Auburn Washington Genealogy Records
Auburn genealogy records are held through King County and accessed via the Washington State Digital Archives, the Puget Sound Regional Branch, and local repositories that serve the south King County area. If you are tracing family history in Auburn, you can search birth returns from 1891, marriage certificates dating to 1855, and land and court records through official county and state channels. The City of Auburn also maintains municipal records through its City Clerk office, which handles public records requests for ordinances, council minutes, and other documents relevant to Auburn families and properties.
Auburn Genealogy Overview
King County Genealogy Records for Auburn
Auburn is in King County, and that means most genealogy records tied to the city are held at the county level. King County was formed in 1852 from Thurston County, and its records go back to the territorial era. The County Auditor holds birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records dating to 1853. The County Clerk holds divorce records from 1886, probate records from 1891, and court records from 1890. There is no known history of courthouse disasters in King County, so older records have survived in good shape.
The King County Auditor's office is at 516 Third Ave., Room W-1033, Seattle, WA 98104, phone 206-296-1655. The Superior Court Clerk is at King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Ave., Room E609, Seattle, WA 98104, phone 206-296-9300. These two offices are your primary stops for vital records, court filings, and land documents tied to Auburn family history.
For genealogy research online, the King County FamilySearch wiki lists key collections including King County Auditor Birth Records 1891-1907, King County Marriage Records 1855-2017, King County Recorder Plats and Surveys 1870-present, and King County military records. It also references King County Clerk Naturalization Records 1906-1920 and probate records from 1854 to 1927.
| Office | King County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 516 Third Ave., Room W-1033, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | (206) 296-1655 |
| Superior Court Clerk | (206) 296-9300 |
| Records Available | Births 1891-1907, Marriages 1853-present, Divorce from 1886 |
Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives is one of the best free tools for Auburn genealogy research. It hosts digitized records from King County going back to the 1850s. You can search online from home without any fees or registration.
The King County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection contains 19,663 records with both index and images. Search by mother or father last name, or by the child's name. The collection is fully searchable by Soundex, gender, and year range. The South King County Genealogical Society helped transcribe and proofread these records, so the index quality is high.
The King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017 collection is one of the largest in the state, covering over 150 years of marriages. Search by groom or bride last name, first name, and year range. Records before December 6, 2012 use the terms Groom and Bride; after that date they use Person A and Person B. These records are open for research at no cost.
The City of Auburn's website at auburnwa.gov also connects researchers to the City Clerk, which maintains municipal ordinances, city council minutes, public records requests, and local election records. Researchers can submit public records requests under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) to obtain historical council proceedings, zoning decisions, and administrative records relevant to Auburn families and properties.
The Auburn City Clerk's office is a good source for municipal records from the city's incorporation onward. These records include zoning maps, building permits, and administrative decisions that can place family members in specific Auburn neighborhoods at specific times.
The Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives serves King County researchers. Contact them at (425) 564-3940 or psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for help locating records not yet available online.
The Washington State Library guide to death vital records lists the King County Auditor's death records and the Seattle-King County Health Department death records. The State Library at washstatelib.libguides.com holds early death registers in its NW Microfilm collection.
Auburn Genealogy Record Sources
The City of Auburn website provides access to the City Clerk's office for public records requests related to Auburn families and properties.
The Auburn City Clerk maintains municipal documents from the city's incorporation, a key resource for tracing Auburn family history through local government records.
The King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017 on the Washington State Digital Archives gives direct access to over 150 years of marriage certificates for Auburn and all of King County.
King County marriage records are fully searchable by name, year, and Soundex, making it easy to locate ancestors who married in the Auburn area.
The King County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection includes 19,663 records with index and images for births registered in Auburn and surrounding areas.
These birth records are searchable by parent names and child name, a valuable tool for Auburn family history researchers looking for early 20th century ancestors.
Washington State Archives and Vital Records
The Puget Sound Regional Branch of Washington State Archives serves King County, including Auburn. The branch holds birth and death records from 1891 to 1907, marriage records, court records, naturalization records, land records, county commissioner proceedings, and school district records. Contact the branch at (425) 564-3940 or psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for records not yet digitized or for research assistance.
Washington State vital records from July 1, 1907 onward are held by the Washington State Department of Health. You can order birth and death certificates through the DOH vital records office at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501, info line (360) 236-4300. Marriage certificates from January 1, 1968 onward are also available through the DOH. Certificates cost $20 each. For marriages before 1968, contact the King County Auditor directly.
Note: For death records before July 1, 1907 in King County, contact the local health department rather than the county auditor.
FamilySearch and Library Resources
FamilySearch has significant collections for King County at familysearch.org. Free to access, the site holds Washington County Records 1803-2010, which include birth register indexes 1891-1907, birth registers 1891-1907, marriage certificates, probate records, and naturalization records. King County probate records 1854-1927 are available as a searchable collection. There is also a FamilySearch Center in the south King County area that can help Auburn researchers access subscription databases for free.
The King County Library System serves Auburn residents through the Auburn branch. Library card holders can access Ancestry.com, Fold3, and other genealogy subscription databases for free at any branch location. The library also holds local history books, city directories, and newspaper archives that can place Auburn families in historical context.
Washington's legacy genealogy portal at sos.wa.gov/legacy/genealogy.aspx offers a starting point for exploring state archives holdings and links to additional resources for King County research.
How to Get Auburn Genealogy Records
Start your Auburn genealogy search at digitalarchives.wa.gov, which is free and requires no account to search. Most King County vital records before 1907 are digitized there. For records after 1907, use the DOH vital records ordering system online or by mail.
For in-person research, visit the King County Auditor or the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the State Archives. Call ahead to confirm hours and any appointment requirements. Bring photo ID and as much information as you have about the person you are researching, including full name, approximate dates, and county of residence.
The City of Auburn handles public records requests for municipal documents under RCW 42.56. Submit requests online through auburnwa.gov or by mail to the City Clerk's office. Response times vary, but the city typically acknowledges requests within five business days.
Note: Marriage certificates within the last four months should be ordered from the King County Auditor where the license was filed, not from the state DOH office.
- Birth records 1891-1907: King County Auditor or Washington State Digital Archives
- Birth records after 1907: Washington State Department of Health
- Marriage records before 1968: King County Auditor
- Marriage records after 1968: Washington State DOH
- Divorce records: King County Superior Court Clerk
- Death records after 1907: Washington State DOH
- Land and property records: King County Recorder
- Municipal records: Auburn City Clerk (auburnwa.gov)
King County Genealogy Records
Auburn is in King County, and most genealogy records for the city are held at the county level. For a full overview of the archives, offices, and collections that cover Auburn family history, visit the King County genealogy records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Auburn and share records coverage through King County archives.