Find Genealogy Records in Walla Walla
Walla Walla is one of the oldest cities in Washington, and the genealogy records that survive here stretch back to the territorial era. Most records for Walla Walla families are held by Walla Walla County, which was created in 1854 and served as the parent county for much of eastern Washington. This page walks you through the key sources for birth, marriage, death, land, and court records for Walla Walla family history research.
Walla Walla Overview
Walla Walla County Auditor Records
The Walla Walla County Auditor at 315 W. Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone 509-527-3221, holds the primary genealogy records for the city. The auditor keeps marriage records from 1862, birth records from 1883, death records from 1884, land records from 1859, and court records from 1860. That is a deep collection for a Washington county.
Marriage records here are some of the oldest in the state. The county was formed in 1854 from Skamania County, and it once covered a vast area that included western Montana, northern Idaho, and all of eastern Washington. Early Walla Walla settlers' records are held in this collection. The state holds marriage records from January 1968 forward; for marriages before that date, the county auditor is the place to go.
| Office | Walla Walla County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 W. Main Street Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
| Phone | 509-527-3221 |
| Marriage Records | 1862 to present |
| Birth Records | 1883 to 1907 |
| Death Records | 1884 to 1907 |
Walla Walla County vital records from the pre-1907 era were not uniformly kept. The WAGenWeb source notes there are no records for the 1860s and only about ten records for the 1870s. The record density increases from the 1880s forward. If you are searching for ancestors from that era, be patient and use multiple sources.
Walla Walla Records Online
The Washington State Digital Archives has digitized multiple Walla Walla County record collections. Several are fully searchable at no cost. Key collections include marriage records from 1865 to 2022, marriage affidavits from 1891 to 1899 and 1917 to 1939, marriage certificates from 1922 to 1926, birth records from 1889 to 1907, and death records from 1888 to 1907.
The FamilySearch wiki for Walla Walla County lists all available online collections and their date ranges. It also links to naturalization records from 1886 to 1974, which are at the Washington State Archives. Naturalization records can be very useful for tracing immigrant ancestors who settled in Walla Walla in the late 1800s.
Land records online at the Digital Archives include recorded land records from 1986 to 2023, plats and surveys from 1994 to 2023, and recorded agreements and contracts from 1994 forward. For older land records beginning in 1859, you will need to contact the county or visit the Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch.
The image below is from the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds digitized collections for Walla Walla County genealogy research.
The Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney holds records for Walla Walla County and can assist with collections that have not yet been digitized.
Birth, Death, and Marriage Records
Vital records for Walla Walla split across several offices depending on the date. For births before July 1907, the county auditor and the Walla Walla County Health Department both hold records. The Health Department is at 310 W. Poplar, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone 509-527-3290. After July 1907, contact the Washington State Vital Records Office for births.
Death records work the same way. For deaths before July 1907, the county auditor holds the registers. The Digital Archives has an index and images of these early death records. The 1907 Walla Walla City Clerk Register of Deaths is a separate collection also available at the Digital Archives.
For divorce records, the county clerk holds records from 1860 forward. The state holds divorce records from January 1968. The Walla Walla County Clerk's courthouse address is 315 W. Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The county also holds probate records from 1859 and court records from 1860. These are rich sources for family details that don't appear in vital records alone.
The Library of Congress guide at guides.loc.gov/washington-local-history-genealogy/vital-records gives a clear breakdown of which office to contact for each record type based on date. It is a useful reference when you are unsure where to start.
Note: St Mary Medical Center at 401 West Poplar Street, Walla Walla, and Walla Walla General Hospital at 1025 South Second Avenue are local medical facilities that may hold their own historical patient records separate from state and county offices.
Washington State Archives: Eastern Branch
The Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney serves Walla Walla County. The branch holds records for Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. Collections span the territorial period to the present.
Records at the Eastern Branch 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, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM with a noon to 1 PM lunch break. The address is 960 Washington Street on the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney. The email is eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov and the phone is (509) 235-7500. There is no charge to view archival documents in person.
Researchers traveling from Walla Walla to Cheney should make advance arrangements. Staff can sometimes answer questions by phone or email before a visit and help confirm whether the records you need are held at the branch. That can save a trip if the records you need are actually elsewhere.
Local Research Resources in Walla Walla
Several local institutions hold genealogy materials specific to Walla Walla that you won't find in county or state databases. The Northwest Archives at Whitman College Library, 345 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone 509-527-5111, holds the history of Whitman College and the Walla Walla region. Their collection includes rare books, directories going back to 1881, photographs, and maps.
The Walla Walla Public Library at 238 E Alder Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone 509-527-4388, has local history and genealogy materials available to the public. Libraries often hold local newspaper collections with obituaries and birth notices that fill gaps in official vital records.
The Walla Walla Valley Genealogical Society at PO Box 115, Walla Walla, WA 99362-0003, maintains compiled research and can connect you with local volunteers who are familiar with the area's records. Genealogical societies are especially useful when you hit a dead end in official databases. Members know the local landscape, the quirks of specific collections, and where hidden sources may exist.
The city of Walla Walla itself maintains a website at wallawallawa.gov, where the City Clerk processes public records requests for municipal records including council minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. The clerk's office holds historical city records from incorporation in 1862 forward.
Walla Walla County Genealogy Records
Walla Walla city is the county seat of Walla Walla County. Nearly all vital records, land records, and court records for the city run through the county system. The county page covers all available record types, office contacts, and links to online collections.
Nearby Cities
These Washington cities are near Walla Walla. Each files genealogy records through its own county system.