King County, Washington

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

King County was founded on December 22, 1852 from Thurston County. The county was named in honor of William R. King (1786–1853), U.S. Vice President under Franklin Pierce; officially renamed in 1986 after Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968).

The King County Seat is situated in Seattle and the county government website is http://www.kingcounty.gov/

Locations bordering King County are Snohomish County, Chelan County, Kittitas County, Pierce County, Kitsap County.

King 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 King 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.

King County has Federal Census Schedules to assist in researching your family tree. Federal government Population Schedules exist for 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

King Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1870 and 1880. King Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be found for 1870 and 1880. King 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.

King County Society and Family History Resources

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

• Washington State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• King County Archives, 1215 E. Fir Street, Seattle, WA 98122 Phone: 206-296-1538
  • Historical Birth Records listing
  • Historical Marriage records
  • Historical Death Records
• Seattle City Municipal Archives, 3rd Floor of the Seattle City Hall Bldg., 600 4th Ave, Seattle, WA. Phone 206-233-7807.
• Puget Sound Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Pritchard-Fleming Bldg., 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, MS-N100, Bellevue, WA 98007-6484
• Pacific Alaska Region – Seattle, The National Archives, 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-7999; Phone 206-336-5115
• Ballard Historical Society, PO Box 17775, Seattle, WA 98127. Phone 206-660-8463.
• Black Diamond Historical Society, 32626 Railroad, PO Box 232, Black Diamond, WA 98010. Phone 360-886-2142
• Des Moines Historical Society, PO Box 98055, Des Moines, WA 98198
• Duvall Historical Society, 26526 NE Cherry Valley Road Duvall, WA 98019
• Enumclaw Plateau Historical Society, 1837 Marion St., PO Box 1087, Enumclaw, WA 98022. Phone 360-825-4028
• Highline Historical Society, P. O. Box 317, Seahurst, WA 98062
• Historical Society of Seattle & King County. 2700-24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112, Phone 206-324-1126
• Issaquah Historical Society, P. O. Box 695, Issaquah, Washington 98027; Telephone ~(425) 392-3500
• Kent Historical Society and Museum, 855 E. Smith Street, Kent WA 98030. Phone: 253-854-4330
• Mercer Island Historical Society 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island, WA 98040. Phone: 206-236-7321 or 206-236-3545
• Newcastle Historical Society, 7331 Lakemount Blvd SE, Issaquah, WA 98027, Phone 425-255-6996
• Pacific Northwest Historians Guild, PO Box 85457, Seattle, WA 98145
• Queen Anne Historical Society, P.O. Box 19432, Seattle, WA 98109
• Rainier Valley Historical Society, P.O Box 18143, Seattle, WA 98118, 3710 S. Ferdinand St., Seattle, WA 98118-0143, Phone 206-723-1663
• Redmond Historical Society, The Old Redmond Schoolhouse, 16600 NE 80 St, Redmond, WA 98052. Phone: 425-885-2919
• Renton Historical Society, 235 Mill Ave S, Renton, WA 98055. Phone 425-255-2330
• Snoqualmie Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 179, 320 Bendigo Blvd, North Bend, WA 98045, Phone: 425-888-3200
• White River Valley Historical Society, 918 H St SE, Auburn, WA 98002. Phone 253-288-7433
• Association of King County Historical Organization (Woodinville Heritage Society, P.O. Box 216, 17143 133rd Ave NE, Woodinville, WAAKCHO), PO Box 3257, Seattle, WA 98114
• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, PO Box 353010, 17th Ave NE and NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98195. Phone 206-543-5590
• Historic Seattle, Dearborn House 1117 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, Phone: 206-622-6952,
• Maple Valley Historical Museum, 23015 SE 216th Way, PO Box 123, Maple Valley, WA 98038
• Shoreline Historical Museum, 749 N 175th, PO Box 7171, Seattle, WA 98133. Phone 206-542-7111
• Family History Centers
  • Auburn Washington, 625 M Street NE, Auburn, WA, Phone 253-735-2009.
  • Bellevue Washington, 10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA, Phone 425-454-2690.
  • Bellevue Washington South, 4200 124th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, Phone 425-562-0361.
  • Federal Way Washington, 34815 Weyerhaeuser Way South, Federal Way, WA. Phone 253-874-3803.
  • Kirkland Washington, 7910 NE 32nd St, Kirkland, WA. Phone 425-821-3939.
  • Maple Valley Washington, 26800 236th Place SE, Maple Valley, WA. Phone 425-413-7566.
  • North Bend Washington, 527 Mountain Side Blvd., North Bend, WA. Phone 425-888-1098.
  • Redmond Washington, 10115 172nd Ave NE, Redmond, WA. Phone 425-861-9273.
  • Seattle Washington, 14022 Ambaum Blvd SW, Seattle, WA. Phone 206-444-6017.
  • Seattle Washington North, 5701 8th Ave NE, Seattle, WA. Phone 206-522-1233.
  • Tiffany Park Washington, 8220 S. 126th St., Seattle, King, WA. Phone 425-207-0092
  • Vashon Washington, 9330 S.W. 204th St, Vashon, WA. Phone 206-463-1863.
• Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogist – Meetings usually occur every other month starting in February. Please check the website to learn about the coming programs. The website also provides ideas for more genealogical education, events, and chapter news along with the profile of the members of the chapter
• King County, Washington Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• King County, Washington Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• Washington State Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov)
• USGenWeb Archives for King County (usgwarchives.net)

King County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist often forget the benefits of King 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 King 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.

• King County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 516 3rd Ave, Seattle 98104-3272
  • Courthouse hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
• King County Recorder’s
  • Birth and Death Records: 1891 to 1907
  • Marriage Records: 1866
  • Land Records: 1853
• King County Clerk
  • Court Records: 1854
  • Probate Records: 1864

King County Links

The following are links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to King 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 King County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

King 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!
• King County, Washington Books (amazon.com)
• Search Washington Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• King County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

King Co. WA Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• Washington Vital Records Research Guide
•  King County Delayed Births, 1941-1942 (familysearch.org)
• 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)

King Co. WA Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• Washington Court Records Research Guide
•  King County Probate Records, 1854-1927 (familysearch.org)
• 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)

King Co. WA Census Records

• Washington Census Records Research Guide
• U.S. Bureau of the Census, Seattle Regional Office Reference Center (census.gov)
• King County, WA Census Records Links
• Washington State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892 (search.ancestry.com)

King Co. WA Church & Cemeteries

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

King Co. WA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

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

King Co. WA General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Washington
• King County, Washington Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• About King County and its government (kingcounty.gov)
• A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of the city of Seattle and county of King, Washington : including (search.ancestry.com)
• History of Seattle, Washington : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (search.ancestry.com)
• Seattle memories (search.ancestry.com)
• King County, Washington Wiki (familysearch.org)
• King Co. WA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• King County, Washington (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Washington – Counties – King (cyndislist.com)
• King County Washington (genealogytrails.com)
• King Co. WAGenweb (wagenweb.org)
• King County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• King Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

King Co. WA Immigration & Naturalization

• See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Washington
•  Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957 (familysearch.org)
• Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957 (search.ancestry.com)
• 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.

King Co. WA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

King 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 King County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.

King 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.
• Seattle, Washington City Directories, 1888-90 (search.ancestry.com)
•  Washington gazetteer and business directory : 1901-1902. (search.ancestry.com)