Des Moines Genealogy Records
Genealogy research in Des Moines, Washington runs through King County, which holds the historical vital records, court files, land documents, and archives that trace families in this waterfront community. Des Moines was incorporated in 1959, so the bulk of local genealogical material predating that event is found in King County records rather than any city repository. This guide walks you through the main sources, from the Washington State Digital Archives to the King County Auditor, so you can find the records that matter most to your search.
Des Moines Overview
Des Moines City Genealogy Records
The City of Des Moines maintains its own municipal archives, which are a useful stop for records created after incorporation in 1959. The City Clerk's office holds city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and public records. You can contact the clerk to make a public records request for any municipal document under RCW 42.56. Staff can direct you to the right file or tell you whether older records were transferred to King County.
For genealogy work, the most useful municipal records tend to be building permits, annexation files, and land use decisions that document when and where families lived. These records are not the same as vital records, but they can place an ancestor at a specific address during a specific period. The City Clerk's office is the right starting point for any records tied to city government actions after 1959. The city's main website at desmoineswa.gov lists contact details and explains how to submit a public records request.
Pre-incorporation records are a different matter. Before 1959, the area that is now Des Moines was part of unincorporated King County. All vital records, land documents, and court filings from that era are held by King County agencies or the Washington State Archives.
King County Birth and Marriage Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives is the primary online source for historical genealogy records tied to the Des Moines area. Because Des Moines sits in King County, its earliest residents appear in King County record collections that span back to the mid-1800s.
The King County Marriage Records, 1855 to 2017 collection is one of the most comprehensive in the state. It covers over 150 years of marriages recorded by the King County Auditor and is fully searchable by bride and groom name, marriage year range, and Soundex. If your ancestor married anywhere in King County during that period, this is the place to look.
The Digital Archives provides free access to this collection, with index and images available for each marriage certificate. Researchers can search directly through the portal without any subscription or login.
The King County Auditor Birth Records, 1891 to 1907 collection contains 19,663 records covering births registered with the county before the state took over vital registration on July 1, 1907. For best results, search by parents' names rather than the child's name. The mother's last name in this database reflects her maiden name. Records were transcribed and proofread by the South King County Genealogical Society Extractions Committee, so accuracy is generally good.
Digital Archives Collections for Des Moines
Beyond birth and marriage records, the Washington State Digital Archives holds land records, plat maps, military records, school censuses, and naturalization files tied to King County. Browsing by collection rather than by name can reveal record types you might not have thought to search.
This collection view shows the range of historical materials available through the Digital Archives for King County research, including records useful for tracing Des Moines area families back through the county's early decades.
The FamilySearch Wiki entry for King County, Washington Genealogy provides a detailed list of online and in-person resources. It notes that the County Clerk has divorce records from 1886, probate records from 1891, and court records from 1890. The County Auditor has birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records from 1853. Local research facilities listed include the King County Archives, Seattle Public Library, and King County Library System.
Note: For birth and death records after July 1, 1907, contact the Washington State Department of Health rather than the county auditor.
City Website and Public Records Requests
The official Des Moines city website connects residents and researchers to municipal services including the City Clerk's records division. Public records requests follow the process set by Washington's Public Records Act.
The City Clerk responds to public records requests for documents created by city government from 1959 onward. This includes meeting minutes, land use files, permits, and municipal ordinances that can help confirm an ancestor's residence or property ownership in Des Moines.
Washington State Vital Records Access
Statewide vital registration began on July 1, 1907, when the Washington State Department of Health took over recording births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. For any event after that date, the Department of Health is the main source for certified copies. The DOH holds birth and death certificates from 1907 to the present, and marriage and divorce records from January 1, 1968, to the present.
You can order records through the Washington State Department of Health vital records portal. Fees are $20 to $25 per certified copy. For events before statewide registration, the DOH refers researchers back to county auditors or to the Washington State Archives regional branches.
The Legacy Washington genealogy gateway maintained by the Secretary of State's office provides free access to indexes of births (1907 to 1929), deaths (1907 to 2000), marriages (1968 to 2004), and divorces (1968 to 1999). These indexes are searchable online and can confirm whether a record exists before you order a certified copy.
For records in the gap between county registration and state registration, the Washington State Digital Archives fills in much of the overlap. The archives also holds digitized copies of the early state vital records going back to 1907 through the digital portal at digitalarchives.wa.gov.
Land and Property Records in Des Moines
Property records are one of the most reliable tools for placing ancestors at specific locations. For Des Moines area families, land records fall under King County jurisdiction. The King County Recorder's Office at the King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave, Room 311, Seattle, WA 98104, holds deed records, plat maps, mortgages, liens, and survey records. The King County Recorder website at kingcounty.gov/business/Recorders provides online access to marriage and deed records on microfilm and microfiche.
Through the Washington State Digital Archives, researchers can access King County Recorder Plats and Surveys from 1870 to the present, along with military records and historical school district registers and censuses from 1890 to 1936. These collections are free to search online and often show property boundaries, neighborhood development timelines, and land ownership chains that help connect family trees to specific Des Moines area parcels.
Note: When searching early land records for the Des Moines area, keep in mind that most of the area was unincorporated King County. Land was subdivided and sold under county plat systems long before the city was formed.
Research Help for Des Moines Genealogy
Several regional organizations support genealogy research in and around Des Moines. The South King County Genealogical Society has been active in indexing and transcribing King County records, including the birth records held in the Digital Archives. Their work has directly improved the accuracy and searchability of the King County birth records collection from 1891 to 1907.
The Washington State Library genealogy research guides offer detailed finding aids for vital records, newspapers, directories, military records, and naturalizations. The library holds microfilm copies of many pre-1907 county registers and can assist with interlibrary loan requests for harder-to-find materials.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org maintains a free digital collection that includes King County court records, naturalization files, and probate records. The Washington, King County Probate Records 1854 to 1927 collection is available through FamilySearch and is particularly useful for tracing property and estates. The Washington State Genealogical Society also maintains a directory of local societies and research guides across all 39 counties.
The Washington Rural Heritage program provides access to digitized photographs, documents, and local history materials from libraries and museums across the state. Collections are browsable by county, making it easy to find community photographs and records from the south King County area.
King County Genealogy Records
Des Moines is in King County, and the county is the primary custodian of historical genealogy records for this area. The King County Superior Court Clerk holds divorce and court records going back to 1886, while the King County Auditor holds birth, death, and marriage records from the pre-1907 era. For a full overview of what King County holds and how to access it, visit the King County genealogy records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Des Moines. Each has its own genealogy records page with local research details.