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Thurston County, Washington
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Thurston County was created on 1852 and was formed from Lewis County . The county was named for Samuel R. Thurston . The county seat is Olympia .
Thurston County is bordered by Pierce County (northeast), Lewis County (south), Grays Harbor County (west), Mason County (northwest).
Cities and Towns in Thurston County include Bucoda, Grand Mound, Lacey, Nisqually Indian Community, North Yelm, Olympia, Rainier, Rochester, Tanglewilde-Thompson Place, Tenino, Tumwater, Yelm.
The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/ .
- Historical Newspapers from Washington (1890 - 1984) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
- Washington Historical Records - Databases include Washington Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Washington Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Washington Voter Lists & Census Records; Washington Immigration & Emigration Records; Washington Obituary Records; Washington Military Records; Washington Family Tree Records; Washington Pictures; Washington Stories, Memories & Histories; Washington Directories & Member Lists and much more....
- Thurston County, Washington Message Boards
- Thurston County, Washington Genealogy Forum - read and post messages about your ancestors
- Thurston County, Washington Wikipedia article
- Thurston County, WA USGenweb
- The Washington Family Group Sheet Project
- Thurston County, Washington Family Books at Amazon.com
- Thurston County, Washington History Books at Amazon.com
Below is a list of Thurston County Genealogical and Historical Socities, Mail-List, Libraries and Archives Addresses and/or Links. See Also Washington Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Washington State Archives, Southwest Regional Branch. 1129 Washington Street SE, PO Box 40238, Olympia, WA 98504. Phone 360) 753-1684.
- Olympia Genealogical Society, PO Box 1313, Olympia, WA 98507-1313. Membership available.
- Olympia Historical Society, PO Box 6064, Olympia, WA 98507-6064
- Lacey Historical Society, 2020 Centerwood Dr, Olympia, WA 98501.
- Lacey Historical Museum, 829 ½ Lacey St SE, PO Box B, Lacey, WA 98503. Phone: 360-352-7596. The museum holds artifacts, photographs and information relevant to Lacey history from the time of settlement to the present day. The earliest photos date from the 1880's.
- South Thurston County Historical Society, Park St, PO Box 339, Tenino, WA 98589. Phone: 360-264-4321. Operates the Tenino Depot Museum and has copies of local weekly newspaper from 1920 to 1960. Though not indexed, they are available to the public.
- Tumwater Historical Association, 602 Des Chutes Way, Tumwater, WA 98501.
- Washington State Capital Historical Association, 211 W 21st Ave, Room 11, Olympia, WA 98501.
- Timberland Regional Library, 415 Airdustrial Way SW, Olympia, WA 98501-5799. Phone: 360-943-5001.
- Family History Library
Thurston County, WA Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records
See Also Washington Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records and Marriage Records
PLEASE READ FIRST!!! 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. Although originally held in the county seat, many county land, probate, and court records have been transferred to the state archive's regional branches.
Even today, few people escape mention in court records at some time during their lives as witnesses, litigants, jurors, appointees to office, or as petition signatories. However, Americans of a few generations ago also expected to attend local court proceedings when they were in session. It was a civic duty and they could be fined if they did not attend. The chances are great that your ancestors have left a detailed record of at least some aspects of their lives in court records.
Unless otherwise noted, All Deparments are in the County Courthouse located at 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502. Courthouse hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Thurston County Clerk of Court has Court Records from 1852 and Probate Records from 1853 . Contact the County Clerk's department at Building 2. Phone: 360-786-5430. For judicial purposes, many of the Washington counties were attached to other counties.
Thurston County Auditor has Marriage Records from 1877 and Land Records from 1852 . The Couty Auditor also has Birth and Death Records from 1891 to 1907. See County Vital Records for info on Birth and Death Records after 1907. Contact the County Auditor's department at Building 1. Phone: 360-786-5224. We have a customer service area, which is staffed from 8am- 5pm each workday. We are glad to assist someone who comes into our office. When customers request information over the phone, we limit the search to online information, marriages 1973-1974, 1976-present. If the request requires a hand search, we will look through one year at no fee. All other searches must be requested with an accompanying fee of $8.00 per hour. All of our original records have been relocated to the Southwest Washington Branch Archives in downtown Olympia. We have microfilms of this information.
Thurston County Assessor has Tax Records. Contact the County Assessor's department at Building 1. Phone: 360-786-5410. Parcel number needed. Staff has limited time to help researchers.
Below is a list of online resources for Thurston County Court, Probate, Land or Tax Records Records EMAIL US with websites links to Thurston County Court Records
- Thurston County, Washington Court Books at Amazon.com
- BLM Land Records - covers the State of Washington. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
Thurston County, WA Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Washington
Washington State Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Thurston County Health Department is located at 529 W Fourth Ave, Olympia, WA 98501. Phone: 360-786-5581.
- Thurston County Birth Records
- For records from July 1, 1907 to present: you can order through the Center for Health Statistics.
- For records from January 1, 1921 to present: you can order through local health departments.
- For records before July 1, 1907 in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane: contact the local health department.
- For all other counties for records before July 1, 1907: contact the county auditor.
- Thurston County Marriage Records
- For recent marriage certificates from the last 4 months: contact the county auditor where the license was filed.
- For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics
- For certificates before January 1, 1968: contact the county auditor where the license was obtained.
- Thurston County Divorce Records
- For recent divorce certificates from the last four months: contact the county clerk where the event was filed.
- For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics.
- For certificates before January 1, 1968: contact the county clerk where the event occurred.
- Thurston County Death Records
- For recent records, in the current or previous month, please contact the Local Health Department where the event occurred.
- July 1, 1907 to 2 months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics.
- For records before July 1, 1907: contact the Research Office of the Washington State Archives.
Below is a list of online resources for Thurston County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records Records. EMAIL US with websites links to Thurston County Vital Records
- Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!
- Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research.
- Thurston County, Washington Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
Thurston County, WA Census Records
See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Records that exist for Washington
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
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Thurston County, Washington are 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Thurston County are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1870 and 1880.
Below is a list of online resources for Thurston County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Thurston County Census Records by clicking the link below:
- Thurston County Census Records at Archives.com
- Thurston County, Washington Census Books at Amazon.com
- Census & Voter Lists
Below is a list of online resources for Thurston County Census Records. EMAIL US with websites links to Thurston County Census Records.
1860 Thurston County Census Records
- 1860 U.S. Census Guide
- Download Free US 1860 Census Extract Form
- 1860 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 01 June 1860.
1870 Thurston County Census Records
- 1870 U.S. Census Guide
- 1870 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 01 June 1870.
- Download Free US 1870 Census Extract Form
1880 Thurston County Census Records
- 1880 U.S. Census Guide
- 1880 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 01 June 1880. (free search index and print images)
- Download Free US 1880 Census Extract Form
1890 Thurston County Census Records (destroyed by fire at the Commerce Dept on 10 January 1921)
- 1890 U.S. Census Guide
- 1890 Thurston County, Washington Census. This is a census of the U.S. population as of 01 June 1890. While much of this census was lost in a fire, Ancestry has gathered records from that time period to create an 1890 Census Substitute. - Ancestry
- Download Free US 1890 Census Extract Form
1900 Thurston County Census Records
- 1900 U.S. Census Guide
- 1900 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 01 June 1900.
- Download Free US 1900 Census Extract Form
1910 Thurston County Census Records
- 1910 U.S. Census Guide
- 1910 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 15 April 1910.
- Download Free US 1910 Census Extract Form
1920 Thurston County Census Records
- 1920 U.S. Census Guide
- 1920 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 01 January 1920.
- Download Free US 1920 Census Extract Form
1930 Thurston County Census Records
- 1930 U.S. Census Guide
- 1930 Thurston County, Washington Census - Census Population of Thurston County as of 01 April 1930.
- Download Free US 1930 Census Extract Form
Thurston County, WA Cemeteries & Graveyards
See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Washington
Cemetery records and headstone inscriptions are also sources of birth and death information. The records of this type most commonly found are church burial registers, sextons' records, cemetery deed and plot registers, burial permit records, grave opening orders, and monument (gravestone) inscriptions.
There are many churches and cemeteries in Thurston County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Thurston County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Thurston County Cemetery & Church Records. EMAIL US with websites links to Thurston County Cemetery & Church Records.
- Cemetery Records at Archives.com
- Thurston County, Washington Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
- Gravestone, Tombstone, and Memorial Photo Collection from findagrave.com
The following cemeteries and churches are listed in the US Geological Survey web site as being in this County. And there are more not listed.
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Thurston County, WA Church & Bible Records
See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Washington
For periods before the advent of civil registration of vital statistics, church records rank as the best available sources for information on specific vital events: birth, marriage, and death. Bible records is a good primary source for genealogy research and information. You will find many different surnames listed in many of these Bibles which include old photos, obituaries and other facts such as birth and death dates.
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Below is a list of online resources for Thurston County Cemetery & Church Records. EMAIL US with websites links to Thurston County Cemetery & Church Records.
