Kitsap County, Washington

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

Kitsap County was founded on July 13, 1857 (originally named Slaughter County and was renamed in 1857) from King County and Jefferson County.

The Kitsap County Seat is situated in Port Orchard and the county government website is http://www.kitsapgov.com/

Locations bordering Kitsap County are Island County, Snohomish County, King County, Pierce County, Mason County, Jefferson County.

Kitsap 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 Kitsap 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.

Kitsap 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.

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

Kitsap County Society and Family History Resources

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

• Washington State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Puget Sound Genealogical Society, 1026 Sidney Ave, Suite 110, Port Orchard, WA 98366
• Bainbridge Island Historical Society, 7650 NE High School Rd, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-2621. Phone 206-842-2773
• Kitsap County Historical Society & Museum, PO Box 903, Bremerton, WA 98337. Phone 360-479-6226
• USS Turner Joy/Bremerton Historic Ships Association, 300 Washington Beach Ave #8, Bremerton, WA 98310. Phone 360-392-2457
• Puget Sound Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Pritchard-Fleming Bldg., 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, MS-N100, Bellevue, WA 98007-6484
• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, PO Box 11653, 7650 NE High School Rd, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Phone 206-842-2773.
• Log Cabin Museum, 416 Sidney Ave, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Phone 360-876-3693.
• Pope and Talbot Historical Museum, PO Box 217, Port Gamble, WA 98366-0217. Phone 360-297-3341.
• Port Gamble Museum, (www.ptgamble.com) PO Box 85, Port Gamble, WA 98364. Phone 360-297-8074. Fax 360-297-7455.
• Kitsap County, Washington Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• Washington State Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov)
• USGenWeb Archives for Kitsap County (usgwarchives.net)

Kitsap County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist often forget the benefits of Kitsap 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 Kitsap 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.

• Kitsap County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 614 Division St., Port Orchard WA 98366-4614
  • Courthouse hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Kitsap County Auditor
  • Birth and Death Records: 1891 to 1907
  • Marriage Records: 1860
  • Land Records: 1857
• Kitsap County Clerk
  • Court Records: 1861
  • Probate Records: 1888

Kitsap County Links

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

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

Kitsap 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)

Kitsap 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)

Kitsap Co. WA Census Records

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

Kitsap Co. WA Church & Cemeteries

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

Kitsap Co. WA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

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

Kitsap Co. WA General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Washington
• Kitsap County, Washington Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Kitsap County, Washington Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Kitsap Co. WA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Kitsap County, Washington (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Washington – Counties – Kitsap (cyndislist.com)
• Kitsap County Washington (genealogytrails.com)
• Kitsap Co. WAGenweb (theusgenweb.org)
• Kitsap County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Kitsap Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Kitsap 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.

Kitsap Co. WA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

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

Kitsap 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)