Union County, New Mexico Genealogy
Guide to Union County, New Mexico ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Union County was was named “Union” because the citizens were united in their desire for the creation of a new county.[2] The county is located in the northeast area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Union County Courthouse
200 Court Street
P.O. Box 430
Clayton, NM 88415
Phone: 505.374.9491
Union County Website
County Clerk has marriage records from 1894, probate, court and land records
District Court Clerk has divorce records.[1]
Union County, New Mexico Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1907 | 1894 | 1907 | #8 | 1894 | 1911 | 1790 |
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:[6]
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List of Historic Post Offices and Place Names in Union County
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1910 | 11,404 | — |
| 1920 | 16,680 | 46.3% |
| 1930 | 11,036 | −33.8% |
| 1940 | 9,095 | −17.6% |
| 1950 | 7,372 | −18.9% |
| 1960 | 6,068 | −17.7% |
| 1970 | 4,925 | −18.8% |
| 1980 | 4,725 | −4.1% |
| 1990 | 4,124 | −12.7% |
| 2000 | 4,174 | 1.2% |
| 2010 | 4,549 | 9.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for New Mexico starting in 1850. For links to Federal census indexes, see New Mexico Census.
State Census Records
- 1885 New Mexico Territorial Census 1885 at Ancestry(free)
- Late 1800s 1800s Arizona and New Mexico Territories Census, Late 1800s ($)
Church Records
- 1760-1799 New Mexico Prenuptial Investigations (1760 to 1799) at New Mexico Genealogical Society — abstracts
- 1800-1893 New Mexico Prenuptial Investigations (1800 to 1893) at New Mexico Genealogical Society — abstracts
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Hass Funeral Directors in Clayton
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See New Mexico Land and Property for additional information about early New Mexico land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
- 1796 - 1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry- index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
- 1863 - 1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry - - index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Union County, New Mexico Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section New Mexico Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Interactive Formation Boundary Map of New Mexico - shows boundary changes for New Mexico Counties
- NMGenWeb - historical maps
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
- 1775 - 1783 United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch - images only
- For more nationwide Revolutionary War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
Civil War
- 1861 - 1865 New Mexico Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- For more nationwide Civil War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
World War I
- 1917 - 1919 New Mexico, World War I Records, 1917-1919 at Ancestry($)
- For more natiowide World War I databases, see US Military OnlineGenealogy Records.
World War II
- 1940 - 1945 New Mexico, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1941 - 1945 World War II Records, 1941-1945 State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from: New Mexico
- 1941 - 1945 World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from: New Mexico
- 1941 - 1945 New Mexico, World War II Records, 1941-1945 at Ancestry($)
- For more nationwide World War II databases, see US Military Online Genealogy.
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1882-1983 New Mexico Naturalization Records, 1882-1983 at FamilySearch — index & images
Newspapers
Online Newspapers
- 1800s-Current New Mexico, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- New Mexico Historical Newspapers at University of New Mexico Digital Repository
- New Mexico Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Since statehood in 1912, probate matters have been under the jurisdiction of probate courts in each county. Records of guardianship and adoption have usually been transferred to the district courts. In 1953 the district courts were given concurrent jurisdiction with the probate court over all probate matters in each county.
See the wiki page New Mexico Probate Records for information about how to find earlier probate records.
The FamilySearch Library does not have copies of the New Mexico county probate records. They are available at each county courthouse. You can obtain copies by contacting the county clerk.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, marriage, and adoption.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1801-1993 New Mexico Wills and Probate Records 1801-1993 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
New Mexico tax records complement land records and can be used to 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 New Mexico Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the Wiki page, New Mexico Vital Records, for additional information about the vital records in New Mexico.
Marriage records - are at the County Clerk's office
Divorce records - are at the office of the County Clerk of Court
Birth and death records - are at the New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics Office which has records since 1920 and delayed records since 1880.
See also How to order New Mexico Vital Records or download an application for New Mexico Birth or Death Certificate to mail.
Birth
- 1726 – 1918 New Mexico Births and Christenings, 1726-1918 at FamilySearch
Marriage
- 1727 - 1900 New Mexico Marriages 1727-1900 at Ancestry($)
- 1751 - 1918 New Mexico Marriages, 1751-1918 at FamilySearch
Death
- 1788 – 1798; 1838 – 1955 New Mexico Deaths and Burials, 1788-1798; 1838-1955 at FamilySearch
- 1889 - 1945 New Mexico Deaths, 1889-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Union County. For state-wide archival repositories, see New Mexico 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
- Vista Grande Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Union County. For state-wide library facilities, see New Mexico Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Herzstein Memorial Museum
22 S Second St
PO Box 75
Clayton, NM 88415-0075
Phone: 505-375-2977
Email herzsteinmuseum@gmail.com
Facebook
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Union County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see New Mexico Societies.
Folsom Historical Society
22 S Second St
PO Box 454
Folsom, NM 88415
Phone: 575-374-2977
Email museum@folsomvillage.com
Facebook
Website
Websites
- Union County, NM History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- New Mexico Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), New Mexico.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ http://genealogytrails.com/newmex/union/ accessed 09/29/2016
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Union, New Mexico," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_County,_New_Mexico. accessed 8/30/2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Union County, New Mexico. Page 475 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), 471.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), New Mexico.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors,"Union County, New Mexico," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_County,_New_Mexico, accessed 13 February 2019.