Skamania County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Stevenson
Organized: March 9, 1854
Parent County(s): Clark, Lewis
Neighboring Counties
Clark • Cowlitz • Hood River (OR) • Klickitat • Lewis • Multnomah (OR) • Yakima
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Skamania County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-skamania.png

Carbon River, Skamania County, Washington

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for the Cascades Chinook word sk'mániak, meaning "swift waters". The county is located in the southwestern area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Skamania County Courthouse
240 Vancouver Avenue
Stevenson, WA 98648
Phone: 509-427-3765
Skamania County Website

County Auditor has land records.
County Clerk has marriage records, divorce, probate and court records from 1856. [2]

Skamania County, Washington Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1881 1867 1881 1876 1862 1866 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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
  • Home Valley
  • Prindle
  • Stabler
  • Skamania
  • Underwood
  • Willard
Census-designated places
  • Carson


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • In what was to become Skamania County, the first residents called themselves Chilluckittequw. American settlers named them Cascades.
  • 1780 The population of the Chilluckittequw dropped from about 3,000 to a few hundred in the mid-nineteenth century because of diseases acquired from Europeans and Americans.
  • 1805 The first Americans to visit the future Skamania County were the explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
  • 1805 The Cascades Rapids became the main engine of economy in Skamania County.
  • 1830s The Chilluckittequw charged tolls and rented their labor to the fur trappers.
  • 1850 Before, The names and dates of arrival of the earliest settlers around the Cascades are obscure. Whites squatted where they liked without any legal title.
  • 1851 July, Francis Chenoweth built a railroad consisting of one wagon on wood rails pulled by a single mule.
  • 1850s Americans who crossed the Oregon Trail settled around the rapids.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1854 March 9, Skamania County was formed.
  • 1855 Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens secured treaties with many of the Indian tribes in Washington, who ceded their lands to the United States.
  • 1860 Captain John C. Ainsworth, Simeon G. Reed, and Robert R. Thompson founded the Oregon Steam Navigation Company.
  • 1865 January, The legislature deleted Skamania County.
  • 1867 Due to a Legislature repeal, Skamania became a county again

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Biographical information is often found in Local Histories and in Genealogies (please see those headings). See also Washington Biography.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Skamania 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[edit | edit source]

See Washington Census for online censuses, including territorial. For more information, see United States Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1860 173 —
1870 133 −23.1%
1880 809 508.3%
1890 774 −4.3%
1900 1,688 118.1%
1910 2,887 71.0%
1920 2,357 −18.4%
1930 2,891 22.7%
1940 4,633 60.3%
1950 4,788 3.3%
1960 5,207 8.8%
1970 5,845 12.3%
1980 7,919 35.5%
1990 8,289 4.7%
2000 9,872 19.1%
2010 11,066 12.1%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Federal: 1910
Territorial: 1871, 1885, 1887

Church Records[edit | edit source]

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.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records[edit | edit source]

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

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

American Indians

Japanese

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories for Skamania 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[edit | edit source]

Clark CountyCowlitz CountyLewis CountyYakima CountyKlickitat CountyHood River CountyMultnomah CountyWA SKAMANIA.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Indian Wars

World War I

World War II
Japanese

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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 Skamania County, Washington Genealogy
  • Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
  • Obituaries of neighboring counties

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Public Records

Voting Records

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]

The county clerk has the divorce records. To order certificates, see Washington State Department of Health.

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Listed below are archives in Skamania County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

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

North Bonneville Community Library
North Bonneville, WA 98639
Phone: 509-427-4439
Website

Stevenson Community Library
120 NW Vancouver Avenue
Stevenson, WA 98648
Phone: 509-427-5471
Website

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

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

  • Skamania County Historical Society
    PO Box 396
    Stevenson, WA 98648
    Website

Websites[edit | edit source]

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

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Skamania County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skamania_County,_Washington. accessed 18/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002),Skamania County, Washington page 734, 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), Skamania 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, "Skamania County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skamania_County,_Washington, accessed 25 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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