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Utah County, Utah Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Provo
Organized: March 3, 1853
Parent County(s): Utah Territory
Neighboring Counties
Carbon • Duchesne • Juab • Salt Lake • Sanpete • Tooele • Wasatch
See County Maps
Courthouse
Utah, Utah County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Ut-utah.png

Provo Peak, Utah County, Utah

County Information

Description

The county was named the same name as its state. The county is located in the north center area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Utah County Courthouse
151 S University Ave
Provo, UT 8461
Phone: 801-851-7200
Utah County Courthouse

County Clerk has marriage records from 1887, divorce and probate records from 1859, and court records from 1885.
County recorder has land records.[2]

Utah County, Utah Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1898 1887 1898 1885 1851 1859 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
American Indian Communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the below events were gleaned from Wikipedia for Utah County.

  • 1849 Provo was originally called Fort Utah when settled, but was renamed Provo in 1850 for Étienne Provost, an early French-Canadian trapper who arrived in the region in 1825.
  • 1850 American Fork was settled by Mormon pioneers, and incorporated as Lake City in 1852.
  • 1850 Mormon pioneers settled the area now known as Lehi, at a place called Dry Creek, near the head of Utah Lake. It was renamed Evansville in 1851, after David Evans, a local bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other historical names include Sulphur Springs and Snow’s Springs.
  • 1850 Mapleton was first settled, and for a time was known as Union Bench.
  • 1850 Payson first settled. Originally named Peteetneet, after a Ute Indian chief who lived near Payson's current location.
  • 1850 The original name of Pleasant Grove was Battle Creek. It was named for a battle which took place there in 1849 between Latter-day Saint settlers and a small band of Ute Indians.
  • 1850 Springville was originally settled. The city was first called Hobble Creek by early pioneers. Later, as the town grew, the name was changed to Springville because of the many freshwater springs in the area.
  • 1851 The first ward of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsin American Fork was organized with Leonard E. Harrington as bishop.
  • 1852 March 3- Utah County was created from the Utah Territory. [6]
  • 1852 Lehi grew so rapidly that, Bishop Evans petitioned the Utah Territorial Legislature to incorporate the settlement. Lehi City was incorporated by legislative act on February 5, 1852 and approved a request to call the new city Lehi.
  • 1853 Daniel H. Wells, the head of the Nauvoo Legion (Utah Territorial Militia at the time), instructed settlers in American Fork to move into specific forts. At a meeting on July 23, 1853 at the schoolhouse in American Fork, Lorenzo Snow and Parley P. Pratt convinced the settlers to follow Wells' directions and all move together into a central fort.
  • 1855 The town of Fairfield was established when John Carson, his four brothers, and others settled in the Cedar Valley. The settlement was soon known as Frogtown.
  • 1855 to 1860 Between 1855 and 1860, the arrival of pioneers from Iceland made Spanish Fork into the first permanent Icelandic settlement in the United States.
  • 1860 Settlers changed the name of Lake City to American Fork.
  • 1861 Frogtown became Fairfield; named after Amos Fielding, who participated in establishing the community.
  • 1861 Lindon was settled. It was originally named "String Town" because of the way the houses were strung up and down the street. An old linden tree (Tilia) growing in town in 1901 inspired the present (misspelled) name.
  • 1870 American Fork served as a rail access point for mining activities in American Fork Canyon.
  • 1870 Highland was settled by homesteaders, so named by Scottish Latter-day Saint immigrants who felt the area resembled the highlands of Scotland.

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Utah 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 2,026 —
1860 8,248 307.1%
1870 12,203 48.0%
1880 17,973 47.3%
1890 23,768 32.2%
1900 32,456 36.6%
1910 37,942 16.9%
1920 40,792 7.5%
1930 49,021 20.2%
1940 57,382 17.1%
1950 81,912 42.7%
1960 106,991 30.6%
1970 137,776 28.8%
1980 218,106 58.3%
1990 263,590 20.9%
2000 368,540 39.8%
2010 516,564 40.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
  1. "Utah Census Returns" Historical Department of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [7] [8]
  2. Index (Index Publishing) [9]
  3. Index (AIS) [10]

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.


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

Stake(s), 1930: Alpine Stake, Utah · Kolob Stake, Utah · Lehi Stake, Utah · Nebo Stake, Utah · Palmyra Stake, Utah · Sharon Stake, Utah · Timpanogos Stake, Utah · Tintic Stake, Utah · Utah Stake, Utah

Places: Alpine · American Fork · Fairfield · Genola · Goshen · Highland · Lehi · Lindon · Mapleton · Mill Fork · Payson · Pleasant Grove · Provo · Salem · Santaquin · Spanish Fork · Springville · Thistle · Vineyard

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

  • Utah County Justice Court deals with class B and C misdemeanors, violations of ordinances, small claims, and infractions committed within County jurisdiction. The Justice Court shares jurisdiction with the Juvenile Court over minors 16 or 17 years old, who are charged with certain traffic offenses. See the Juvenile Court below for other types of juvenile cases.
  • Juvenile Court handles juvenile cases concerning automobile homicide, alcohol or drug related traffic offenses, reckless driving, fleeing an officer, and driving on a suspended license are excepted. Juvenile Court shares jurisdiction with the Justice Court over minors 16 or 17 years old, who are charged with certain traffic offenses besides those listed above.

Directories

  • See Utah Directories for more databases and information.
  • 1867 Owens, George. Salt Lake City Directory: Including a Business Directory of Provo, Springville, and Ogden, Utah Territory. Salt Lake City: G. Owens, 1867. Digital version at Internet Archive.
  • 1879-1880 Culmer, H.L.A. et al. Utah Directory and Gazetteer for 1879-80: Containing the Name and Occupation of Every Resident in the Towns and Cities of Salt Lake, Utah, Weber and Davis Counties: and a Very Complete List of the Merchants, Manufacturers, Professional Men and Officials: Together with Full Gazetteer Information. Salt Lake City, Utah: Printed for H.L.A. Culmer & Co. by J.C. Graham & Co., 1879. Digital version at Internet Archive.
  • 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

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

  • Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
  • Utah County has Web Access to Land Records (1980's forward) . This includes property searches by name, address, etc., map searches, document searches and document images.
  • Most of the land in Utah was originally obtained from the US federal government by a patent. These General Land Office Records are available and searchable free of charge. The minimum information needed for a search is the state where the land is located and the name of the person receiving the patent. Surveys and Land Status Records can also be searched here.


Local Histories

  • The County and the State are named after the Ute (or Utah) Indians. Named for the Ute Indians, Spanish word Yuta.
  • Lehi is named after Lehi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon.
  • The City of Orem was named after W.C. Orem, builder of the railroad which ran through the town. Orem was known as Sharon, a Biblical name for a mostly level strip of land running between mountains and the sea; Another former name was Provo Bench.
  • Payson was named after an early settler, James Pace. The community was previously known as Fort Peteetneet after a Ute Indian chief.
  • Springville was once known as Hobble Creek because a member of a Latter-day Saint exploring party lost his horse's hobbles in or near the creek.
  • Pleasant Grove, named after a cottonwood grove near the original town site, was once known as Battle Creek since it was the site of the first conflict between Indians and settlers.
  • Elberta was named for its Elberta peach orchards and Salem was named after New Salem, Massachusetts, but was first called Pond Town after the large pond that today is known as Salem Pond.
  • The first library in Provo was opened in 1854 and there has been an official U.S. Post Office in the city since at least 1894.
  • Provo General Hospital opened in 1903 and gave way to Utah Valley Hospital in 1939.
  • The Utah State (Mental) Hospital dates back to 1880 but was formerly known by less politically correct names.
  • Provo is the home of Brigham Young University. Brigham Young issued a deed of trust to establish Brigham Young Academy on October 16,1875. The fledgling institution went through some rough years and nearly folded on occasion before officially becoming Brigham Young University on October 23, 1903.
  • 1900 to the Present Day - The County population grew slowly and steadily through the years of World War I, the Great Depression and World War II. The official census counted 23,768 citizens in 1890 and that number grew to only 49,021 in 1940.
  • Geneva Steel was one of the few major employers outside of agriculture, government and schools. Geneva was built during World War II to provide steel for the war effort.
  • 1980s - present the valley became one of the entrepreneurial hot spots of the nation and, in particular, has become a Mecca for high-tech, computer-related companies.

Maps and Gazetteers

  • Gallagher, John S. The Post Offices of Utah Burtonsville, Md.: The Depot, 1977.FS Library Book 979.2 E8g. A list of past and current post offices in Utah. It provides the dates of establishment for each post office. If a post office was discontinued, this source gives the date and the new post office designated to receive the mail. Several photographs are included.
  • Gannett, Henry A. A Gazetteer of Utah. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1900.
  • Gruber, Ted. Postal History of Utah, 1849-1976. Crete, NB: J-B Publishing Co., 1978.
  • Leigh, Rufus Wood. Five Hundred Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press, 1961. FS Library Book 979.2 E2L. This book provides the history and origin of the name of each place, including names of places and landmarks that no longer exist. It also includes Native American residences.
  • Origins of Utah Place Names. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Department of Public Instruction, 1941. FS Library Book 979.2 E2o; Fiche 6046696. This source documents when places were settled, former names, altitude and population in 1941. There is information on the creation of each county and boundary changes, including square miles. It also includes a list of extinct counties.
  • Sloan, Robert W. Utah Gazetteer and Directory of Logan, Ogden, Provo and Salt Lake City for 1884. Salt Lake City: Herald Printing and Publishing Co., 1884. familysearch.org/search/catalog/287900
  • Utah: A Guide to the State. New York: Hastings House, 1941. familysearch.org/search/catalog/180508
  • Utah State Gazetteer and Business Directory. 12 Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah: R.L. Polk, 1900–1931. FS Library Book 979.2 U34p; On six films beginning with 1697782 item 3.) Exhaustive list of Utah towns and cities.
  • Van Cott, John E., comp. Utah Place Names: A Comprehensive Guide to the Origins of Geographic Names. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1990. FS Library Book 979.2 E2v. Excellent guide to Utah place names.
  • Ward, Jill Anderson. LDS Place Names Gazetteer. Salt Lake City: FamilySearch Library, 1986. familysearch.org/search/catalog/501349
  • Writers' Program (Utah), Utah: A Guide to the State. New York, New York: Hastings House, 1941.FS Library Book 979.2 E6w; Film 1033881 item 3. This gives a history of many areas and includes an index and maps of some cities. The book is arranged geographically and gives directions and mileage between areas. There is also information on altitude, population size, and roads.
  • FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

Military Records

Civil War

World War I

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

Provo Daily Enquirer, covering 1881 - 1897 is included.
  • Utah County Newspapers This is the FamilySearch Wiki page for "overflow" information on the newspapers of Utah County, including history and links to modern 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

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


BYU Family History Library

American Fork Library
64 South 100 East
American Fork, UT 84003-2326
Phone: 801-763-3070
Website

Highland City Library
400 West Civic Center Drive
Highland, UT 84003
Phone: 801-772-4528
Website

Lehi City Public Library
120 North Center Street
Lehi, UT 84043-1850
Phone: 801-768-7150
Website

Orem Public Library
58 North State Street
Orem, UT 84057
Ohone: 801-229-7050
Website

Payson City Library
66 South Main Street
Payson, UT 84651
Phone: 801-465-5220
Website

Pleasant Grove Library
30 East Center Street
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062-2234
Phone: 801-785-3950
Website

Provo City Library at Academy Square
550 North
University Avenue
Provo, UT 84601
Phone: 801-852-6650
Website

Salem City Library
59 South Main Street
Salem, UT 84653
Phone: 801-423-2622
Website

Santaquin City Library
20 West 100 South
Santaquin, UT 84655
Phone: 801-754-3030
Website

Saratoga Springs Library
1307 N Commerce Drive
Saratoga Springs, UT 84045
Phone: 801-766-6513

Spanish Fork Public Library
49 South Main Street
Spanish Fork, UT 84660-2030
Phone: 801-798-5010
Website

Springville Public Library
45 South Main Street
Springville, UT 84663
Phone: 801-489-2720
Website

Utah's Online Library, Provides links to library web pages, addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps.

Museums

Hutchings Museum
55 N. Center Street
Lehi, UT 84043
Phone: 801-768-7361
Website

Societies

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Utah, Utah" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_County,_Utah accessed 5 Dec 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Utah County, Utah Page 688 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), Utah 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, "Utah County, Utah," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_County,_Utah, accessed 17 February 2019.
  6. ↑ referer=brief_results Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FS Library book 973 D27e 2002].
  7. ↑ "FamilySearch Catalog Film 505913" (Salt Lake City, Utah : GSU, 1981).
  8. ↑ 1856 Utah census returns (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1856).
  9. ↑ 1856 Utah census index : an every-name index (Salt Lake City, UT : Index Pub., 1983), [FS Library book 979.2 X22d 1856].
  10. ↑ "FamilySearch Catalog Book 979.2 X22u 1856" (Bountiful, Utah : Accelerated Indexing Systems, c1983 ).
  11. ↑ "Oregon California Trails Association" at http://octatrails.micromaps.com/ (accessed 18 July 2011).
  12. ↑ "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).
  13. ↑ "Jefferson Hunt" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Hunt (accessed 6 September 2011).
  14. ↑ "Central Overland Route" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route (accessed 13 September 2011).
  15. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Union Pacific Railroad" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Railroad (accessed 14 September 2011).
  16. ↑ 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).
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