Spokane County, Washington

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

Spokane County was founded on January 29, 1858 from part of Walla WaIla County.

The Spokane County Seat is situated in Spokane and the county government website is http://www.spokanecounty.org/

Locations bordering Spokane County are Stevens County (nortwest), Lincoln County, Pend Oreille County, Whitman County, Bonner County, Idaho (norteast), Kootenai County, Idaho, Benewah County, Idaho.

Spokane 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 Spokane 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.

Spokane 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.

Spokane 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.

Spokane County Society and Family History Resources

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

• Washington State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Washington State Archives, Eastern Washington Regional Archives, 960 Washington Street, Cheney, Washington 99004; Telephone: (509)235-7508. On the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney
• Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, PO Box 1826, Spokane, WA 99210-1826.
• Inland Empire Railway Historical Society, PO Box 3950, Spokane, WA 99220. Phone 509-982-2389.
• Rockford Historical Society, PO Box 107, Rockford, WA 99030.
• Southeast Spokane County Historical Society & Museum, PO Box 426, E 300 Main St, Fairfield, WA 99012. Phone 509-283-2193.
• Spokesman-Review Newspaper, Reference Library, PO Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-2160. Phone 509-459-5468.
• Spokane County Library, 4322 N Argonne Rd, Spokane, WA 99212-1853. Phone 59-924-4122.
• Spokane Public Library, 906 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201-0976. Phone 509-444-5300. EWGS Holdings are here at the Spokane Public Library
• Spokane East Family History Center, E 13608 40th Ave, Spokane, WA. Phone 509-926-0551.
• Spokane Family History Center, 1717 E 30th Ave, Spokane, WA. Phone 509-455-7164.
• Spokane North Family History Center, 401 West Regina, Spokane, WA. Phone 509-466-4633.
• Spokane West Family History Center, 10405 West Melville Road, Cheney, WA. Phone 509-455-9735.
• Spokane County, Washington Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Spokane County, Washington Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• Washington State Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov)
• USGenWeb Archives for Spokane County (usgwarchives.net)

Spokane County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist often forget the benefits of Spokane 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 Spokane 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.

• Spokane County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane WA 99260-0100
  • Courthouse hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Spokane County Auditor
  • Birth and Death Records: 1882 to 1907
  • Marriage Records: 1880
  • Land Records: 1879
• Spokane County Clerk
  • Court Records: 1880
  • Probate Records: 1878

Spokane County Links

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

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

Spokane 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)

Spokane Co. WA Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• Washington Court Records Research Guide
• Inventory of the county archives of Washington, no. 32. Spokane County (search.ancestry.com)
• 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)

Spokane Co. WA Census Records

• Washington Census Records Research Guide
• 1880 census, Spokane County, Washington Territory (search.ancestry.com)
• Spokane County, WA Census Records Links
• Washington State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892 (search.ancestry.com)

Spokane Co. WA Church & Cemeteries

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

Spokane Co. WA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

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

Spokane Co. WA General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Washington
• Spokane County, Washington Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• An illustrated history of Spokane County, state of Washington (search.ancestry.com)
• Spokane and the Spokane country : pictorial and biographical : deluxe supplement. (search.ancestry.com)
• Spokane County, Washington Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Spokane Co. WA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Spokane County, Washington (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Washington – Counties – Spokane (cyndislist.com)
• Spokane County Washington (genealogytrails.com)
• Spokane Co. WAGenweb (washingtongenealogy.com)
• Spokane County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Spokane Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Spokane 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.

Spokane Co. WA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

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

Spokane Co. WA Schools & Directories

• Spokane, Washington Directories, 1889-93 (search.ancestry.com)
• 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)