Bothell Genealogy Records
Bothell sits on the border of King and Snohomish counties, which means genealogy research here requires checking two separate county record systems. Births, marriages, land transfers, and court cases from the Bothell area may appear in either county's archives depending on exactly where the event occurred and when. This guide walks you through both county systems, the state digital archives, local library collections, and other sources that hold records tied to Bothell families from the late 1800s forward.
Bothell Overview
Bothell Genealogy and the Dual-County Challenge
Bothell is one of the few Washington cities that straddles a county line. The city spans both King and Snohomish counties. For genealogists, this matters a lot. Land records, probate filings, court cases, and early vital records were each filed at the county courthouse serving that part of town. If you are not sure which side of the line your ancestor lived on, you may need to search both counties.
The city clerk at bothellwa.gov maintains municipal records from the city's incorporation onward. These include council minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. For genealogy purposes, city clerk records are less central than county records, but they can help confirm addresses, business licenses, and property matters that tie a family to a specific location in the city.
King County keeps the older of the two record systems in terms of depth. The county was formed in 1852, and the County Auditor has birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records going back to 1853. The County Clerk holds divorce records from 1886 and probate records from 1891. Snohomish County was created in 1861, and its records overlap with King County's for the Bothell area but follow slightly different collection boundaries. Researchers often need to check both.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best starting point for both counties. It holds digitized birth registers, marriage certificates, and other early vital records from both King and Snohomish counties, many of them searchable by name.
King County Genealogy Records for Bothell
For the King County portion of Bothell, the main record repositories are the King County Archives, the County Auditor's Office, and the Washington State Digital Archives. King County's records are among the largest in the state, covering the most populous county in Washington.
The King County Auditor, Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection at the Digital Archives contains 19,663 records. Search by parents' names for the best results. The mother's last name in these early records will be her maiden name. The collection was transcribed by members of the South King County Genealogical Society. King County was created from Thurston County in 1852 and renamed in 2005 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the original namesake was Vice President Rufus King.
Marriage records for King County are broad. The King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017 collection covers over 150 years of weddings. The database is searchable by groom or bride name, marriage year, and Soundex. For records from 1855 through early statehood, this is often the only digital source available. The Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch at (425) 564-3940 or psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov can help with questions about these records.
The King County FamilySearch Wiki lists many additional resources: naturalization records 1906-1920, probate records 1854-1927, historical school district registers and censuses 1890-1936, military records, and plats and surveys from 1870 forward. Local research facilities listed include the King County Archives and Seattle Public Library.
Note: The RootsWeb guide for King County lists the County Auditor's Office at 516 Third Ave., Room W-1033, Seattle, WA 98104, phone (206) 296-1655, and the Superior Court Clerk's Office at King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Ave., Room E609, Seattle, WA 98104-2386, phone (206) 296-9300.
Bothell Records at the Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives holds collections specific to both King and Snohomish counties that include records tied to the Bothell area. The Digital Archives website allows free searching of indexed records with name, date, and Soundex options.
The Bothell-area collections at the Digital Archives include birth and death registers, marriage certificates, and land records spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These collections were digitized from original county records and microfilm holdings at the regional archives branches.
The Digital Archives interface lets you search across multiple collections at once, which is especially useful for Bothell given the dual-county structure. You can filter results by county to see whether a record was filed in King or Snohomish.
The City of Bothell website provides access to the City Clerk's office for public records requests covering municipal documents from incorporation forward. For genealogy-focused research, the clerk's records complement rather than replace county records.
The city clerk processes records requests under Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). You can submit requests online, by mail, or in person at Bothell City Hall.
Another useful Digital Archives collection for this area is King County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1907. Given Bothell's position on the King-Snohomish boundary, researchers should check both county-specific collections when searching for early family records.
These birth records are indexed by the names of the child's parents, which is often more useful than searching by the child's name alone for records from this era.
Snohomish County Genealogy Records for Bothell
The Snohomish County portion of Bothell falls under county records maintained in Everett, the county seat. Snohomish County was created from Island and King counties on January 14, 1861. The county auditor holds birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records from 1891. The county clerk has divorce, probate, and court records.
The Snohomish County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection at the Digital Archives contains 4,593 records. These are birth returns and affidavits filed with the county auditor. Search by parents' names for best results. The Northwest Regional Branch at (360) 650-3125 or nwbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov can assist with questions about these records and related Snohomish County collections.
For Snohomish County marriage records, the Snohomish County FamilySearch Wiki notes that marriage records from 1867-1999 and 2004-2005 are at the Washington State Archives with index and images. Death records from 1891-1907 are also available through the Archives. The Washington State Library guide at washstatelib.libguides.com lists the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk as the keeper of divorce decrees.
The Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham holds extensive Snohomish County records. The branch is located at 808 25th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, phone (360) 650-3125. In-person research is by appointment only, Wednesdays through Fridays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. There is no charge to view public archival documents; fees apply for copies.
Statewide Vital Records Tied to Bothell Families
For vital records after July 1, 1907, statewide registration took over from county-level recording. Birth and death records from that date forward are held by the Washington State Department of Health. Marriage records from January 1, 1968 onward are also available through the state.
The Washington Genealogy vital records guide notes that for records before July 1, 1907 in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Whatcom counties, researchers should contact the local health department. For all other counties, contact the county auditor. For recent marriage certificates from the last four months, contact the county auditor where the license was filed. For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present, order through the Center for Health Statistics at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org maintains a Washington State Genealogy wiki with links to county-specific collections for both King and Snohomish counties. The Washington Secretary of State's Office genealogy page at sos.wa.gov also provides links to statewide and county-level genealogy resources.
Note: The Washington State Library genealogy guide at washstatelib.libguides.com/genealogy is a good entry point for researchers who want an overview of all available Washington State genealogy resources before diving into specific county collections.
King and Snohomish County Genealogy Records
Bothell straddles two counties. Depending on where your ancestor lived within the city, records may be filed in King County or Snohomish County. Visit both county pages for a full picture of available resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Bothell. Each has its own county genealogy system and record collections.