Columbia County Genealogy Records

Columbia County genealogy research centers on Dayton, the county seat in southeast Washington, where records date back to 1875 when the county split from Walla Walla County. Marriage records go back to 1853, well before the county was formally created, and the Washington State Digital Archives holds thousands of Columbia County birth, marriage, and death records free to search online. The Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney also holds original documents transferred from county offices, including naturalization records, probate files, and court records. This guide covers the main sources for Columbia County family history work.

Columbia County Courthouse and Offices

The Columbia County Courthouse is at 341 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328, phone (509) 382-4321. The County Auditor's office maintains marriage records starting in 1879, land records starting in 1879, and birth and death records from 1891 to 1906. The County Clerk maintains divorce records from 1878, probate records from 1877, and court records from 1878. The Clerk's office also holds naturalization records from 1890 to 1941. These naturalization records are especially valuable for Columbia County genealogy researchers because they document the exact origins of immigrant settlers in the area.

Columbia County was carved from Walla Walla County on November 11, 1875. However, the auditor's marriage records go back to 1853 because residents in what is now Columbia County were filing records with Walla Walla County before the split. Some of the earliest records reflect the territorial settlement of the region before formal county boundaries were drawn. The FamilySearch wiki notes that known beginning dates for government records include birth in 1891, marriage in 1876, death in 1891, court in 1891, land in 1864, and probate in 1891. No courthouse disasters are recorded for this county.

For post-1907 vital records, contact the Washington State Department of Health. The state took over birth and death registration on July 1, 1907.

Columbia County Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives holds several Columbia County genealogy collections. All are free to search online, and most include images of the original documents.

The Columbia County Auditor Marriage Records, 1876-2003 is the largest and most important collection in the Digital Archives for this county. It contains 8,776 records covering marriage returns and certificates from 1876 through 2003. After digitization and indexing at the Eastern Region Branch, the original records were returned to the auditor's office. The database is searchable by groom or Person A (last name, first name, middle name) and bride or Person B, with a marriage year range filter and Soundex. The collection was transcribed and imaged by Eastern Region Branch staff and volunteers from the Eastern Washington Genealogy Society.

The Columbia County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1906 contains 653 records from the county's birth register. Information includes the child's name, birthdate, birthplace, sex, parents' names and places of birth, and race. The records were digitized and indexed by the Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch. For questions, contact the branch at (509) 235-7508 or eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov.

Lead-in: The Washington State Digital Archives Columbia County collection provides access to digitized records from the county's vital registration period.

These digitized collections allow Columbia County genealogy researchers to search from any location before planning a trip to Dayton or the Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney.

Marriage Affidavits and Death Records

The Columbia County Auditor Marriage Affidavits, 1904-1939 is a supplemental collection that researchers sometimes miss. Marriage affidavits are sworn statements made by parties applying for a marriage license. They may contain additional genealogical information not found in the certificate itself, including statements about prior marriages, ages, and place of birth. This collection is open for research and is worth searching alongside the main marriage records.

Death records for Columbia County begin in 1891. The Digital Archives holds a death records collection for the county. For deaths between 1891 and 1907, the county auditor was responsible for maintaining the register. For deaths after June 30, 1907, contact the Washington State Department of Health. The Eastern Regional Branch may also hold early death records transferred from the county auditor's office that are not yet fully digitized.

Lead-in: The Columbia County death records collection at the Digital Archives covers the pre-1907 county registration period for deaths in the Dayton area.

Checking death records alongside birth and marriage records can help fill gaps in a Columbia County family history, especially for the period before 1907.

Note: The Digital Archives collection at TitleInfo/522 contains additional Columbia County records worth checking when searching for ancestors in this area.

Naturalization and Probate Records

Columbia County holds naturalization records from 1890 to 1941 through the County Clerk's office. The FamilySearch wiki lists Columbia County Clerk Naturalization Records (1890-1941), Registers of Declarations of Intent (1890-1941), and Journals of Naturalization Orders (1890-1906) as distinct record sets. These documents can be extremely useful for tracing immigrant ancestors. A declaration of intent, sometimes called "first papers," was typically filed a few years before the final naturalization order. The two documents together give you name, age, country of origin, date of arrival, and sometimes details about the applicant's family.

Probate records in Columbia County begin in 1877. The County Clerk holds these files. Probate case files often name heirs by full name, list relationships, and describe property. Court records begin in 1878. Both record types can add context to what you find in vital records. The Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney holds records transferred from the courthouse, including some probate and court files. Contact the branch at (509) 235-7508 before visiting to confirm record availability.

Historical Resources for Columbia County Research

The FamilySearch wiki for Columbia County lists the Illustrated History of Southeastern Washington (1906) as an online resource. This type of county history often includes biographical sketches of early settlers and prominent families, which can provide context and clues for family history research. If an ancestor was well known in Dayton or the surrounding area, they may appear in these early county histories.

The Eastern Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives is located in Cheney and serves Columbia County along with other eastern Washington counties. The branch digitized and indexed the Columbia County birth and marriage records now available through the Digital Archives. Staff there can assist with records not yet digitized or with complex research requests. Hours are limited, so contact the branch at (509) 235-7508 or email eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov before planning an in-person visit.

Lead-in: The additional Columbia County records in the Digital Archives supplement the birth and marriage collections with other document types from the county's history.

These supplemental collections round out the picture for researchers working through multiple record types in Columbia County family history.

Cities in Columbia County

Columbia County is a small, rural county centered on Dayton. No cities in Columbia County meet the population threshold for a dedicated genealogy page, but all community records are held at the courthouse at 341 E. Main St. and the Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney.

Nearby Counties

Columbia County borders several other southeast Washington counties. Researchers with ancestors near a county line should check neighboring jurisdictions for additional records.