Skamania County Genealogy Records

Skamania County was formed in 1854 from Clark and Lewis counties and sits along the Columbia River Gorge in southwest Washington. It is one of the state's smaller counties by population, and that small size means the genealogy records here often cover a closely tied set of families whose histories run deep in the Gorge communities of Stevenson, North Bonneville, and White Salmon. Birth, marriage, and naturalization records are freely searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives, and the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch in Olympia holds the original documents. This guide points you to the key sources for Skamania County research.

Skamania County Vital Records and Archives

Skamania County was organized March 9, 1854, from Clark County. The county seat is Stevenson. The county auditor has birth records from 1893 to 1907, marriage records from 1874 to the present, and land records. The county clerk holds divorce, probate, and court records. Historical records are held by the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch in Olympia.

The Southwest Regional Branch serves Skamania County and eight others: Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, and Wahkiakum. The branch is at 1120 Washington St. SE, PO Box 40238, Olympia, WA 98504-0238. You can reach them at (360) 753-1684 or email swbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. Research hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The branch holds Skamania County Clerk civil and criminal court records from 1854, naturalization records, probate files, and county commissioner records.

There is no charge to view public archival documents at the branch. Fees apply for document copies and special research services by archives staff. Researchers can visit in person to access original case files and uncataloged holdings.

Note: For post-1907 vital records, contact the Washington State Department of Health at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501.

Skamania County Genealogy Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives holds digitized collections for Skamania County. All are free to search. Records were transferred from the Southwest Regional Branch and digitized from holdings there.

The Skamania County Auditor Birth Records, 1893-1907 contain 418 records. Information in these entries may include the child's name, parents' names, and the child's birth date. The records are open for research and cover the period from 1893 through the state's takeover of vital registration in 1907. To search, use the child's name or the parents' last names. These records are a solid starting point for Skamania County genealogy because the county's small population means fewer duplicate names.

Lead-in: The Skamania County birth records database holds 418 entries from 1893 to 1907, covering births filed with the county auditor before state registration began.

These 418 birth records represent the county auditor's registration for the period when local officials rather than the state held responsibility for vital events.

The Skamania County Auditor Marriage Records, 1905-2013 are available as an index with images. The database is searchable by groom/person A and bride/person B names with year filters and Soundex. The county auditor also holds marriage records going back to 1874, though the digitized collection covers 1905 to 2013. For marriage records outside that range, contact the Southwest Regional Branch or the county auditor directly.

Lead-in: The Skamania County marriage records database covers over a century of marriages from 1905 through 2013, with broader auditor records going back to 1874.

Marriage records here are indexed with images and searchable by both parties' names; for records before 1905, researchers should contact the Southwest Regional Branch directly.

Skamania County Naturalization Records

The Skamania County Clerk's naturalization records are one of the most useful genealogy collections for this county. The records are divided into several series available through the Digital Archives. Declarations of Intent cover 1894 to 1964. Certificate Receipts cover 1896 to 1929. Final Records cover 1903. Petitions cover 1907 to 1973. All series are searchable at digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Declarations of Intent filed before 1906 are especially valuable. They often include the nation of origin, the person's foreign and "Americanized" name, residence at the time of filing, and the date of arrival in the United States. That kind of detail can break through brick walls in immigrant research, especially when the immigrant changed their name or spelled it differently after arriving. Keep in mind that until 1922, women's citizenship in the United States was tied to that of their husbands, so you may not find separate naturalization filings for married women of this era.

The records were digitized from holdings at the Southwest Regional Branch. For questions about specific filings or uncataloged materials, contact the branch at swbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov or (360) 753-1684.

Skamania County Historical Society

The Skamania County Historical Society operates the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center at 990 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA 98648. Phone: 509-427-8211. The center's mission is to preserve, conserve, exhibit, and interpret the cultural and natural history of the Columbia River Gorge. Special collections include vital records, census records, tax records, a photography collection, and an oral history collection.

The society holds records related to Stevenson, North Bonneville, and other communities along the Gorge. Membership is available, and the society hosts exhibits and educational programs. Researchers with questions about Skamania County family history can contact the society through PO Box 396, Stevenson, WA 98648.

The FamilySearch wiki for Skamania County lists additional resources including online land records for Plats and Surveys (2008-2013), Recorded Agreements and Contracts (2008-2013), and Recorded Land Records (2008-2013; 2016-present). The wiki also notes military records including Skamania County Auditor Military Records and Indian War Muster Rolls from 1855 to 1856 at the State Archives. Local histories include Skamania County Heritage at Washington Rural Heritage.

Lead-in: The Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch in Olympia holds Skamania County civil and criminal court records from 1854 along with naturalization files and probate case records.

The Southwest Regional Branch is the main archival repository for Skamania County records and serves researchers by appointment Wednesdays through Fridays in Olympia.

Land, Probate, and Court Records

The county clerk holds divorce, probate, and court records for Skamania County. Because the county was formed in 1854, some of these records go back to the territorial period. Probate files name heirs and document family relationships in detail. The Southwest Regional Branch holds case files and original court records that are not yet digitized.

Land records are held by the county auditor and include plat maps, deeds, and surveys. The FamilySearch wiki lists online indexes for Skamania County land records covering multiple date ranges from 2008 to the present at the Washington State Digital Archives. For land records before 2008, the Southwest Regional Branch or the county auditor are the best contacts.

The county clerk also holds military records for Skamania County. The FamilySearch wiki notes Skamania County Auditor Military Records and Indian War Muster Rolls from 1855 to 1856. These records cover some of the earliest documented military activity in the county and can supplement family histories for ancestors who lived here during the territorial period.

Communities in Skamania County

Skamania County is a rural county in the Columbia River Gorge with no cities meeting the population threshold for individual city pages. Stevenson is the county seat and the main community. North Bonneville and White Salmon are other communities in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Skamania County. Families living along the Columbia River or near county lines often have records in more than one jurisdiction.