Whatcom County, Washington Genealogy: Difference between revisions

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*'''1801-1962''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=washington%2cwa Washington, United States Marriages] at Findmypast — index ($)
*'''1801-1962''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=washington%2cwa Washington, United States Marriages] at Findmypast — index ($)
* '''1855-2008''' {{RecordSearch|1534448|Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008}} at FamilySearch — [[Washington, County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; Includes Index to Certificates 1870-1984; Affidavits 1883-1939; Marriage and Miscellaneous Business Licenses 1879-1917; Applications and Affidavits, Probate Bonds 1869-1877; Certificates 1890-1928; License Applications 1890-2011; Licenses 1900-1971; Returns 1891-1947.
* '''1855-2008''' {{RecordSearch|1534448|Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008}} at FamilySearch — [[Washington, County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; Includes Index to Certificates 1870-1984; Affidavits 1883-1939; Marriage and Miscellaneous Business Licenses 1879-1917; Applications and Affidavits, Probate Bonds 1869-1877; Certificates 1890-1928; License Applications 1890-2011; Licenses 1900-1971; Returns 1891-1947.
*'''1865-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20617/washington-marriages?s=275764761 Washington Marriages] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1891-2022''' [http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/433 Whatcom County Auditor, Marriage Records, 1891-2022] with images, at Washington State Archives - index & images
*'''1891-2022''' [http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/433 Whatcom County Auditor, Marriage Records, 1891-2022] with images, at Washington State Archives - index & images
*'''1968-1997''' [https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/2601 Department of Health, Marriage Certificates, 1968-1997] at Washington State Archives - index & images
*'''1968-1997''' [https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/2601 Department of Health, Marriage Certificates, 1968-1997] at Washington State Archives - index & images

Revision as of 11:19, 23 April 2025


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

County Facts
County seat: Bellingham
Organized: March 9, 1854
Parent County(s): Island
Neighboring Counties
British Columbia (Canada) • Okanogan • San Juan • Skagit
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Whatcom County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-whatcom.png

Upper Falls in Whatcom Falls Park, Bellingham, Whatcom CO., Washington

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water." The county is located in the northwest area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Whatcom County Courthouse
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-778-5400
Whatcom County Website

County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907, marriage records from 1869 and land records.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records.[2]

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

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1854 1891 1883 1854 1872 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
  • Beach
  • Blue Canyon
  • Cedarville
  • Chuckanut
  • Clearbrook
  • Clipper
  • Dewey
  • Diablo
  • Saxon
  • Van Buren
  • Van Wyck
  • Van Zandt
  • Wahl
  • Welcome
  • Wickersham
American Indian Communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
  • Park


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • In historic times there were three tribal groups in the county: the Lummi, Nooksack, and Semiahmoo.
  • 1791 Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper sent a sloop into the Strait of San Juan de Fuca and "discovered" Mount Baker.
  • 1827 The Hudson’s Bay Company established Fort Langley north of modern day Lynden.
  • 1853 Edward Eldridge arrived in Whatcom from California to work at the mill, bringing sawmill machinery.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1854 Settlers filed claims on the south end of the bay, setting the future site of Fairhaven, one of four towns that would develop on the shoreline.
  • 1854 March 9, Whatcom County was established by the Washington territorial government from a portion of Island County.
  • 1857-1858 Survey work began on the international boundary at the 49th parallel.
  • 1859 John Tennant and his Lummi wife Clara filed the first official claim on the Nooksack River.
  • 1881 The "Washington Colony," a group of utopian Kansans, re-established the mill at Whatcom Creek.
  • 1899 Whatcom County boomed when the Pacific American Fisheries (PAC) organized in Fairhaven.

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.

Brief biographies of well-known citizens of the era of publication, as well as history of the early years of the community.

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

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Whatcom 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.

 

Includes Lot and burial record 1884-1959; Lot purchase record 1887-1904; Woodlawn Cemetery burial list 1886-2007.

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 352 —
1870 534 51.7%
1880 3,137 487.5%
1890 18,591 492.6%
1900 24,116 29.7%
1910 49,511 105.3%
1920 50,600 2.2%
1930 59,128 16.9%
1940 60,355 2.1%
1950 66,733 10.6%
1960 70,317 5.4%
1970 81,950 16.5%
1980 106,701 30.2%
1990 127,780 19.8%
2000 166,814 30.5%
2010 201,140 20.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Includes School census index 1890-1932; School census records 1885-1933.
Federal: 1910
Territorial: 1871, 1885, 1889

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.

Lutheran

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

  • Whatcom Frontier Justice. Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Archives - Index, no images
The court procedure of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

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

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 Whatcom County may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.

Edition/Format:

  • "Whatcom County, Washington Facts" at StateOfUS.com (it is mis-labeled as Whatcom County, Alabama)
  • "History of Whatcom County", Author: Lottie Roeder Roth, Publisher:Chicago : Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1926. [1] There are a few versions of this work beginning in 1926, with later works adding an index and microform format available.

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

British ColumbiaOkanogan CountySkagit CountyIsland CountySan Juan CountyWA WHATCOM.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.

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]

Online School Indexes and Records

Includes School census index 1890-1932; School census records 1885-1933.

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

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

Bellingham Public Library
Website

Branches, locations and hours
Website

Whatcom County Library System
Website

Branches, locations, and hours
Website

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

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

Whatcom Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1493
Bellingham, WA 98227-1493
Website
Facebook

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, "Whatcom County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatcom_County,_Washington. accessed 18/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Whatcom County, Washington page 734, FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Whatcom 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, "Whatcom County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatcom_County,_Washington, accessed 26 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection & Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Death Records About Death Records
v • d• e
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Topics
Counties
Extinct Co.
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