Skagit County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington Skagit County [[Image:Template:WASkagitAvalanche]]

Guide to Skagit County, Washington Genealogy genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1883, when the county was formed.

County QuickStart: Census Birth Marriage Divorce Death Cemeteries

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Skagit County, Washington
Map
Location in the state of Washington
Location of Washington in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	November 28, 1883
County Seat	Mount Vernon
Courthouse
Address	Skagit County Courthouse; 700 South 2nd St; PO Box 837 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Phone. 360.336.9440 Skagit County Website

County Overview

County Formation

• Skagit County, Washington was created 28 November 1883 from Whatcom.

County Seat: Mount Vernon . For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes

Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Neighboring Counties

Skagit County, Washington Genealogy is surrounded by: Chelan | Island | Okanogan | San Juan | Snohomish | Whatcom

Template:WASkagit County Clickable Neighbors

Courthouse

Skagit County Courthouse;
700 South 2nd St; PO Box 837
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone. 360.336.9440

County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907,
marriage records from 1884 and land records from 1872.
County Clerk has divorce, probate county records from 1870.

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in Skagit County, Washington Genealogy.

Dates of Major County Records

Beginning dates for major county records
Birth	Marriage	Death	Land	Probate	Court
1891*	1891*	1891*	1872	1884	1878
* For earlier dates, try... Church | Obituaries | Cemeteries

Topics for Skagit County, Washington Genealogy

The topics or headings on this page describe records that are used for genealogy and family history. They include links to web sites with indexes, images, or information about the county.

Biography

Biographical information is often found in state and local histories or genealogies. See also Washington Biography.

Cemeteries

Skagit County, Washington Genealogy cemeteries from state and national resources
Online County-wide Name Searches	Published Grave Transcripts	Lists of Cemeteries (Several will also link to names)
FindAGrave (Add a name to the search)	FamilySearch Library Click Cemeteries. Press space bar to select town	FindAGrave
WA State Archives - Digital Collections Click any cemetery for search window, select county, enter name(s).	WorldCat	Interment.net
Billion Graves Switch to "Person Lookup"	Washington Periodicals	Washington State Digital Archives Put county name in Search box
		Linkpendium
		Billion Graves
		USGenWeb Tombstone Project
		Genealogy Trails
See Washington Cemeteries for details about these and other sites.

Census

• Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free)
  • Federal: 1910
  • Territorial: 1885 • 1887 • 1889
  • These were indexed by local societies and individuals.

• Census Enumerator Cards, 1944 at Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
  • See what genealogical information may be in these records.
  • Includes: Anacortes; (County?) enumerator cards; La Conner; Mount Vernon; Sedro-Woolley.

• 1944-1944 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Church Records

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.

• Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for Skagit County, Washington Genealogy are listed in the FamilySearch catalog. (Press space bar to select town.)

Lutheran

• Records of Burlington Lutheran Church, Burlington, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Court Records

Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can clarify family relationships, places of residence, occupations, and family history. See Washington Court Records for courts used through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate

• Skagit Frontier Justice. Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Digital Archives. (Free 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.

Ethnic, Political or Religious Groups

Japanese

World War II Files, 1942-1946

Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives

Genealogy

Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. County histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons.

A FamilySearch Community Tree is available for this place.

• "Skagit County Public Records" online
• "Family History & Genealogy" online
• "Skagit County Cemetery Records" online

Guardianship

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the District courts. See Washington Court Records.

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Washington Court Records.

History

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

• "Skagit County, Alabama (Washington) Facts"

• "1885 Skagit County"

• History of the Puget Sound country, Volume 1 ,Volume 2 by William Farrand Prosser [New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company, 1903]

History Timeline

Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. Skagit County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 5663.

• People have lived in present-day Skagit County and its environs for nearly 10,000 years. They were known as the Coast Salish.
• 1791 - Rosario Strait is on the most western edge of Skagit County. The Spaniard Juan Francisco de Eliza charted it, and named it Canal de Fidalgo.
• 1824 - John Work, a trader with Hudson’s Bay Company, came through the area.
• 1852 - The first Euro-American to live in the county, was Englishman William (Blanket Bill) Jarman with his Coast Salish wife.
• 1853 - March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
• 1863 - Settlement on the county’s mainland took hold when Michael Sullivan and Samuel Calhoun began diking the marshy flats near present day LaConner.
• 1860s-1870s - New settlements and trading posts appeared on Guemes Island and Samish Island.
• 1883 - November 28, A bill passed in the territorial legislature separated Skagit County from Whatcom County.

Land and Property

Land records (especially deeds) often give the name of a spouse, heir, other relatives, or other clues for further research. They often have other clues for further research, such as witnesses or the other parties who may be relatives or in-laws. See Washington Land and Property for more.

• County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Maps

This map highlights the county within the state of Washington. The map soon will have inter-active links.

Migration

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

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

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.

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

• Naturalization Records, 1878-1974 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Newspapers

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.

• Skagit County, Washington Genealogy Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)

Finding More Washington Newspapers

Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Skagit County, Washington Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:

• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Do a search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. To select a county in Washington, add a comma, slide way down to the county list, then click Search. (Almost every state seems to have a Washington County)

Obituaries

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.

Also check:

• Newspapers of Skagit County, Washington Genealogy
• Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
• Obituaries of neighboring counties

Probate Records

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.

• Probate Case Files, 1890-1929. Part of: Washington, County Probate Records, 1853-1929 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
  • See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Public Records

Public records are documents created by civil authorities that either don't fit comfortably in another topic, or that could fit in several topics.

• Skagit Postmaster Index. Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)

Taxation

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.

School Records

• School census records 1888-1948 at Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections.
  • See what genealogical information may be in these records.
  • Includes: parent or guardian, names and birth dates of students, residence,

Vital Records

The county auditors in Washington kept records of birth, marriage, and death. The county clerk has the divorce records - the earliest dates to the present.

Visit the Washington State Department of Health website to order a Washington Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce Certificate. See Washington Vital Records for details and history of the records. .

Birth

• Birth Records, 1891-1908 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

• Birth Records, 1869-1946 at Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)
  • See what genealogical information may be in these records.
  • Includes: Birth and death record index, 1892-1946; Birth certificates, 1869-1907; Births (delayed) 1869-1907

Marriage

• Marriage Records, 1884-2000 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection.(Free)

• County Marriages,1855-2008 at Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008 at FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
  • See what genealogical information may be in these records.
  • Includes Birth, Marriage, Death Index 1891-1898;Index to Licenses 1923-1947; Affidavits 1909-1939; Applications Index 1940-1985; Applications 1905-2001; Certificate Index 1884-1923; Licenses 1940-1959; Record Index 1925-1994; Register 1891-1948; Returns 1891-1948.

Divorce

The county clerk has the divorce records. To order certificates, see Washington State Department of Health.

Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.

Death

• Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
  • See what genealogical information may be in these records.

• 1869-1946 Part of: County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)
• Death Returns, 1891-1908 at Washinton State Digital Archives Collection (Free)

Web Sites

Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.

Sites with online indexes or images of records:

• WAGenWeb Skagit County
• USGenWeb
• Current Collections at Washington State Digital Archives (Free) Type county name, click Search, then select a collection. Collections were posted to the appropriate headings for this Wiki page in November, 2013.
• Historical Collections at FamilySearch.org. (Free) Click "Last Updated." Collections through October 2013 have been posted to the appropriate headings for this Wiki page.
• Skagit/ Web Sites at RootsWeb - Skagit WA (Free)

Sites that search the Internet for Skagit County, Washington Genealogy records online:

• Linkpendium (free)
• CyndisList (free)

Major catalogs to offline genealogical records:
Catalogs refer to books, microfilm, manuscripts, and/or Internet images and indexes for various topics.

• FamilySearch catalog for Skagit County, Washington Genealogy (Select topics. Add comma to select towns.)
• WorldCat To find libraries near you that have items of interest, see WorldCat Online Catalog.
• Allen County Public Library (Indiana)
• See also local libraries and Washington Archives and Libraries

Archives, Libraries, etc.

Listed below are archives in {{{1}}} County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

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

• Check websites and catalogs, such as items in FamilySearch Library (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for Skagit County, Washington Genealogy. When you find items you'd like to access, see Get a Copy

Family History 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

• Mount Vernon Washington Family History Center 1700 Hazel St., Mount Vernon, WA 98274 United States Location Map

Libraries

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.

Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St, Anacortes 98221 Phone: (360) 293-1910

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

Burlington Public Library, 820 East Washington Avenue, Burlington 98233 Phone: (360) 755-0760

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

Concrete Public Library, 45672 Main Street, Concrete 98237 Phone: (360) 853-8950

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

Upper Skagit Library District, 45770 B Main St., Concrete 98237 Phone: (360) 853-7939

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

La Conner Regional Library, 614 Morris St., La Conner 98257 Phone: (360) 466-3352

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St., Mount Vernon 98273 Phone: (360) 336-6249

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

Sedro-Woolley Public Library, 802 Ball Avenue, Sedro-Woolley 98284 Phone: (360) 855-1166

Online Resources:

Unique Collections:

Societies

Listed below are societies in {{{1}}} County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies.

Towns and Communities

See a list of towns and communities in Skagit County per Wikipedia.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.