Search Spokane Valley Genealogy Records
Spokane Valley genealogy research pulls from Spokane County's deep archive of records dating back to the 1880s. Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003 from unincorporated Spokane County land, so most records for families who lived here before that date are held by the county. The Washington State Digital Archives holds free, searchable collections of Spokane County birth returns, marriage records going back to 1880, and land documents. For post-2003 municipal records, the City of Spokane Valley maintains its own archive through the City Clerk.
Spokane Valley Overview
Spokane Valley City Records
The City of Spokane Valley maintains records from its incorporation in 2003 onward. The City Clerk holds city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and public records created since the city was formed. For genealogy purposes, city records are most useful for tracking local government actions, land use decisions, and administrative matters affecting Spokane Valley families after 2003.
Before 2003, Spokane Valley was unincorporated Spokane County land. That means all records for families who lived in the area before incorporation are held by Spokane County, not the city. This includes vital records, court files, land documents, and any other official records. Researchers tracing ancestors who lived in the Spokane Valley area before the city formed must use Spokane County resources and the state archives.
The city clerk's office can process public records requests for municipal documents from 2003 forward. You can submit a request through the city's website or by contacting the clerk's office directly at the city hall in Spokane Valley.
Spokane County Records for Spokane Valley Research
Because Spokane Valley was unincorporated county land until 2003, Spokane County holds most of the historical genealogy records for this area. The Spokane County Recording office holds land records, marriage records, and other documents affecting Spokane Valley property and families. The county auditor has indexed all land records and the index is searchable online.
The Spokane County Auditor holds marriage records from 1880 to the present. Electronic copies of recent marriage applications and certificates are transferred to the Digital Archives monthly. For older marriage records, images and index data are available through the Digital Archives for free.
The Spokane County Superior Court Clerk holds divorce, probate, adoption, and civil court records. If an ancestor had a legal matter in Spokane County, the clerk's records are where you will find it. Court records for the county go back to the late 1800s, covering generations of Spokane Valley-area families long before the city existed.
Note: The Spokane County Courthouse was completed in 1895 and there is no known history of courthouse disasters, so most original records from that era are intact and accessible.
Digital Archives Collections for Spokane Valley
The Washington State Digital Archives holds free, searchable Spokane County collections that cover the Spokane Valley area across multiple record types. These collections are the best starting point for online Spokane Valley genealogy research.
The Spokane County birth returns collection covers 1890 to 1907 and contains 14,243 indexed records. It was filmed and indexed by the Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch and transcribed by volunteers from the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society. Searching by parent's last name works best in this collection.
The Digital Archives interface lets you search Spokane County records by name with optional Soundex matching for spelling variations found in older records.
Spokane County marriage records at the Digital Archives run from 1880 to the present and include index and image data for over 298,000 records, making them one of the most complete resources for Spokane Valley family history.
The City of Spokane Valley's official website provides access to city clerk records and public records request tools for documents created since the city's incorporation in 2003.
Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch
The Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch at Eastern Washington University in Cheney holds original Spokane County records that are not yet digitized. This branch serves Spokane and ten other eastern Washington counties. Collections include school census records, tax assessment rolls, court dockets and case files, photographs, maps, plats, and engineering drawings.
The branch is open for in-person research Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with a break from noon to 1 PM. The location is 960 Washington Street, Cheney, Washington 99004. You can reach staff by phone at (509) 235-7500 or by email at eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. There is no charge to view documents, but fees apply for copies.
Researchers who cannot find what they need online should consider an in-person visit or a written inquiry to the Eastern Regional Branch. Staff can help identify specific record sets and provide finding aids. Spokane County court case files and probate records from earlier decades often exist only at this branch location.
FamilySearch and Local Genealogical Resources
The FamilySearch Spokane County genealogy wiki is a useful guide for Spokane Valley research. It covers all major record types, notes which offices hold which collections, and provides direct links to digitized records. The wiki notes that the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society is the primary local society, located at PO Box 1826, Spokane, WA 99210-1826.
The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society has contributed heavily to indexing and transcription projects for Spokane County records. Society volunteers indexed and proofread the Spokane County birth returns collection and contributed to the marriage records project. The society is a good contact for research questions about specific Spokane Valley families or unfamiliar record types.
The Washington State Library genealogy guide lists databases, archives, and local resources that can supplement county-level research. The library also maintains guides to census records, military records, newspapers, and church records that often fill gaps in official archives.
Statewide Resources for Spokane Valley Genealogy
The Washington State Department of Health holds certified vital records from July 1, 1907, forward. For Spokane Valley ancestors, this means birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage and divorce indexes from that date onward are available through DOH. You can order certified copies online or by mail.
The Washington Secretary of State genealogy page links to the state archives network and finding aids for navigating records across all Washington counties. The Secretary of State oversees the archives branches, including the Eastern Regional Branch that holds Spokane County originals.
The Washington Rural Heritage project at washingtonruralheritage.org includes historical photographs, newspapers, and documents from the Spokane region. These sources can supplement official records with visual and documentary context for Spokane Valley ancestors.
Spokane County Genealogy Records
Spokane Valley is in Spokane County. Most historical genealogy records for this area, including vital records, court filings, and land documents, are held through the Spokane County system. Visit the Spokane County genealogy page for more detail on available collections and how to access them.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Spokane Valley and have their own genealogy records pages.