Lewis County Genealogy Records

Lewis County genealogy records cover one of the oldest counties in Washington, formed from Thurston County in 1854. The county seat is Chehalis, and records are held by the County Auditor, the County Clerk, the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch, and the Lewis County Historical Society Museum and Library on Front Street in Chehalis. Birth registers, marriage certificates, and death records from the late 1800s are searchable online through the state's Digital Archives. If your family roots go back to the timber, rail, and farming communities of southwestern Washington, Lewis County records offer a rich source of genealogy information.

Lewis County Records in the Digital Archives

The Washington State Archives Digital Archives hosts three key Lewis County collections. The Lewis County Auditor Birth Register, 1891-1907 covers births recorded from June 1891 to February 1906. This is the period when county auditors were responsible for vital registration before the state took over. When searching, use the parents' last name rather than the child's name. The mother's maiden name is what you will find in these records. The collection was transcribed and proofread by Historical Records Project volunteers Kathy Lester, Eileen and Norman Dodge, and Ann Stroupe.

The Lewis County Auditor Marriage Records, 1847-2022 is one of the longest-running marriage record sets in southwestern Washington. The collection includes both indexes and images of marriage certificates. You can search by groom or bride name, with a year range filter and Soundex option. Prior to December 6, 2012, the terms "Groom" and "Bride" are used. After that date, "Person A" and "Person B" apply. The records are open for public research.

The Lewis County Auditor Death Records, 1891-1906 includes index and images for death returns filed with the county auditor. Each record notes the name, place, date, and cause of death. These were imaged by the Genealogical Society of Utah and indexed by the Eastern Regional Branch. They are free to access and open for research.

The image below is from the Digital Archives marriage records collection for Lewis County.

This collection spans from 1847 to 2022 and covers all marriages recorded by the Lewis County Auditor across more than 175 years.

Southwest Regional Branch Archives

The Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch serves Lewis County researchers. The branch can be reached at (360) 753-1684 or by email at swbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. Staff at this branch hold the original microfilm for Lewis County vital and probate records and can assist researchers in locating records that are not yet available online.

The Southwest Branch's holdings include birth and death records from before 1907, marriage records, naturalization records, probate files, and civil court records. For Lewis County families, probate records are especially valuable because they often name heirs, spouses, and children in detail. Court records can also show land disputes or estate matters that reveal family relationships not documented elsewhere.

The Washington State Library's genealogy guide for Lewis County identifies the county assessor as the repository for property records and the county auditor as the recorder of real estate documents, maps, and surveys. Divorce decrees are held at the county superior court clerk's office. The guide links to the Lewis County Genealogical Society, the Lewis County Historical Museum, and the state archives branch as the key starting points for research.

The image below is from the Digital Archives death records collection for Lewis County, covering 1891 to 1906.

Death records from this period record the full name, place, date, and cause of death for individuals who died in Lewis County during the county auditor registration era.

Lewis County Historical Society Museum

The Lewis County Historical Society Museum and Library at 599 Front Street in Chehalis is one of the key resources for county genealogy. The society's collections include local histories, family genealogies, photographs, and newspapers. It also holds records from communities throughout the county: Centralia, Chehalis, Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Onalaska, Packwood, PeEll, Randle, Toledo, and Winlock are all represented.

The museum maintains an index of Lewis County cemeteries and gravestones, which can help when vital records are missing or incomplete. The society also publishes local history materials that may be the only printed source for certain family histories. Researchers can access the archives by appointment or during posted public hours.

Note: The Lewis County Historical Society Museum holds materials that are not available through online databases. A visit or written inquiry is often necessary for deep family research in this area.

Lewis County Genealogical Society

The Lewis County Genealogical Society maintains a list of cemeteries in the area and provides access to burial indexes through Find-A-Grave. The society's website hosts photographs and maps relevant to Lewis County family history. Members and visitors can access resources including census transcriptions, marriage records, military histories, naturalizations, newspapers, obituaries, probate court records, and wills.

The society works closely with the Longview Public Library and other regional institutions to preserve genealogy collections. It offers research assistance and publishes finding aids for Lewis County records. If you are doing deep research in the county, getting in touch with the society can save time by pointing you to the right collection.

The image below comes from the Lewis County Historical Society Museum and Library in Chehalis.

The museum holds family genealogies, local histories, photographs, and newspaper archives that are not available through any digital database.

Birth Register and Pre-1907 Records

Lewis County was formed in 1854 from Thurston County. It was first called Sawamish before being renamed. Statewide birth and death registration began on July 1, 1907, but actual compliance across Washington counties took several more years. This means that some births and deaths from the early 1900s may not appear in any official register. The birth register held by the county auditor covers the years before state registration, from 1891 to about 1906.

When researching births before 1907, you may need to consult multiple sources to confirm a birth date or parentage. Church records, family Bibles, and cemetery markers can supplement the official registers. The Southwest Regional Branch and the historical society both have resources that can fill these gaps.

The image below is from the Digital Archives birth register collection for Lewis County.

The birth register covers the years when Lewis County auditor staff collected and filed birth returns before the state assumed responsibility in 1907.

Cities in Lewis County

Lewis County includes Chehalis, Centralia, Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Toledo, Winlock, and many other communities. None currently have individual city genealogy pages. All genealogy records for these communities go through Lewis County offices.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lewis County. Many families in southwestern Washington moved between these areas, so checking adjacent county records is often worth the effort.