Oregon Land and Property

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U.S. Land and Property

Oregon

Land and Property

Online Resources

• Oregon State Archives Women's Property Index
• Oregon State Archives Land Claim Index
• 1820-1908 U.S., Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1820-1908 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images

Provisional, Territorial, and Federal Land Office Records

Oregon land records during the period, 1845 to 1849, were filed with the provisional recorder. The record contains a description of the land claimed, and may name adjoining land holders.

• These papers are indexed and found in the Oregon State Archives. Click on 1845–1849 to go to the on line index.
• Abstracts of the records are in Oregon Provisional Land Claims—Volumes I–VIII (Portland: Genealogical Forum of Oregon, 1987). At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 979.5 R2gL

Individuals who settled in the Oregon Territory before December 1, 1855 were eligible to receive donation land claims. The earlier, provisional claims were voided. The size of the piece of land was dependent upon the date of the arrival and the marital status of the claimant. The applications for these free lands may provide birth, marriage, citizenship, migration, or other valuable information.

Index and records:

• Online— Genealogical Forum of Oregon
• National Archives. Microfilm copies of the records are available at the National Archives—Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle)
• Family History Library Oregon and Washington Donation Land Files, 1851- 1903 FHL film 1028543 (first of 108)
• Oregon State Archives

Abstracts of the donation land claims are published in: Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims, 5 vols. (Portland: Genealogical Forum of Portland, 1957-1975:

• Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims Gfo.org/resources/indexes/pioneer/provisional-land-claims.html
• Family History Library FHL film 823831 item 7; fiche 6051173; book 979.5 R2g

A published index to the claims is Oregon State Archives, comp., Index to Oregon Donation Land Claims (Portland: Genealogical Forum, 1953-57)

• Family History Library FHL film 874373 item 2; fiche 6051271
• Index to the Claimaints $
• Genealogical Forum of Oregon

Distribution of the remaining unoccupied land was administered by the General Land Office (FHLO) through land offices in Oregon. Most of the local FHLO records are now kept in the National Archives—Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle). Patents and copies of the tract books and township plats are at:

• Oregon State Office
  Bureau of Land Management
  333 S.W. 1st. Avenue
  Portland, OR 97204
  503-808-6002

The original tract books, plats, and land entry case files are at the National Archives. Many of the records are now online at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) internet site. The records are indexed at the general BLM site.

County Records

After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions are recorded by the county auditor in the form of deeds and mortgages. These may be obtained from the appropriate recorder or clerk in each courthouse. The Family History Library is acquiring land records from the counties and digitizing them and they are found on FamilySearch Historical Records. Search the Wiki under the county for more information.

Many of the country records can be found on the internet by using a search engine and terms such as county name (e.g. Douglas), Land, Records.  Information on Oregon Land records can also be found at the Oregon State Archives.

Online Records

• 1857-1963 Oregon, Yamhill County Records, 1857-1963 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1862-1950 Oregon, Baker County Records, 1862-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:

• Oregon, Benton County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Oregon, Columbia County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Oregon, Douglas County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Oregon, Polk County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Oregon, Wasco County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  
• Oregon, Yamhill County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
  

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