Pima County, Arizona
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

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Pima County (Originally called Ewell county, after Captain R.S. Ewell) was created on December 15, 1864 and was one of the original 4 counties. The county seat isTucson (Served as the Territorial Capital 1867-1877, including all of Gadsden Purchase of 1854 in Arizona). Pima County was named for Pima Native American people, called in their own language Akimel O'odham (river people).

Counties adjacent to Pima County are Yuma County (west), Maricopa County (north), Pinal County (north), Graham County (northeast), Cochise County (east), Santa Cruz County (southeast), Altar, Sonora, Mexico (south), Caborca, Sonora, Mexico (south), Plutarco Elías Calles, Sonora, Mexico (south), Sáric, Sonora, Mexico (south).

Cities include South Tucson, Tucson. Towns Include Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita. Unincorporated Communities include Arivaca, Kentucky Camp, Lukeville, Redington, Rillito, Sasabe, Summerhaven, Why. Indian Reservation include Pascua Yaqui, San Xavier, Tohono O'odham (part).

The Official County Website is located at http://www.pima.gov/ . See Extended History for More information.

Pima County Census Records - Federal Population Schedules that exist for Pima County, Arizona are 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree are Industry and Agriculture Schedules available for the years 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1870 and 1880.

Search Arizona Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Pima County Court Records - Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

Pima County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1864 , Marriage and Divorce Records from 1872 and Probate Records from 1864 and is located at County Superior Courts Bldg., 110 West Congress St., Tucson, Arizona 85701-1317; Tel: (520) 740-3200, Fax: (520) 798-3531 .

County Court Clerks issue marriage licenses, maintain marriage and divorce records, civil, domestic, criminal, juvenile and probate records, Notary Public Bonds and Commissions, and any other duties that the presiding judge may prescribe.

Pima County Recorder has Land Records from 1866 and is located at 115 N. Church Avenue; (520) 740-4350 . Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3145, Tucson AZ 85702-3145

The County Recorder has two principle duties. The first duty of the County Recorder is to record documents, as required by law, to be public record. Instruments recorded include real estate transactions, mortgages, deed of trust, family trusts, personal property, tax liens, mining locations, subdivision plats, records of survey, military discharges, official appointments of office, and other documents required to be made of public record. The second major duty concerns elections since the County Recorder is also the registrar of voters for the county. This involves maintaining the county register, conducting early voting, verifying petition signatures, lists for political parties and candidates, and jury lists.

Pima County Assessor has Tax Records . Our office is located in Downtown Tucson, Arizona at the Old Pima County Courthouse. Pima County Assessor's Office, 115 N Church Ave, Tucson, Arizona 85701.

The County Assessor’s Office has the statutory duty to locate, identify and value all taxable property in the county’s jurisdiction. The Assessor’s office maintains ownership of certain files, provides public services, value all land, improvements, and personal property annually, maps all parcels and maintains all tax authorities (area and boundaries). The utilization of recorded documents, deeds, plat maps and sub-divisions are among the tools used by the Assessor’s Office to accomplish several of these tasks.

Pima County Vital Records Office has Birth and Death Records from 1889 and is located at Office of Vital Records, 3950 S. Country Club Road Ste. 100, Tucson, Arizona 85714; 520-243-7930 .

For Birth and Deaths occuring before 2007 contact the Arizona Bureau of Public Health Statistics, Office of Vital Records. See the Vital Records page for more information. You can Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

State and National Research

Statewide Information for Arizona Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records, Land Records, Marriage Records, Tax, Court & Probate Records, Census Records, Church & Cemetery Records, Military Records, State Genealogical and Historical Addresses.

Nationwide Information for United States Census Records, Court Records, Probate Records, Tax Records, Land Records, Military Records, Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records, Church & Cemetery Records, Immigration Records and State & County Maps.

Below is a list of online resources for Pima County Family Trees, web forums and other type information dealing with this county.

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Pima County History

 

This county is bounded on the north by the Gila river; on the east by New Mexico; on the south by Sonora, and on the west by Yuma county. It is the oldest inhabited county in the Territory, and contains the most population. The western end of the county, to a line drawn north and south from the Gila river to the Sonora line, and passing a few miles west of Tucson, is uninhabited after leaving the Gila river, except by the Papago Indians, whose habitation will hereafter be described. This belt of country is composed of plains, covered with grass part of the year, and considerable portions of it with mesquite wood, and broken or detached chains of mountains. Wherever water can be found, grazing is excellent, and experience in sinking wells demonstrates that by this means water may be procured almost anywhere in Arizona-but without thus increasing the supply of water, much of this section must remain valueless. The south bank of the valley of the Gila extends the whole length of the county, and, as before described, has superior agricultural advantages. At Gila Bend, one hundred and fifty miles from the mouth of the river, the valley for a distance of twenty-five miles is from five to ten miles in width, and the soil is of the richest character. A company are now engaged constructing a very large ditch for irrigating purposes, and offer shares for sale at the cost of construction. Those who are not able to pay cash are furnished provisions and allowed to work for interests. There are many thousand acres of unoccupied land already surveyed, and subject to pre-eruption and entry at $1.25 per acre. There is a large volume of water remaining in the river, more than can be used through the ditch under construction. This section, in addition to being well adapted to raising vegetables and all the cereals, is undoubtedly, by soil and climate, favorable to growing oranges, lemons, figs and grapes.

Passing up the Gila forty miles, the Maricopa and Pima Reservation is reached. This reservation is 25 miles long and in width takes in the river valley, and will be referred to in the description of the Indian tribes of Arizona. Above this reservation, the river valley is extensively farmed for twenty miles, and is among the best producing lands in Arizona. The products and yield are about the same as described in the Salt River Valley. The county south of the Gila and east of that heretofore mentioned, is watered by the San Pedro and Santa Cruz rivers and several smaller streams, and is composed of plains, valleys and broken chains of mountains. Nearly every portion of it is covered with nutritious grasses; live oak and mesquite grows in abundance for fuel, on the plains and in the valleys, and many of the mountains are covered with excellent forests of timber. No better grazing country can be found, and it is nearly all yet unoccupied. The valleys possess excellent agricultural advantages; with irrigation two crops are annually produced on the same land. Many of these valleys were settled by the Catholic fathers over one hundred years ago, and a history of the changes that have since ensued would fill a large volume. It is sufficient to say that over a century ago, these fathers attracted by the salubrity of the climate and the fertility of the soil, established several missions, improved farms, introduced herds, and built churches, one of which is still well preserved (the San Xavier, nine miles south of Tucson), and for style of architecture and solidity of construction, is admired by all who see it. These fathers commenced the good work of teaching and Christianizing the Indians, and succeeded admirably with all the tribes save the Apaches, who, as Baron Humboldt writes in 1803, in his "Kingdom of New Spain," that " neither the soldiers stationed in the presidios, nor the monks posted in the neighboring missions, have been hitherto able to make the conquest over them." Their treachery and ferocity could not be controlled by examples of Christian purity and love, nor had the forces of Spain the power to conquer them; and the deserted fields and broken walls of these missions can be seen to-day as undoubted witnesses of

these facts. Since the occupation of the country 'by the Americans, a constant struggle has been going on 'to hold possession of the rich valleys of the San Pedro and Upper Santa Cruz, but the slaughter has been so great each year, since 1863, that almost anew population has been introduced to fill the places of the dead. The soil is so rich and productive, and the desire of the people has been so great to live and make homes in these valleys, that with true American courage they filled the broken ranks and still continue the contest.

The present year, the Indians have swept over these valleys with unusual ferocity; many have been slain and their property destroyed or stolen, and unless a vigorous war policy is soon adopted that will prevent these savages from sallying forth from reservations, where they are well fed, to murder and rob at will, and then returning to be again fed and protected by the Government, these valleys will soon be abandoned and turned over again to the undisputed sway of the Apaches. These remarks may be considered out of place in a pamphlet of this character, but as the object is to give correct information to those who feel an interest or desire to emigrate to this Territory, these facts should be known. While there are many locations, such as along and near the Colorado river, the Salt river and settlements along the Gila, that are comparatively safe from Apache raids, yet the larger part of Arizona is insecure for life and property, on account of the hostility of the Apaches.

MINES - Nearly all the mountains contain veins of gold, silver, copper and lead, and long before the country was purchased from Mexico, gold and silver mining was carried on to a considerable extent. After the purchase, the attention of capitalists was attracted here and considerable money was invested with fair prospects of success. About this time the Great Rebellion broke out and the Confederate forces took possession and confiscated or destroyed all property known to belong to Union men; then the Union forces re-took the country and confiscated or destroyed all property known to belong to those in sympathy with the Rebellion, and the Indians and marauding bands took what was left irrespective of creed or parties. This effectually destroyed all mining enterprises, and to this day they have never been revived. The mines, or many of them, are undoubtedly rich and extensive, and the field for the investment of well directed capital is inviting.

TOWNS - Tucson is located in the Santa Cruz Valley, three hundred miles east of Arizona City, on the overland road from San Diego, California, to Santa Fe, New Mexico; is the capital of the Territory, and the county seat of Pima county, and according to the last census, has a population of three thousand two hundred. It has been a town of some importance for a century. The Mexican Government had a military post here before the country was ceded to the United States, and it is now the principal place for the exchange of commodities between Arizona and Sonora. The people of that country bring here wheat, barley, corn, fruits, salt, coarse sugar, tobacco, cigars and other products of their country, and exchange them for goods and money. The valley of the Santa Cruz, above and below the town for several miles, is under cultivation, and produces two excellent crops each year. Tucson contains a number of heavy mercantile houses, a tin shop, blacksmith and wagon shops, two flour mills, hotels and restaurants. - The town is built almost entirely of adobes, and is laid out and has the appearance of a Mexican town. Seven-eighths of the population are Mexican, and the Spanish language is more spoken than the English.

The Catholics have a church (the only one here), that is well attended and supported. The Sisters of St. Joseph have a Seminary for Young Ladies that is attended by about one hundred and sixty pupils; the Fathers also have a school for boys. An effort is being made that will probably soon result in establishing a free public school from Territorial and county funds.

FLORENCE - This town is pleasantly located at the head of the farming settlement on the Gila river, about eighty miles north of Tucson. It contains several mercantile houses, blacksmith shops, and has a Catholic Church. Rows of trees have been, planted along the streets, and it is destined to be one of the pleasantest towns in the Territory.

SANFORD OR ADAMSVILLE - This town is located on the Gila river, four miles below Florence; is centrally located in a thriving farming settlement, and contains several mercantile houses and a flour mill, and is a thriving, growing place.

CLIMATE AND HEALTH - The climate of the valleys and plains is about the same as that of the Colorado river. Elevated portions of the county become cooler in proportion to the altitude. It is generally healthy except in a few locations on and near the southern border, where chills and fevers prevail to some extent during the Summer months.

Source: Resources Of Arizona Territory. Francis & Valentine, Steam Printers And Engravers. 1871.

Fort Lowell - The Spanish established a Presidio (fortified camp} in Tucson about 1776 and remained until 1829. Mexican soldiers garrisoned the walled town until General Philip Cooke's Mormon Battalion arrived in 1846; after negotiations, the Mexicans departed. Few Yankees were on hand. In 1860 the Camp Tucson, as it was then called, was established on the present site of the Santa Rita Hotel in Tucson. The fort was evacuated at the outbreak of the Civil War. The Confederate constitutional convention declared this section of Arizona no longer a part of the US in March 1861. Confederate forces made this Camp their headquarters once they occupied Tucson. Tucson returned to Union control when the California Volunteers pitched camp on the east side of town a year later.

Post was too weak to be continued and was abandoned on September 15, 1864. The post was relocated at the Military Plaza and as renamed Camp Lowell in honor of Brig. Gen. Charls R. Lowell of the 6th calvary, who was killed at Cedar creek Virginia during the Civil War. Renamed Fort Lowell, April 5, 1879. The camp was repositioned and improved; it became a major supply depot for troops in southern Arizona during many Indian actions, including the Geronimo campaign. April 5, 1891 the Fort was abandoned despite outcries by local Tucsonians who desired to maintain the post for its economic status. The rebuilt officers' quarters now contain a museum. The fort is eight miles east of Tucson on Craycroft Road, south of Fort Lowell Road.

"In the days of Spanish missions in Arizona, Pima County was part of an area known as Pimeria Alta (Spanish:"Upper Pima land"). Fr. Eusebio Kino in May 1704, suggested that another name to be give to the region, and that it be called thereafeter New Phillipines. Later, when the United States annexed the huge region then known as New Mexico, southern Arizona was included in Dona Ana county, which stretched all the way from the Colorado River eastward to the present day New Mexican border. Then came the War between the States, and Sylvester Mowry (Mowry Mine, Santa Cruz) proposed on his map of Arizona in 1860 that the name Ewell County be give to what is now Pima and Santa Cruz counties. The name was that of Capt. Richard S. Ewell (see Fort Buchanan, Santa Cruz) None of the early names, however, was destined to take hold.

On November 8, 1864, the first territorial legislature for Arizona created four counties, of which Pima was one. the name was given because the county was the home of the Pima Indians. The Pima Indians are a peaceful agricultural tribe. Their name came from a nickname given them by the Spaniards because these Indians used the word pim to indicate negation. The descendants of the Pima Indians of Pimeria Alta now have the Pima and San Xavier Indian Reservations, and their cousins have the Papago Reservation.

As originally constituted, Pima County included all land south of the Gila River and east of Yuma (roughly all that part of the United States acquired from Mexico in the Gadsen Purchase). Gradually the huge county diminished as other counties were carved from it. Parts were cut off in forming Maricopa, Pinal, and Cochise Counties, and more was lost when Graham County was formed. Currently Pima County has 5,914,240 acres. Its county sent has always been Tucson. Whatever industries are found in other Arizona counties will be found in Pima County, with the possible exception of extensive lumbering, although at one time (in the 1870s) lumber was hauled from the Santa Rita Mountains."

Barnes, Will C.; Granger, Byrd (ed.). Arizona Place Names. University of Arizona Press. 1960. p. 256

"Originally called Ewell county, after Captain R.S. Ewell. On Mowry's map, 1860, which showed only four counties. Was called Pima in Act of First Legislative Session, 1864, which created four counties, Pima, Yuma, Mohave, Yavapai."

Barnes, Will C. Arizona Place Names. University of Arizona Press. 1997. p. 332

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Pima County Links

 

Pima County Family Histroy Site Links - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher. When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide.

  • Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
  • The Arizona Family Group Sheets Project
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Arizona USGenweb Site
  • National USGenweb Main Page
  • Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
  • Family Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
  • Pima County, Arizona Family Books at Amazon.com

Pima County Court, Probate, Land, Immigration, and Tax Record Links - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers the State of Arizona. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
  • Pima County, Arizona Court Books at Amazon.com

Pima County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Record Links - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service. - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Arkansas obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Arkansas newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Arizona . Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Arkansas newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
  • Pima County, Arizona Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

Pima County Census Record Links - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

  • Research In American Census Records
  • U.S. Census Extraction Forms - These are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research.
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
  • Pima County, Arizona Census Books at Amazon.com

Pima County Military Record Links - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

  • Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.
  • Pima County, Arizona Military Books at Amazon.com

Pima County Church Links

  • Pima County, Arizona Church Books at Amazon.com

Pima County Cemetery Links - Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

Pima County Map & Atlas Links

  • Research In State Map Collections
  • Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Arkansas and other states.
  • Rotating animated maps for Arizona showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries .
  • Arizona Department of Transportation - You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at The Arkansas Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here
  • Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.
  • Pima County, Arizona Map Books at Amazon.com

Pima County General Genealogy Links

  • Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
  • Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
  • Search the Family Tree DNA Project - Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
  • Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Arizona Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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