Snohomish County Genealogy Records

Snohomish County holds a strong set of genealogy records for families who lived along the Puget Sound and in the river valleys north of Seattle. The county was formed in 1861 from Island and King counties, and its seat at Everett has been the center of record-keeping ever since. Birth returns, marriage registers, land deeds, probate files, court documents, and school censuses all survive for this area and are accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives, the Northwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives, and the Snohomish County offices themselves. This guide walks you through each major source so you can find what you need.

Snohomish County Vital Records and Archives

Snohomish County was created from Island and King counties on January 14, 1861. It was named for the Snohomish people who lived along the river that shares the name. The county seat is Everett. Known starting dates for government records are: Birth 1882, Marriage 1880, Death 1889, Court 1878, Land 1879, and Probate 1880. No courthouse disasters are on record, so these collections are largely intact.

The County Auditor holds birth and death records from 1891 to 1907, plus marriage records going back to 1891. For birth records before 1891 and after 1907, different sources apply. The County Clerk holds divorce records, probate files, and court records. The Auditor also records real estate documents, maps, and surveys. Snohomish County was once part of Island County, and some very early Snohomish County family records may appear in Island County records from before 1861.

For post-1907 vital records, the Washington State Department of Health holds birth and death certificates. For pre-1907 records in Snohomish County specifically, the research guide at Washington Genealogy notes that you should contact the local health department rather than the county auditor. That reflects how records were handled differently in the more populous Puget Sound counties.

Snohomish County Records in the Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to indexed and imaged Snohomish County genealogy collections. These are some of the most useful resources for remote researchers who cannot visit Everett or Bellingham in person.

The Snohomish County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1907 contain 4,593 indexed entries with scanned images. The collection includes birth returns and affidavits of births filed with the county auditor. For best results, search by parents' names rather than the child's name, because naming conventions varied. The mother's last name in these records will reflect her maiden name, which can help you find maiden name connections. The collection was transcribed and proofread by Emmalie Eckhart of the Washington State Archives.

The Digital Archives also holds Snohomish County Auditor Marriage Records from 1867-1999 and 2004-2005, with both index and images. Death records from 1891-1907 are also available. For school census data, historical school district registers and censuses for Snohomish County are indexed and searchable online. These school records can be useful for tracking families between census years and confirming residence in specific communities throughout the county.

The lead-in image below links to the Snohomish County birth records collection at the Digital Archives.

This collection covers the period from 1891 to 1907, when county auditors were responsible for recording vital events before the state took over that function.

Note: Search by parents' last name for the best results in birth record searches; mother's maiden name is used rather than her married name.

Marriage, Death, and Land Records

Snohomish County marriage records at the FamilySearch wiki go back to 1880. The county auditor marriage records for 1867-1999 and 2004-2005 are indexed and imaged in the Digital Archives. Marriage records are among the most consistent sources for genealogy work in this county because the auditor's office maintained them reliably. If you are tracing a family that moved between Snohomish County and King County or Island County in the late 1800s, cross-checking marriage records across all three counties is worth the effort.

Land records in Snohomish County go back to 1879. The County Auditor records all real estate documents, maps, and surveys. These records are held at the Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham for the older series. Probate records from 1880 onward are with the County Clerk. Probate files often include family details such as names of heirs, ages, and relationships that do not appear in vital records. Court records from 1878 are also with the County Clerk and may include naturalization filings, civil cases, and other family matters.

The image below links to the Snohomish County official website.

The county website provides current contact information and access details for all county offices that hold records relevant to genealogy research.

Northwest Regional Branch Archives

The Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham serves Snohomish County researchers. The branch holds original records transferred from county offices including birth and death records from January 1891 to July 1907, marriage records, naturalization records, court dockets, civil and criminal case files, probate case files, land records including general indices to deeds and patents, county commissioner proceedings, and school district records including school censuses.

The branch is located at 808 25th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Phone is (360) 650-3125. In-person research is available Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only. The office is closed for in-person visits on Mondays and Tuesdays, though phone and email contacts are welcome those days. Hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no charge to view public archival documents; fees apply for document copies and special research services by Archives staff.

Note: Always call or email ahead before visiting the Northwest Regional Branch since appointments are required for in-person research days.

Local Research Organizations and Libraries

Snohomish County has an active local genealogy and historical community. The Washington State Library research guide for this county lists a large number of organizations that hold records, artifacts, or research assistance relevant to family history. The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society and the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society are two of the primary genealogy-focused groups in the area. Both have members willing to help with research inquiries and may hold local indexes not available elsewhere.

Other resources listed in the Washington State Library guide for Snohomish County include the Everett Museum of History, Everett Public Library, Darrington Historical Society, Edmonds Historical Museum, Granite Falls Historical Museum, Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage Association, Marysville Historical Society, Monroe Historical Society and Museum, Mukilteo Historical Society, Snohomish Historical Society, and the Stanwood Area Historical Society. Each may hold local records, photographs, and family files not found in state archives.

The University of Washington Digital Collections holds the Everett Massacre of 1916 Collection, which may be relevant if your Snohomish County research involves labor history or families connected to that event.

The image below links to another Snohomish County genealogy collection at the Washington State Digital Archives.

The Digital Archives hosts multiple Snohomish County record sets that can be searched for free from any location with internet access.

FamilySearch and Online Tools

The FamilySearch wiki for Snohomish County is a solid starting point for planning your research. It lists specific record sets, date ranges, repository locations, and links to online collections. The wiki notes that FamilySearch holds Washington County Records from 1803 to 2010, which includes birth register indexes 1891-1907, birth registers 1891-1907, and birth returns 1891-1906 for Snohomish County. These records parallel what the Digital Archives holds and can serve as a backup source if one database is unavailable.

Several FamilySearch Centers are located in the Snohomish County area and provide free access to Ancestry subscription databases, FamilySearch collections, and other research tools. Check FamilySearch.org directly to find the nearest center. These centers can be especially useful for accessing records that are not yet digitized or that require a subscription to view.

The Washington Genealogy vital records guide notes that for records before July 1, 1907 in Snohomish County, contact the local health department. This is an important distinction from most other Washington counties where the county auditor holds pre-1907 records. The Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 handles state-level vital records from 1907 onward.

Cities in Snohomish County

Snohomish County covers a wide area with numerous communities. The cities below have their own genealogy resource pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Snohomish County. Ancestors who lived near county lines may have records in neighboring jurisdictions.