Find Genealogy Records in Kent
Kent genealogy research begins with King County records held at the county auditor and superior court clerk, along with digitized collections at the Washington State Digital Archives. Kent was incorporated in 1890 and has a long history in the Green River Valley, making it one of King County's older communities. The county holds birth records from 1891-1907, marriage records from 1853, and divorce and court filings dating to the 1880s and 1890s. Many of these collections are searchable online for free, which lets you build a foundation for your Kent family history before visiting county offices in Seattle.
Kent Overview
Kent Family History and County Records
Kent is in King County, which was created from Thurston County on December 22, 1852. The county seat is Seattle. King County has one of the richest genealogical record collections in Washington State, with marriage records going back to 1853 and birth records from 1891. For Kent researchers, the most important offices are the King County Auditor (marriage and land records) and the King County Superior Court Clerk (divorce, probate, and court records).
The County Auditor's Office is located at 516 Third Ave., Room W-1033, Seattle, WA 98104, phone (206) 296-1655. The Superior Court Clerk is at the King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Ave, Room E609, Seattle, WA 98104-2386, phone (206) 296-9300. Both offices handle records for all King County communities, including Kent. The King County Recorder's Office is at 500 Fourth Ave, Room 311, Seattle, WA 98104, and their website has marriage and deed records on microfilm and microfiche.
Kent's City Clerk keeps municipal records for the city including council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and public records. You can find public records request information on the City of Kent website. The clerk holds records from incorporation in 1890 to the present. These municipal documents can round out a family history by showing where ancestors lived and what properties they owned within city limits.
Kent Genealogy Records at Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides free access to digitized King County records. Two major collections are directly useful for Kent ancestry research.
The King County Auditor, Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection includes index and images of the birth register kept by the county auditor. The majority of records fall between 1891 and 1907. Some include affidavits of correction. The record count is 19,663. For best results, search by parents' names. The database allows searching by Mother, Father, Child, Soundex, Gender, and Year Range. These records were transcribed and proofread by members of the South King County Genealogical Society Extractions Committee. The Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives at (425) 564-3940 can assist with questions.
The King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017 collection includes marriage certificates recorded by the county auditor across more than 150 years. The database is searchable by Groom or Person A and Bride or Person B names, with marriage year range filters and Soundex options. Prior to December 6, 2012, the terms Groom and Bride are used; after that date they are Person A and Person B.
The Washington State Library's death vital records guide notes that King County Auditor death records from 1891-1907 and Seattle Municipal Health Department death records from 1881-1907 are also available. The State Library holds these early death registers in its NW Microfilm collection.
Kent and King County Genealogy Sources
The Washington State Digital Archives hosts the King County Auditor Birth Records from 1891-1907. The image below is from that collection page, showing the search interface available for Kent-area family history research.
With nearly 20,000 records in this collection, researchers have a good chance of finding early Kent-area birth registrations for ancestors who lived in the Green River Valley.
King County marriage records dating back to 1855 are also digitized and searchable. This image shows the county marriage records collection at the Digital Archives, which covers over 150 years of Kent and King County marriages.
The marriage collection is one of the oldest and largest in Washington State, making it an excellent resource for Kent genealogy back to the county's earliest years.
King County Archives and Research Centers
The FamilySearch Wiki for King County, Washington is a thorough guide to available records and where they are held. The wiki lists King County Auditor Birth Records 1891-1907, King County Marriage Records 1855-2017, King County Recorder Plats and Surveys 1870-Present, King County Recorder Military Records, and King County Historical School Districts, Registers and Censuses 1890-1936. For naturalization research, it notes King County Clerk Naturalization Records 1906-1920. For probate, Washington King County Probate Records 1854-1927 are at FamilySearch.
The wiki also identifies local research facilities including King County Archives, Seattle Public Library, and the King County Library System. The Kent library system has branches near the city and provides access to genealogy databases including Ancestry.com and other online resources. FamilySearch Centers in the area offer free access to FamilySearch databases and microfilm collections.
For death records and recent vital records, the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics issues certified copies of birth and death certificates from July 1, 1907 forward. The center is at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501, phone (360) 236-4300. The DOH vital records page explains the ordering process for recent certificates.
The Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch serves King County. The branch can be reached at (425) 564-3940 or psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. Staff can help locate records not available online and assist with questions about what collections exist for Kent and King County.
King County Genealogy Records
Kent is located in King County, and county-level records are the core of most Kent genealogy research. The King County page covers the auditor, court clerk, archives, and other resources in detail.
Nearby Cities
These King County and nearby cities may hold records relevant to Kent family history research.