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Pierce County, Washington
Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links
Pierce County was founded on December 22, 1852 from Thurston County.
The Pierce County Seat is situated in Tacoma and the county government website is http://www.co.pierce.wa.us
Locations bordering Pierce County are King County, Yakima County, Lewis County, Thurston County, Mason County, Kitsap County.
Pierce 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 Pierce 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.
Pierce 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.
Pierce Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1870 and 1880. Pierce Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be found for 1870 and 1880. Pierce 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.
Pierce County Society and Family History Resources
A list of Pierce County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.
- Washington State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Puget Sound Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Pritchard-Fleming Bldg., 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, MS-N100, Bellevue, WA 98007-6484;
- Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society, PO Box 1952, Tacoma, WA 98401. 253.572.6640
- Anderson Island Historical Society, 9306 Otso Point Rd, Anderson Island, WA 98303. Phone 253-884-2069.
- DuPont Historical Society & Museum , 207 Barksdale Ave., DuPont, WA 98327. Phone 253-964-2399.
- Fort Nisqually Association, 5400 N. Pearl St. #11, Tacoma, WA 98407. Phone 253-591-5339.
- Fox Island Historical Society, 1017 Ninth Ave., Fox Island, WA 98333. Phone 253-549-2461.
- Historic Fort Steilacoom Association, 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood WA 98498. Phone 253-582-5838..
- Key Peninsula Historical Society & Museum, PO Box 577, Vaughn, WA 98394. Phone 253-884-6951.
- Points Northeast Historical Society, 6602 Spring St NE, Tacoma, WA 98411. Phone 253-927-3329.
- Salmon Beach Historical Commission, 46 Salmon Beach, WA 98407. Phone 253-752-7010.
- South Pierce County Historical Society, PO Box 1131, Eatonville, WA 98328. Phone 253-847-6182.
- Steilacoom Historical Museum Association , PO Box 88016, Steilacoom, WA 98388-0016. 253-584-4133.
- Sumner Historical Society, 1228 Main St., PO Box 517, Sumner, WA 98390. Phone 253-299-5780.
- Tacoma Historical Society, PO Box 1865, Tacoma, WA 98403. Phone 253-472-3738.
- Washington State Historical Society, (www.wshs.org) 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402. Phone 1-888-238-4373. Fax 253-272-9518.
- Pierce County Library System, 3005 112th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446-2215. Phone 253-536-6500.
- African American Museum, 925 Court C, Tacoma, WA 98402. Phone 253-274-1278. Fax 253-274-9644.
- Buckley Foothills Historical Society Museum, PO Box 530, 123 River Ave. , Buckley, WA 98321. Phone 360-829-1291.
- Ezra Meeker Mansion, PO Box 103, 321 Pioneer St., Puyallup, WA 98371. Phone 253-848-1770.
- Fox Island Historical Museum, PO Box 242, 1017 Ninth Ave., Fox Island, WA 98333. Phone 253-549-2461.
- Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society Museum, PO Box 744, 4218 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor, WA 98335-0744. Phone 253-858-6722.
- Historic Fort Steilacoom, Fort Steilacoom Park, 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW., Lakewood, WA 98388 (on the grounds of Western State Hospital). Phone 253-756-3928
- Pioneer Farm Museum and Ohop Indian Village, PO Box 1520, 7716 Ohop Valley Rd E, Eatonville, WA 98328. Phone 360-832-6300.
- Sumner, Washington LDS Family History Center, 512 Valley Ave, Sumner, WA. Phone 253-863-5167
- Puyallup Washington South Family History Center, 13420 94th Ave E, Puyallup, WA. Phone 253-840-1673.
- Tacoma, Washington LDS Family History Center, 1102 S. Pearl St., Tacoma, WA 98465 Phone 253-564-1103.
- Pierce County, Washington Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Pierce County, Washington Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
- Washington State Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov)
- USGenWeb Archives for Pierce County (usgwarchives.net)
Pierce County Courthouse and Government Records
Genealogist often forget the benefits of Pierce 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 Pierce 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.
- Pierce County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma WA 98402-2102
- Courthouse hours: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Pierce County Auditor
- Birth and Death Records: 1891 to 1907
- Marriage Records: 1853
- Land Records: 1858
- Pierce County Clerk
- Court Records: 1855
- Probate Records: 1855
Pierce County Links
The following are links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Pierce 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 Pierce County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.
Pierce 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!
- Pierce County, Washington Books (amazon.com)
- Search Washington Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Pierce County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Pierce Co. WA Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- Washington Vital Records Research Guide
- Pierce County Marriage Returns, 1891-1950 (familysearch.org)
- Pierce County Birth Records (1914 – 1923) (archives.com) Washington State Digital Archives
- McNeil Island Death Records (1940 – 1943) (archives.com) Washington State Digital Archives
- 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)
Pierce Co. WA Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- Washington Court Records Research Guide
- McNeil Island, Washington, U.S. Penitentiary, Photos and Records of Prisoners Received, 1875-1939 (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)
Pierce Co. WA Census Records
- Washington Census Records Research Guide
- Pierce County, WA Census Records Links
- Washington State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892 (search.ancestry.com)
Pierce Co. WA Church & Cemeteries
- Washington Church and Cemetery Research Guide
- Steilacoom Masonic Cemetery (search.ancestry.com)
- Pierce Co., Washington Graves (findagrave.com)
- Pierce County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Pierce Co., Washington Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Pierce County, Washington
- Pierce Co., Washington Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Pierce County, Washington
- Pierce County, Washington Church Books (amazon.com)
Pierce Co. WA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Washington Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Pierce Co. WA General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Washington
- Pierce County, Washington Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Commemorative celebration at Sequalitchew Lake, Pierce County, Washington, July 5th, 1906, at 2 o’clock, p.m. (search.ancestry.com)
- Tacoma illustrated (search.ancestry.com)
- Tacoma and vicinity (search.ancestry.com)
- Tacoma, the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad (search.ancestry.com)
- Pierce County, Washington Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Pierce Co. WA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Pierce County, Washington (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Washington – Counties – Pierce (cyndislist.com)
- Pierce County Washington (genealogytrails.com)
- Pierce Co. WAGenweb (wagenweb.org)
- Pierce County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Pierce Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Pierce 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.
Pierce Co. WA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Washington Links and Information
- 1895 Pierce County Map (livgenmi.com)
Pierce 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 Pierce County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.
Pierce 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.
- Tacoma, Washington Directories, 1889-91 (search.ancestry.com)
- Washington gazetteer and business directory : 1901-1902. (search.ancestry.com)