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Valley County, Idaho Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Cascade
Organized: February 26, 1917
Parent County(s): Idaho, Idaho, Boise
Neighboring Counties
Adams • Boise • Custer • Gem • Idaho • Lemhi
See County Maps
Courthouse
Idaho, Valley County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Valley faraway.gif

Tamarack view in West Mountain, Valley CO., Idaho

County Information

Description

Valley County was named for the outstanding topographical feature of the area, Long Valley. The county is located in the central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Valley County Courthouse
219 North Main Street
Cascade, ID 83611
Phone: 208-382-7178
Valley County Website

County records has marriage records from 1929, and land records from 1904.
County Clerk has divorce records from 1950, probate records from 1934 and court records from 1917.[2]

Valley County, Idaho 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1911 1929 1911 1917 1904 1934 1870
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1911. General compliance in the 1920s.

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 Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]

Cities
Unincorporated communities
  • Big Creek
  • Lake Fork
  • Roseberry
  • Warm Lake
Census-designated places


History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Valley, Idaho online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Idaho Cemeteries for more information

There are many cemeteries in Valley County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Valley County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
19202,524
—
19303,48838.2%
19404,03515.7%
19504,2705.8%
19603,663−14.2%
19703,609−1.5%
19805,60455.3%
19906,1099.0%
20007,65125.2%
sources:[6][7]

The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.

For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

Church Records

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

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


In 1930, Valley County was part of Northwestern States Mission.

  • The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Valley County, Idaho prior to 1950.
For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
  • 1917--Valley County, Idaho was created 26 February 1917 from Idaho and Boise Counties.
  • Cascade

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Idaho Court Records for the various courts through the years.

Online Court Indexes and Records

  • County records, 1917-1937 Idaho. District Court (Valley County)
  • Register of action, 1917-1934 Idaho. Probate Court (Valley County)

Judgment Books

  • Judgment record, 1892-1925 Idaho. District Court (Valley County)

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse. Many early records have been microfilmed. For more information, see Idaho Land and Property.

Online Land Indexes and Records


Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Idaho CountyLemhi CountyCuster CountyBoise CountyGem CountyAdams CountyID VALLEY.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Military Records

World War I World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Valley County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the FamilySearch Library (their microfilm number 1452224) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.


World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

Records of the citizenship or naturalization of people born outside of the United States were kept in the county courthouses. Many volumes are included at the Idaho State Archives in Boise.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

Current

Historical
The Idaho State Archives has issues of many Idaho Newspapers in its collections.

Obituaries

Other Records

County Commissioners' Records

The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Miscellaneous Series

Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere. The following Valley County records have been microfilmed and are available for viewing at the Valley County courthouse in Cascade, Idaho or at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho:

  • Index to Misc. Records, Book 1 1879-1973 Court
  • Transcribed Miscellaneous Records, Idaho County, Book 1, pp 1-149 (con't on Valley-2/1) 1888-1903 Court
  • Transcribed Miscellaneous Records, Idaho County, Book 1, pp 150-472 (con't from Valley-1/5) 1901-1903 Court
  • Miscellaneous Record, Book 1 1879-1917 Court
  • Miscellaneous Record, Book 2 1917-1925 Court
  • Miscellaneous Record, Book 3 1917-1924 Court
  • Miscellaneous Record, Book 4

The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also has microfilmed copies of these Miscellaneousrecords which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City and at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Pension Records

Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Valley County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index. This index is available online.
Microfilmed copies of these records are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho and at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers.

Periodicals

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records


School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Vital Records

Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Valley County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. Deaths occurring in Valley County after 1915 are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records.

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Voting Records

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Valley County. For state-wide facilities, see Idaho 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

Libraries

Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. Listed below are libraries in Valley County. For state-wide library facilities, see Idaho Archives and Libraries.

  • Cascade Public Library
    105 N Front St
    Cascade, ID 83611
    Phone: 208-382-4757
    Website
  • McCall Public Library
    218 E Park St
    McCall, ID 83638
    Phone: 208-634-5522
    Website

Museums

  • Central Idaho Historical Museum
    1001 State Street
    McCall, ID 83638-3705
    Phone: 208-634-4497
    Website
  • Valley County Museum
    13131 Farm to Market Road
    Donnelly, ID 83615
    Phone: 208-325-8628
    Website

Societies

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

  • Idaho State Historical Society
    2205 Old Penitentiary Rd
    Boise, ID
    Phone: 208-334-2774
    Website
    Facebook
  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
    Idaho Chapter

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

References

  1. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Long Valley, Idaho Genealogy and History”, "http://genealogytrails.com/ida/valley/."
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Valley County, Idaho page 180, 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), Valley County, Idaho. Page 177-180 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), 180-181.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Valley County,Idaho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_County,_Idaho#Communities, accessed 15 June 2019.
  6. ↑ census.gov - Idaho population by county, 1900-90 accessed 2009-05-03
  7. ↑ quickfacts.census.gov - Canyon County accessed 2009-05-03
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