Adams County Family History Records

Adams County genealogy records go back to the county's formation in 1883, and researchers can access birth, death, marriage, land, and probate records through several sources. The Adams County Courthouse in Ritzville holds the primary records, while the Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to many older collections. Whether you are tracing a family line from the pioneer era or looking for a marriage certificate from the early 1900s, Adams County has a solid set of resources to support your search.

Adams County Genealogy at the Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives holds several Adams County collections that are free to search online. These records come from the County Auditor's office and cover the period before statewide registration took effect on July 1, 1907. They are a key resource for anyone doing Adams County family history research on early settlers.

The Adams County Auditor Birth Returns, 1894-1915 collection includes both an index and images of birth returns. It covers births before statewide registration began, plus some delayed returns filed later. When searching this collection, use the parents' names for the best results. The mother's last name will appear as her maiden name. This collection was transcribed and indexed by Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch staff and volunteers.

The Adams County Auditor Death Records, 1893-1907 collection gives you access to death returns filed before state-level registration took over in 1907. Searchable fields include the name of the deceased, the date of death, and age. These records are open with no access restrictions.

For marriage research, the Adams County Auditor Marriage Records, 1884-Present collection is the most complete source. It starts from the year after the county was formed and runs to the present day. Search by the bride or groom's name, or use the Soundex option if you are unsure of the spelling. Records after December 6, 2012 use the terms Person A and Person B to reflect the Marriage Equality Act.

The Adams County birth returns screenshot below comes from the Washington State Digital Archives collection page, showing the interface researchers use to access these pre-1907 birth records.

View the Adams County birth returns collection at the Washington State Digital Archives.

This collection is one of the primary online sources for early Adams County genealogy research, covering births from 1894 through 1915.

Adams County Courthouse Records

The Adams County Courthouse in Ritzville holds the main set of local government records. The County Auditor has birth and death records up to 1907 and marriage records going back to 1891. The County Clerk maintains divorce and probate records, and the County Assessor holds land records from 1884 onward. Most in-person research starts here.

Known beginning dates for Adams County government records are: births from 1891, marriages from 1891, deaths from 1891, court records from 1890, land records from 1884, and probate records from 1885. There is no known history of courthouse fires or major record loss in Adams County, which is a significant advantage for genealogical research. Records from the early years of the county remain relatively intact.

Note: For certified vital records, contact the Adams County Health Department directly, as they handle modern birth and death certificates separately from historical records at the auditor's office.

Adams County Vital Records Access

The Adams County Integrated Health Care Services office issues certified birth certificates for people born in Washington State from 1954 to the present, and certified death certificates for deaths in Washington from 1910 to the present. The office is located at 425 East Main Street, Suite 600, Othello, WA 99344, and can be reached at (509) 488-2031. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The fee is $25 per certified copy. Applications can be completed in the office or downloaded online. Services are available in both English and Spanish. For older birth records that fall outside the 1954-to-present window, or for death records not held by this office, researchers should turn to the Washington State Digital Archives or the Eastern Region Archives.

For pre-1907 vital records, the digital archives collections described above are your best resource. After 1907, statewide registration began, and records moved to the Washington State Department of Health. The Washington State Department of Health vital records office handles requests for state-registered birth, death, and marriage records from 1907 forward.

Eastern Region Archives for Adams County Research

The Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch serves Adams County and is the physical repository for many local government records. The branch is located in Cheney and can be reached at (509) 235-7508 or by email at eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. Staff can assist with research requests and help identify records not yet available online.

Adams County was created from Whitman County on November 28, 1883. The county's agricultural history, dominated by wheat farming on the Palouse, drew families who left behind a clear paper trail in the county's court, land, and vital records. The Eastern Region Branch holds transfers from local government agencies including county auditors, clerks, and school districts. Pre-statehood county censuses and schoolchildren censuses from approximately 1890 to 1932 are among the lesser-known collections that can fill gaps in family trees.

The FamilySearch wiki for Adams County is a good starting point for understanding what records exist and where to find them. It also provides a list of populated places including the cities of Othello and Ritzville, towns like Hatton, Lind, and Washtucna, and former communities. Researchers are directed to search the Washington State Digital Archives for census indexes and to browse the Washington, County Records, 1803-2010 collection at FamilySearch.

Adams County Historical Society and Local Resources

The Adams County Historical Society is located at Box 526, Lind, WA 99341-0526, and can be reached at 509-677-3642. The society has published the Adams County History Book in two volumes, which together contain over 300 family histories. An online index to volume 1 is available through the society. The society also maintains a Facebook page for community updates.

Researchers visiting the society may find photographs, local histories, and family genealogies that are not available anywhere online. The society's collection reflects the pioneer and agricultural heritage of Adams County and is a useful complement to the official records at the courthouse and digital archives. If you have Adams County ancestors from the late 1800s or early 1900s, this is worth a visit or a contact.

The Othello and Ritzville public libraries may also have local newspaper collections and city directories. Small-town papers often carried birth, marriage, and death notices that supplement official vital records, especially for years when registration was inconsistent or incomplete.

Note: Adams County straddles the Columbia Basin, and many residents in the southwest portion of the county may also have records in Grant or Franklin counties, depending on which jurisdiction handled specific matters.

How to Find Adams County Ancestry Records

Start with the free online collections at the Washington State Digital Archives. Search by name using the index for birth, death, and marriage records. If you get no results, try Soundex, which matches names that sound similar. This is especially useful for immigrant families whose names were spelled inconsistently in early records.

For records not online, contact the Eastern Region Archives in Cheney. Staff can tell you what physical records exist and help you arrange a research visit or a remote request. Court records, naturalization papers, and probate files are common genealogy sources that may not be fully digitized yet. Land records at the County Assessor's office can trace property ownership across generations and help establish timelines for when families arrived or moved away.

When researching Adams County family history, keep in mind that the county was carved out of Whitman County in 1883. If your ancestor lived in the area before that date, their early records may be in Whitman County. Checking nearby counties is a standard part of any thorough genealogy search in Washington State.

For census records, the federal decennial censuses from 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 cover Adams County residents and are available through FamilySearch and other genealogy platforms. The 1890 census was largely destroyed, but state and territorial censuses from around that period can help fill the gap for Washington families.

Cities in Adams County

Adams County is a largely rural county. Its main communities include Ritzville, the county seat, and Othello. Neither city meets the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Adams County borders several other eastern Washington counties. If your ancestor lived near a county line, check these nearby counties for records as well.