | −23.7% |
| 1940 | 9,482 | −2.1% |
| 1950 | 9,417 | −0.7% |
| 1960 | 10,808 | 14.8% |
| 1970 | 13,966 | 29.2% |
| 1980 | 20,459 | 46.5% |
| 1990 | 29,676 | 45.1% |
| 2000 | 38,381 | 29.3% |
| 2010 | 47,420 | 23.6% |
| 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.
Ward and Branch Records
- Nogales
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Directories
Emigration and Immigration
- 1905-1952 Arizona, Nogales, Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals, 1905-1952 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
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.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 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-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries
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- 1959-2014 Arizona, Mesa LDS Family History Center, Obituary Index, 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1900-1920 Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Voting Records, 1900-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index & images
Periodicals
Probate Records
From 1850 to 1864, probate records of Arizona were kept by the probate courts of New Mexico. From 1864 to 1912, the records were handled by county probate courts. 1912 to present, records such as wills, claims, administrations, case files, and calendars are kept in the custody of the clerk of the superior court in the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 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
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 ($)
- 1871-1964 Arizona, County Marriages, 1871-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1888-1908 Arizona Select Marriages, 1888-1908 at Ancestry — index ($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU Idaho — index; Also at: FamilySearch
- Mission Records at Tumacacori National Historical Park - includes births, marriages, and deaths.
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
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Santa Cruz 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
- Bisbee Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Nogales Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Sahuarita Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Sierra Vista Arizona FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Santa Cruz County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arizona Archives and Libraries.
Nogales Santa-Cruz Public Library
518 N. Grand Avenue
Nogales, AZ 85621
Phone: 520-287-3343
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Santa Cruz County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Arizona Societies.
Pimeria Alta Historical Society
136 N. Grand Avenue
Nogales, AZ 85621
P.O. Box 2281
Nogales, AZ 85628
Phone: 520-287-4621
Website
Websites
- AZGenWeb Project
- Santa Cruz 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
- ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1899, 20th assy./ pp. 49-57
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Santa Cruz, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_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), Santa Cruz 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), Santa Cruz 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 1899, 20th assy./ pp. 49-57
- ↑ 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, "Santa Cruz County, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_County,_Arizona, accessed 15 June 2022.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy. /p. 74
- ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 18
- ↑ 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