Kittitas County, Washington

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Kittitas County was founded on November 24, 1883 from Yakima County.

The Kittitas County Seat is situated in Ellensburg (also known as Robber’s Roost in 1867 and Ellen’s Burgh in 1880) and the county government website is http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/

Locations bordering Kittitas County are Chelan County, Douglas County, Grant County, Yakima County, Pierce County, King County.

Kittitas County vital records can be found at the Washington Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Washington for current fees and application process.

You can search online for Kittitas County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Washington Birth or Death Certificate and Marriage or Divorce Certificate Applications to mail.

Kittitas County has Federal Census Schedules to assist in researching your family tree. Federal government Population Schedules exist for 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Kittitas Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. You’ll find free down loadable in addition to printable census forms that can help with your research.

Kittitas County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Kittitas County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.

• Washington State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• State Archives Central Branch Bledsoe & Washington Archives Building, Central Washington University, 400 E. University Way, Mail Stop 7547, Ellensburg, Washington 98926-7547. Phone: 509-963-2136. Research Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Kittitas County Genealogical Society, PO Box 1342, 413 N Main, Suite I, Ellensburg, WA 98926-1342. Membership available. Operates Kittitas County Genealogical Society Library. Collection includes an obituary file. Has genealogical reference books for sale.
• Northern Kittitas County Genealogical Society, PO Box 535, Cle Elum, WA 98922.
• Cle Elum Historical Society, 202 Reed St, Cle Elum, WA 98922. Phone:(509) 674-5882
• Roslyn Historical Museum Society, PO Box 281, Roslyn, WA 98941. 509-649-2355
• Ellensburg Public Library, 209 N Ruby St, Ellensburg, WA 98926-3338. Phone 509-962-7250. Collection includes non-cataloged oral history cassettes and transcripts, photographs, some local families’ papers, local women’s club’s records. Has index of local newspapers, microfilmed water rights records, Sanborn maps and school annuals.
• Family History Center Ellensburg, 1700 Brick Rd, Ellensburg, WA. Phone 509-925-5192.
• Kittitas County Historical Museum, 114 E 3rd Ave, PO Box 265, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Phone 509-925-3778. Collections include non-cataloged photographs, Rollinger Brothers petrified wood collection, early business displays, pioneer kitchen and Indian artifacts
• Kittitas County, Washington Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Kittitas County, Washington Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• Washington State Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov)
• USGenWeb Archives for Kittitas County (usgwarchives.net)

Kittitas County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist often forget the benefits of Kittitas County court, probate, and land files as a source of genealogy information and facts. Buried away in Washington courthouses and archives everywhere tend to be the desires and frustrations of countless Washington men and women.

The possibilities are great that your ancestors have left a in-depth record of at least a few factors of their lives in the Kittitas County court records. Even if your forebears is not discussed in a Court case, contemplate all of the other methods which could have lead to her or him appearing in court records.

The dates pointed out below could be the first noted records for this particular county.

• Kittitas County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 205 W 5th Ave, Ellensburg WA 98926-2887
  • Courthouse hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Kittitas County Auditor
  • Birth and Death Records: 1872 to 1907
  • Marriage Records: 1882
  • Land Records: 1882
• Kittitas County Clerk
  • Court Records: 1884
  • Probate Records: 1884

Kittitas County Links

The following are links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Kittitas County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a fee. This is simply a directory that has been gathered or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to present your own favorite Kittitas County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Kittitas Co. WA Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Washington Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Washington historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Washington (1890 – 1984) (genealogybank.com) Immediately discover names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage announcements, birth notices as well as other items printed in over 2,800 old U.S. newspapers. All new articles and other content added monthly!
• Kittitas County, Washington Books (amazon.com)
• Search Washington Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Kittitas County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

Kittitas Co. WA Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• Washington Vital Records Research Guide
• Washington Birth Records (1881 – 1908) (archives.com) Washington State Digital Archives
• Washington Death Records (1890 – 1908) (archives.com) Washington State Digital Archives
• Washington, County Divorce Records, 1852-1950 (familysearch.org)
• Washington Marriage Records (1905 – 2008) (archives.com) Washington State Digital Archives
• Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 (familysearch.org) Name index of Washington statewide death certificates, 1907-1960.
• Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com)

Kittitas Co. WA Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• Washington Court Records Research Guide
• Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 (familysearch.org) Collection of various records including vital, probate, school, tax, naturalization and other records.
• Washington, County Land Records, 1850-1954 (familysearch.org)
• Washington, County Probate Case Files, 1832-1950 (familysearch.org)
• Washington, County Probate Records, 1853-1929 (familysearch.org)
• BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)

Kittitas Co. WA Census Records

• Washington Census Records Research Guide
• Kittitas County, WA Census Records Links
• Washington State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892 (search.ancestry.com)

Kittitas Co. WA Church & Cemeteries

• Washington Church and Cemetery Research Guide
• Kittitas Co., Washington Graves (findagrave.com)
• Kittitas County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Kittitas Co., Washington Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Kittitas County, Washington
• Kittitas Co., Washington Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Topographic Church List and Map for Kittitas County, Washington
• Kittitas County, Washington Church Books (amazon.com)

Kittitas Co. WA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

•  Washington Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Kittitas Co. WA General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Washington
• Kittitas County, Washington Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• An Illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas Counties : with an outline of the early history of the state of Washin (search.ancestry.com)
• Kittitas County, Washington Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Kittitas Co. WA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Kittitas County, Washington (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Washington – Counties – Kittitas (cyndislist.com)
• Kittitas County Washington (genealogytrails.com)
• Kittitas Co. WAGenweb (wagenweb.org)
• Kittitas County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Kittitas Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Kittitas Co. WA Immigration & Naturalization

• See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Washington
• Washington, County Naturalization Records, 1850-1982 (familysearch.org) The records include petitions, declarations of intention, certificates, depositions and final papers. The records are arranged chronologically.

Kittitas Co. WA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Washington Links and Information
• 1895 Kittitas County Map (livgenmi.com)

Kittitas Co. WA Military Records

• Washington Military Records Research Guide
• Washington Military Records (fold3.com) gives you access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Washington women and men who served. Great for Kittitas County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.

Kittitas Co. WA Schools & Directories

• Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965 (familysearch.org) Index cards of postal workers in the state of Washington prior to 1965. Cards include the name of the individual, location and years of activity. Some cards may also contain maiden names and names of spouses. Cards are organized alphabetically within each county.
•  Washington gazetteer and business directory : 1901-1902. (search.ancestry.com)