Apache County, Arizona Genealogy
Guide to Apache 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
Apache County was created on 14 Feb 1879 and named for the Apache people.[1] Its county seat is St. Johns.[2] It is located in the northeastern area of the state.
County Courthouse
Apache County Courthouse
70 West 3rd Street South
St Johns, AZ 85936
Phone: 928-337-7555
Apache County Courthouse
Clerk Superior Court has marriage, divorce probate and court records from 1879. County Recorder has land records from 1879 [3]
Apache County, Arizona Record Dates
| *Birth | Marriage | *Death | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1887 | 1879 | 1887 | 1879 | 1879 | 1879 | 1830 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
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:[7]
| Cities | ||
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| Towns | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| American Indian Communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
- 21 Mar 1895 - Arizona created Navajo County from the west half of Apache County.[8] This county named for the Navajo Indians. Look for records in Apache and Navajo counties.
- 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. Some records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
- In 1846-18 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, including all of present day Apache County.[10] Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- 13 Dec 1850 - The US created the New Mexico Territory from unorganized federal land.[11] This territory named after the Mexican State of New Mexico. Some counties were created, but they were small and covered land only in present day New Mexico. The land in the present day Arizona was at that time non-county land. Also the land south of the Gila River still belonged to Mexico. Look for records in the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
- In 1852 - New Mexico Territory created counties that stretched east and west from the Texas border to the California border, including all the land that later became Arizona. The land covered by present-day Apache County, Arizona was once part of Taos (NM), San Juan (NM) (1861-1862 only), Rio Arriba (NM), Santa Ana (NM), Bernalillo (NM), Valencia (NM), and Socorro (NM) counties of New Mexico.[12] [13] Look for records in Socorro, Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Taos, and Valencia counties.
- 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory.[14] 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
Also 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.
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Lest Ye Forget. By Esther Wiltbank and Zola Whiting. Apache County, Arizona: Apache County Centennial Committee, 1980. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.WorldCat
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
For tips on accessing Census records online, see: Arizona Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1880 | 5,283 | — |
| 1890 | 4,281 | −19.0% |
| 1900 | 8,297 | 93.8% |
| 1910 | 9,196 | 10.8% |
| 1920 | 13,196 | 43.5% |
| 1930 | 17,765 | 34.6% |
| 1940 | 24,095 | 35.6% |
| 1950 | 27,767 | 15.2% |
| 1960 | 30,438 | 9.6% |
| 1970 | 32,298 | 6.1% |
| 1980 | 52,108 | 61.3% |
| 1990 | 61,591 | 18.2% |
| 2000 | 69,423 | 12.7% |
| 2010 | 71,518 | 3.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
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: Alpine, Amity, Cooley, Eagar, Greer, Nutrioso, Omer, St. Johns, Union and Vernon.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
The general trial courts in Arizona are the county Superior Courts. The contact information for the Superior Court is as follows:
Apache County Superior Court
PO Box 667
70 West 3rd South
St. Johns, Az 85936-0667
Phone: (928) 337-7555
Fax: (928) 337-7586
There is also an Apache County Superior Court Website. The Superior Court handles all cases including general civil litigation, probate, conservatorships, guardianships, juvenile cases, divorces and criminal.
Online Court Indexes and Records
- 1881-1916 Index to District Court Papers, 1881-1916(*) Apache County District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
Directories
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
American Indians
- 1882-1920 Arizona, Apache County, Voting Records, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
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
- Land Records from 1986 at Apache County Recorder's Office
- 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 I
World War II
- 1940-1945 Arizona, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and 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
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- 1959-2014 Arizona, Mesa LDS Family History Center, Obituary Index, 1959-2014 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1882 – 1920 Arizona, Apache County, Voting Records, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and 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.com — 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 Apache 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
- Chinle Arizona FamilySearch Center
- St Johns Arizona FamilySearch Center
- Window Rock Arizona FamilySearch Center
- East Flagstaff Public Library - an affiliate library
- Flagstaff City - Coconino County Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Apache County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arizona Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Apache County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Arizona Societies.
Apache County Historical Society
180 W. Cleveland
St. Johns, AZ 85936
Phone: 928-337-4737
Facebook
Website
White Mountain Historical Society
504 East Mohave St.
Springerville, AZ 85938
Website
Websites
- Apache County AZGenWeb Project.
- Apache 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
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Apache, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_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), Apache County, Arizona p. 56. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Apache 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.
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ 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, "Apache County, Arizona," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_County,_Arizona, accessed 17 February 2019.
- ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1895, 18th assy./ pp. 96-105
- ↑ 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
- ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446-452; Baldwin, 117-137; Van Zandt, 28-29, 162-165
- ↑ 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. 12, ch. 56[1863]/pp. 664-665; Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy./ pp. vii-viii; Van Zandt, 162