Arizona Land Records
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On 24 February 1863, Arizona became a territory. From 1850 until that date, it had been part of New Mexico Territory. In 1866, what was then Pah-Ute County was ceded to Nevada. On 14 February 1912, Arizona became the forty-eighth state of the Union. Until long after its early explorers came in the 1500s, the state had very little settlement, and then it would be only in the area of Tucson.
The “bloody Indian wars” did not end until 1886 which were a continuing impediment to frontier expansion. For lands granted to the United States in 1848 and for private land claims, write to the National Archives-Southwest Region. For questions relating to state lands, contact the Arizona State Land Commissioner in Phoenix.
While Arizona was admitted as a territory in 1863, it wasn't until 1870 that the U.S. Federal District Land Office was first opened in Prescott. Later, one opened in Phoenix. Many of these early land claims were for mining enterprises. When searching for early land records in Arizona, one needs to include the U.S. Land Office entries at the National Archives-Southwest Region, which has mining and homestead surveys, land claims, grazing service records, and rights-of-way claims and settlements for Gila, Salt River, and Navajo Meridians or the National Archives-Rocky Mountain Region, which has state office and district land tract books and registers. Arizona is a public land state, meaning that lands could be acquired directly from the federal government. If there is reason to believe that an ancestor did obtain land in this manner, direct inquires to the General Branch, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, DC 20409. Indicate the person's name, state of Arizona, and whether it was before 1908. Arizona records prior to 1908 have been indexed.
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....
The county recorder for each county has jurisdiction over land records within their respective counties. Before good use can be made of land transactions in Arizona, the researcher must bear in mind how ownership was acquired. Since Arizona entered the jurisdiction of the United States as part of the New Mexico Territory, where pueblos had already been established, most of the previous claims were recognized by the federal government. In examining land records, it will be normal to find Spanish phrases such as “leagues” and “varas,” as units of measurement for surveys.
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We provide remote access of Arizona land records. Search land records and deeds records in Arizona and obtain copies of Arizona historical records such as land, property, deeds and mortgage records in the State of Arizona.
