Wahkiakum County Genealogy Records

Wahkiakum County is one of Washington's smallest counties, but its genealogy records go back to the county's founding in 1854, well into the territorial period. Sitting at the confluence of the Columbia River in the state's southwestern corner, the county holds birth returns, death records, marriage certificates, land records, and a rich naturalization collection at both the county offices and the Southwest Regional Branch Archives in Olympia. This guide covers the key resources for searching Wahkiakum County family history.

Wahkiakum County Vital Records and County Offices

Wahkiakum County was created from Cowlitz County on April 24, 1854. It was named for Chief Wahkiakum ("Tall Timber") of the Chinook, who is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Cathlamet. The Wahkiakum County Courthouse is at 64 Main Street, Cathlamet, WA 98612, phone 360-795-3558. The county auditor holds birth records from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records from 1891. The county clerk holds burial, divorce, probate, court, and land records from 1868.

Known beginning dates for Wahkiakum County government records are: Birth 1891, Marriage 1868, Death 1891, Court 1868, Land 1858, Probate 1852, and Census 1850. There is no known history of courthouse disasters. This means the early records have largely survived, though some are thin from the pre-registration era when recording was voluntary rather than required.

Wahkiakum County Records in the Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Wahkiakum County birth and marriage records that are free to search online. The birth returns collection covers 1891 to 1907 and contains 525 records. For best results in this collection, search by parents' last name rather than the child's name. Mother's last name in these records will be her maiden name, so searching by that name requires knowing the family line on the maternal side.

The Wahkiakum County birth returns collection at the Digital Archives includes both index and images of the original records filed with the county auditor. Transcription and proofreading were done by Historical Records Project volunteers.

This collection is open for research and was transcribed by volunteers Kathy Lester of Shelton and Joyce Ogden of Olympia, Washington.

The second Wahkiakum County Digital Archives collection covers marriage records from 1907 to 1947. The auditor also holds marriage records from 1868 to 1980 and from 1980 to the present in the county's own offices. Death records from 1891 to 1907 are at the Washington State Archives with index and images.

These marriage records and death returns give a solid foundation for tracing Wahkiakum County families through the early twentieth century.

County Clerk and Auditor Record Holdings

The Wahkiakum County Auditor's office holds a broad set of records beyond the basic vital registration series. Per the RootsWeb Wahkiakum County records inventory, the auditor holds: birth records 1891 to 1984, death records 1891 to 1984, marriage records 1868 to 1980 and 1980 to present, military discharges 1943 to present, school records, government field notes, homestead certificates, homestead records 1871 to 1911, land deeds 1858 to 1911, quartz mining claims 1878, fair book 1912, marks and brands 1891, and wild animal bounty book 1908.

The county clerk's holdings are equally detailed. The clerk holds birth records (some) from 1876 to 1894, civil and criminal court records from 1890 to present, death records (some) from 1876 to 1984, divorce records included in civil cases until 1987 and thereafter in domestic case files, naturalization records, official bonds from 1894 to present, and probate records from 1852 to 1975 and 1975 to present.

The Southwest Branch Archives holds additional naturalization records: certificates of naturalization 1891 to 1925, declarations of intention 1885 to 1951, miscellaneous naturalization papers 1923 to 1974, and petitions for naturalization 1914 to 1961. The Central Branch Archives holds territorial assessment rolls from 1857 to 1862 for this county.

Note: Divorce records for Wahkiakum County from 1852 to 1950 are at FamilySearch with index and images under the Washington County Divorce Records collection.

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society

The Lower Columbia Genealogical Society serves Wahkiakum County researchers. The society's mailing address is PO Box 472, Longview, WA 98632. Their website at sites.rootsweb.com/~walcolgs/ provides access to a set of local databases that go well beyond what the state-level archives hold.

The society's collections include Census records from 1854 to 1892, Clerk and Auditor Records from 1868 to 1980, Commissioner Minutes from 1854 to 1893, and Telephone Directories. These local indexes can fill gaps that standard vital record searches leave open. The census records going back to 1854 are especially useful for tracing families during the territorial period before formal vital registration began.

The Wahkiakum Historical Society Museum is at 65 River Street, PO Box 541, Cathlamet, WA 98612, phone 360-849-4353. The museum holds local history materials that can supplement genealogy records with photographs, local newspapers, and community documents. The Washington State Library guide at washstatelib.libguides.com lists this and other Wahkiakum County resources in one place.

Southwest Regional Branch and FamilySearch

The Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch in Olympia covers Wahkiakum County along with eight other southwest Washington counties. The branch is at 1129 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 753-1684. It is open for in-person research by appointment, hours 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. There is no charge to request and view public archival documents; fees apply for copies.

The FamilySearch wiki for Wahkiakum County is a useful starting point with links to specific record sets by date range. FamilySearch holds the 1852 to 1950 Washington County Divorce Records with index and images, which includes Wahkiakum County divorce cases. FamilySearch Centers offer free access to Ancestry and other subscription databases if you want to search remotely accessible collections.

Washington Rural Heritage maintains a Wahkiakum County Heritage collection online. This may include photographs, documents, and local history materials that go beyond what you find in formal vital record databases. The county assessor's office holds property records; the auditor's office records real estate documents, maps, and surveys; divorce decrees are at the county superior court clerk.

Nearby Counties

Wahkiakum County borders these southwest Washington counties. Ancestors near the Columbia River may have records in both Wahkiakum and neighboring jurisdictions.