Yuma County, Arizona Genealogy
Guide to Yuma 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
Yuma County was created on 10 Nov 1864[1] and was one of four original Arizona counties created by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature.[2] Its county seat is Yuma.[3] It is located in the southwestern area of the state.
County Courthouse
Yuma County Courthouse
250 West 2nd Street
Yuma, Arizona 85364
Phone: 928-817-4083
Yuma County Court House
Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1863 [4]
Yuma County, Arizona Record Dates
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1888 | 1863 | 1888 | 1863 | 1864 | 1863 | 1830 |
Record Loss
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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 | ||
| American Indian Communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
- Yuma County, Arizona is in the far southwest corner of the state. Principal communities include Yuma and Somerton. It extended to Parker in the north until 1983 when the northern half of the county split off to form La Paz County.
- 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 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 Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. The land in present day Yuma County was split between the US and Mexico. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The north part of present day Yuma County was then in Socorro (NM).[11] [12] [13] Look for records in Socorro County.
- 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 the south part of present day Yuma County.[14] 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.[15] Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana (NM) gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.[16] This included land in present day Yuma County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
- 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory.[17] 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
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. | %± |
| 1870 | 1,621 | — |
| 1880 | 3,215 | 98.3% |
| 1890 | 2,671 | −16.9% |
| 1900 | 4,145 | 55.2% |
| 1910 | 7,733 | 86.6% |
| 1920 | 14,904 | 92.7% |
| 1930 | 17,816 | 19.5% |
| 1940 | 19,326 | 8.5% |
| 1950 | 28,006 | 44.9% |
| 1960 | 46,235 | 65.1% |
| 1970 | 60,827 | 31.6% |
| 1980 | 90,554 | 48.9% |
| 1990 | 106,895 | 18.0% |
| 2000 | 160,026 | 49.7% |
| 2010 | 195,751 | 22.3% |
| Source: [1] | ||
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 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Yuma
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
- See Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.
Online Court Indexes and Records
- 1934-1945 Powers of Attorney, v. C-D (p. 1-271), 1934-1945(*) Yuma County Court Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
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
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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
- 1863-1927 Deeds, 1863-1924; Indexes, 1863-1927(*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1865-1924 Realty Mortgages, 1865-1921; Indexes, 1865-1889, 1909-1924(*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1881-1936 Chattel Mortgages, 1888-1922; Indexes, 1893-1924; Indexes to Releases, 1881-1936(*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1881-1960 Releases of Mortgages, 1881-1926; Indexes, 1881-1960(*) Yuma County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 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 ($)
Obituaries
- 1959-2014 Arizona, Mesa LDS Family History Center, Obituary Index, 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
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Other Records
Correctional Institutions
- 1884-1910 Arizona, Yuma, Prison Records, 1884-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Voting Records
- 1902-1918 Arizona, Yuma County, Voting Records, 1902-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index & images
Periodicals
Probate Records
From 1850 to 1864, probate records of Arizona were kept by the probate courts of New Mexico. From 1864 to 1912, the records were handled by county probate courts. 1912 to present, records such as wills, claims, administrations, case files, and calendars are kept in the custody of the clerk of the superior court in the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1803-1995 Arizona Wills and Probate Records 1803-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 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
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
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
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 Yuma 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
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Yuma County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arizona Archives and Libraries.
Yuma County Library District
2951 S. 21st Drive
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: 928-782-1871
Contact form
Website
Multiple locations
Heritage Library
350 S. Third Avenue
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: 928-783-5415
Website
Holdings include Arizona Historical Society – Rio Colorado Library and Archival collections, manuscripts, oral histories, historical photograph collection.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Yuma County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Arizona Societies.
Genealogical Society of Yuma Arizona (GSYA)
P.O. Box 7025
Yuma, AZ 85366-7025
Website
Websites
- AZGenWeb Project
- Yuma 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
- ↑ Howell Code, Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy., ch. 2/ pp. 24-25
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Yuma, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma_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), Yuma County, Arizona p. 57. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Yuma 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.
- ↑ Howell Code, Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy., ch. 2/ pp. 24-25
- ↑ 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, "Yuma County, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma_County,_Arizona, accessed 4 March 2019.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 1st sess./p. 119; N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /pp. 266, 292
- ↑ William Thorndale, and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1987), 26. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 X2th.
- ↑ Original Counties of New Mexico Territory (map).
- ↑ 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
- ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 56[1863]/pp. 664-665; Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy./ pp. vii-viii; Van Zandt, 162