Yuma County, Arizona
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

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Yuma County was created on December 21, 1864 and was one of the original 4 counties. The county seat is Yuma. In 1860, Mowry, elected first and second delegate to congress, but not admitted, got out a mpa of Arizona, dividing it into four counties: Castle Dome, Ewell, Mesilla, and Dona Ana. "The present Yuma county was called Castle Dome. Pima county was designated as Ewell. Mesilla county extended eastward clear to the Rio Grande in New Mexico. Dona Ana extended eastward to west boundary of Texas. The bill, known as the Gwin measure, creating this Arizona, never passed Congress." Farish. When first territorial legislature met and organized for business, 1864. Yuma was one of the four counties named in the bill. So called for the Yuma Indians, today called the Quechan.

Counties adjacent to Yuma County are Pima County (east), Maricopa County (east), La Paz County (north), Imperial County, California (west).

Cities include San Luis, Somerton, Yuma. Towns Include Wellton . Unincorporated Communities include Dateland, Hyder, Mohawk, Roll.

The Official County Website is located at http://www.co.yuma.az.us/ . See Extended History for More information.

Yuma County Census Records - Federal Population Schedules that exist for Yuma 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....

Yuma 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.

Yuma County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1864, Marriage and Divorce Records from 1864 and Probate Records from 1864 and is located at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B Yuma, Arizona 85364.

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.

Yuma County Recorder has Land Records from 1864 and is located at 410 S. Maiden Lane, Suite B, Yuma AZ 85364-2311; Phone: (928)373-6020, FAX: (928)373-6024.

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.

Yuma County Assessor has Tax Records and is located at 410 Maiden Lane Yuma AZ 85364-2311; Phone (928)373-6040, Fax:(928)373-6041; assr-info@yumacountyaz.gov.

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.

Yuma County Vital Records Office has Birth and Death Records from 1888 and is located at Vital Records Dept, 2200 W. 28th Street, Yuma, Az. 85364; (928)317-4530 .

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 Yuma County Family Trees, web forums and other type information dealing with this county.

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Yuma County History

 

This county is formed out of the southwestern portion of the Territory, and is bounded on the west by the Colorado river. The valley of the Colorado is from two to ten miles in width; the soil is rich alluvial, and is generally covered with a dense growth of vegetation, and is well wooded with Mesquite and Cottonwood trees. Very little attempt has been made to cultivate these lands, except by the Indians. They in a rude way produce some vegetables, corn and wheat.

The soil and climate are undoubtedly well adapted to the production of cotton, rice and sugar cane, as well as the cereals, and nearly all kinds of vegetables. Experiments made in planting figs, lemons and oranges encourage the belief that these fruits can be raised in abundance.

The only obstacle in the way of extensive and profitable agriculture in the valley of this river is the frequent changes of its channel. Its waters can undoubtedly be controlled by levees and canals, and it would be policy for the government to make liberal grants of land to accomplish this object. The water once under control, and this would be an inviting field for investment and enterprise.

The Gila river runs about 150 miles in a westerly course through this county; its valley is from one to three miles in width; the soil is rich and covered with vegetation, and by irrigation will produce almost anything that grows; it is uninhabited, except by station keepers along the overland mail road. These stations are usually located about fifteen miles apart.

The balance of this county is mostly high table lands, with frequent broken mountains, and is generally destitute of water; portions of the year these lauds are covered with excellent grass, but until water is increased by sinking wells, the larger portion of this belt of country will be of little value.

MINES - Gold, silver, copper and lead, are found in lodes near the Colorado river, the entire length of the county; also placer gold in considerable sums has been extracted. No effort has been made to conduct water to these mines; the gold has generally been obtained by what is called the dry washing process. To pay by this process, the mines must necessarily be very rich, but if water could be obtained, they 'would undoubtedly pay well, even when once worked by the other process.

Many lodes of gold, silver, copper and lead have been located, and quite a profitable business engaged in by shipping the ores via the Colorado river to San Francisco. The success of these enterprises would warrant the belief that by the erection of machinery and properly opening the mines, they could be made very profitable to the owners. Along the southern border of the county, extensive and rich mines of copper are found, but owing to the high rate of transportation have not yet been made to pay.

TRADE AND COMMERCE. - Most of the goods consumed on and near the Colorado river, and in Southern Arizona, are shipped from San Francisco in vessels down the Pacific ocean, around Cape St. Lucas into the Gulf of California, thence to the mouth of the Colorado river; at this point, the goods are reshipped and placed on barges, and towed up the river by small steamers. Until recently, the trade has been carried on with sailing. vessels from San Francisco to the mouth of the river, but, the mercantile community requiring more speedy delivery of goods, a steamer has been placed on the line, and it makes a monthly trip between those points. It requires about ten days to make the trip either way, and the charge for freight to Arizona City is $47 per ton.

Towns - Arizona City is located at the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers; is the county seat of the county, and contains a population of about 1200; one-third American and twothirds Mexican. It is the principal military depot of supplies for the troops of Southern Arizona, and the goods shipped to merchants in Southern Arizona are landed at this point. It contains several large mercantile houses, one wagon and several blacksmith shops, and a weekly newspaper called Tice Arizona Free Press. The houses are mostly built of adobes, and it has the appearance of a Mexican town. It is a prosperous business place, and, from its geographical position, will undoubtedly continue to grow with the development of the country. It contains but one church (Catholic), and schools have only been maintained at intervals by subscription-but preparations are being made that will undoubtedly insure a good, free school the most of each year.

Eherenburg is located by the river 140 miles above Arizona City on the Colorado; contains a population of about 500, and is the principal shipping point for Central Arizona. It has been built within the past two years, and was the rival of La Paz, located five miles above, but the superior advantages for the delivery of goods at this landing, caused the rapid decline of La Paz, which is now nearly depopulated. It contains several large forwarding and commission houses, blacksmith and wagon shops, and in addition to the trade with Central Arizona, large amounts of goods are sold to supply the mines up the Colorado river.

CLIMATE AND HEALTH - The climate from June to October is extremely warm, the thermometer often showing in the shade from 115 deg. to 120 deg. of heat, but singular to say, probably- owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, there has never been known a case of sun stroke, and it is unusually healthy, being singularly free from malarious diseases, and invalids inflicted with bronchial or lung disease are always benefited, kid often cured, by a change to this climate. From October to June the climate is mild and salubrious, and hardly excelled anywhere.

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

"While Arizona was still a part of the Territory of New Mexico, that portion which is now Yuma County was part of the vast extent of Dona Ana county. A name proposed for this section when Sylvester Mowry was making a map of Arizona in 1860 was Castle Dome County, doubtless for the famous Castle Dome mining district. However, when Yuma County was created by act of the first Arizona territorial legislature on November 8, 1864, it was decided to name the new county for its chief Indian inhabitants, the Yuma tribe.

There has been some confusion regarding the origin of the name Yuma. It seems probable that it doesnot, as has been suggested, reflect the title of a hereditary chief Yahmayo ("son of the captain"), but that the word Yuma derives from the habit this tribe had of making huge fires to induce rain, creating the a tremendous amount of smoke in the process, and that their name in consequence comes from the Old Spanish word umo, meaning smoke. Yuma is only one of the four original counties in Arizona which still retains its original boundaries. The county encompasses 6,390,400 acres. The first county seat was at La Paz but since 1870 it has been at Yuma, the principal city in the county. Mining from the first was among teh chief industries of Yuma county. Today agriculture is also of prime importance."

Barnes, Will C.; Granger, Byrd (ed.). Arizona Place Names. University of Arizona Press. 1960. p. 367

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Yuma County Links

 

Yuma 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.
  • Yuma County, Arizona Family Books at Amazon.com

Yuma 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.
  • Yuma County, Arizona Court Books at Amazon.com

Yuma 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.
  • Yuma County, Arizona Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

Yuma 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.
  • Yuma County, Arizona Census Books at Amazon.com

Yuma 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.
  • Yuma County, Arizona Military Books at Amazon.com

Yuma County Church Links

  • Yuma County, Arizona Church Books at Amazon.com

Yuma 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.

Yuma 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.
  • Yuma County, Arizona Map Books at Amazon.com

Yuma 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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