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Grand County, Utah Genealogy

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Guide to Grand County, Utah ancestry, family history, and genealogy. marriage and death records, cemeteries, census, church records, probate records, and obituaries—resources to find parents and family history since 1890, when the county was formed.

Double Arch OF Arches National Park, Grand County, Moab, UTah



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Grand County, Utah
Map
Map of Utah highlighting Grand County
Location in the state of Utah
Map of the U.S. highlighting Utah
Location of Utah in the U.S.
Facts
Founded March 13, 1890
County Seat Moab
Courthouse
Address County Courthouse
125 E. Center St.
Moab, UT 84532
Website: www.grandcountyutah.net
Named for: Grand River (now Colorado River)
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County Facts[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The County was named for the Colorado River, which at the time of statehood was known as the Grand River. The County is located in the east center area of the state. [1]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Grand County Courthouse
125 East Center Street
Moab, Ut 84532-3449
Phone: 435-259-1321


County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1890, divorce and court records from 1896 and land records.[2]

Grand County, Utah Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1898 1890 1898 1896 1890 1890 1851
Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1905. General compliance by 1917.

Records Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Parent Counties[edit | edit source]

Grand County, Utah Genealogy was created March 13, 1890 from: Emery and Uintah
Tip
 Before the county was created—and perhaps until the newly-formed county was fully operational—search records of the parent counties.
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

For animated maps illustrating Utah County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Utah County Boundary Maps" (1849-1960) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

See UT: Index of Counties... from Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, for a timeline of boundary changes for Grand County, Utah Genealogy.

Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]

Grand County, Utah Genealogy is surrounded by: Carbon | Emery | San Juan | Uintah | Wayne | Colorado counties: Garfield | Mesa | Montrose

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[4]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Native American communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns


Resources[edit | edit source]

The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to Grand County, Utah Genealogy entries with names, images, or information.

Tip
 Don't overlook Grand County, Utah Genealogy items in the FamilySearch Library Catalog. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see Archives and Libraries.


Bible Records[edit | edit source]

The term "Bible records" refers to the practice of keeping family dates and events in a family Bible. This was a common practice in many European countries and carried over to America. Many of these family Bible records are still in existence and preserved by the descendants of the immigrants. In some cases these family Bibles have found their way into libraries and other repositories.

For an explanation of how to find Bible records and for helpful links see Utah Bible Records. See also United States Bible Records.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Business Records and Commerce[edit | edit source]

See United States Business Records
See also Utah Business Records

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Tombstone Transcriptions Online Tombstone Transcriptions in Print List of Cemeteries in the county
FindAGrave Family History Library FindAGrave
UTGravestones WorldCat USGW Tombstone Project
Billion Graves (name) Utah Periodicals Utah Cemeteries and Burials
Billion Graves (cemetery) Linkpendium
Interment Genealogy Trails
UTGenWeb Archives Hometown Locator
See Utah Cemeteries for more information.

Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information. The spouse and children who died young are frequently buried nearby.

More than tombstone inscriptions, cemetery records include sextons (caretakers) records and interment (burial) records, each with slightly different information. See Utah Cemeteries.

Census[edit | edit source]

Census records 1850 and later list names, ages, and places of birth (state or nation) for everyone in the household. Censuses locate the family and have other clues to find more records about them.

Churches and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

The information given in church records depends upon the practices of each religious group. Most include the names of members, often with ages and birth places. Several give birth, christening, or blessing dates for infants. See Utah Church Records for details about various denominations.

  • Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed for Grand County, Utah Genealogy at the town level (space, then select a town) or county level (select Church topics) in the FamilySearch Library Catalog.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)[edit | edit source]
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The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.


Historically, most people in Utah were Latter-day Saints. Their records are, therefore, very important for early Utah research. For additional information, see Tracing Latter-day Saint Ancestors and Utah Church Records.

Click a church unit name in the chart below for its history, boundaries, and availability of records, which are often in microfilm format

(Section In process. Want to help?)
Guide to history and records of wards and branches of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Stake(s) San Juan Stake, Utah

Places: Moab

Linked below are the ward and stake records for Grand County, Utah on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library. Click on a ward for records (up to about 1948).
Green River Ward • Moab Ward • Monticello Utah Stake • San Juan Stake •

  • For a timeline history and boundaries of wards that existed in 1930, click to the appropriate stake (above).
  • For later records, check with the Church History Library.

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Utah Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce  · Guardianship  · Land  · Naturalization  · Probate

Directories[edit | edit source]

See Utah Directories

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic and Other Groups[edit | edit source]

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Spanish Valley Mortuary[5]
386 North 100 West
Moab, UT 84532
Phone: 435-259-3980
Fax: 435-259-3987

Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

See Utah Gazetteers

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

A FamilySearch Community Tree is available for this place.


Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Utah Court Records.

History[edit | edit source]

History Timeline[edit | edit source]

See UT: Index of Counties... from Newberry Library's Utah Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, for a timeline of boundary changes for Grand County, Utah Genealogy.

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia for Grand County

  • 8000 BC. Humans have occupied the region since the last ice age.
  • 1300. Fremont people and Ancient Pueblo People lived in the area.
  • 1775. Spanish missionaries encountered Ute and Paiute tribes in the area.
  • 1855. First European-Americans to attempt settlement in the area were the Latter-day Saints.
  • 1890 March 13, Grand County was created from Emery and Uintah Counties.
  • 1910-20’s.Moab area settled and the economy, originally agriculture, gradually shifted to mining of Uranium and Vanadium.
  • 1923. Arches area considered as a National Park.
  • 1939, 1949. Western movie director John Ford filmed Stagecoach and then Wagon Master in Moab.
  • 1950s The uranium boom brought the first real population expansion to the area

Land and Property[edit | edit source]

Land records (especially deeds) often give the name of a spouse, heir, other relatives, or other clues for further research. They often have other clues for further research, such as witnesses or the other parties who may be relatives or in-laws. See Utah Land and Property for more.

  • County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Maps[edit | edit source]

Carbon CountyUintah CountyEmery CountyWayne CountySan Juan CountyGarfield CountyMesa CountyMontrose CountyUT GRAND.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Migration[edit | edit source]

Military[edit | edit source]

Civil War[edit | edit source]
World War I[edit | edit source]
World War II[edit | edit source]

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Utah Naturalization and Citizenship for more information.    (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Small town newspapers contain obituaries, birth or death notices, community news (such as the visit of someone's relatives), legal notices and provide historical content. See Utah newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, and living family members. See Utah Obituaries for state level compendiums and United States Obituaries for tips and insights regarding this record type.

Obituaries for residents may be found in:

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.[edit | edit source]

In Utah, such records may be difficult to find. Try records of the church they may have attended. Realize, however, that such records may have not been preserved, and would not be in the typical records of membership.

It is possible there were records kept by civilian authorities. Ask town or county officials and local librarians and the State Archives. Also try National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (online).


Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate cases include court actions regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. Records may locate relatives, provide death dates, and identify property. See Utah Probate Records for more information.


Online Probate Records

Public Records[edit | edit source]

Taxation[edit | edit source]

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Vital records of birth, marriage, death, and divorce are created by civil (state, county, or city) officials. See Utah Vital Records for details and history of the records.

See also How to order Utah Vital Records or download an application for Utah Birth Certificate, Marriage or Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.

Birth[edit | edit source]
Below are the best sources to find birth information (dates and places of birth and names of parents) for Grand County, Utah Genealogy. Also available: How to Find Birth Information in Utah.
Follow the suggestions under the year span that matches when your ancestor was born:
Birth before 1890[edit | edit source]
Grand County, Utah Genealogy was formed on 13 March 1890.
      If your records show the person was born here before the county was formed,
      search parent counties
Tip
 Before county formation, go to Utah Censuses to locate the family around the time of birth.

Birth 1890 - 1897[edit | edit source]
No birth records were created for Grand County, Utah Genealogy by either by county or state civil authorities in this time period.
Follow these suggestions to find birth information for this time period:
Birth 1898 - present[edit | edit source]
County clerks became responsible for recording births beginning in 1898. In 1905, the State Department of Health assumed responsibility and required the counties to forward copies of the records to them.
Tip
 It took a few years after the requirements for people, doctors, midwives, and officials to comply, so some early birth registrations were missed.


Records open to the public
Birth records created more than 100 years ago State Department of Health Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates page. are open to the public.
  • 1898 - 1905 - Series #83886 at Utah State Archives. Not online, no online index. There are no names of children in the records.
    • Idea: use censuses and church records to learn those missing children's names.
    • There is no copy available through FamilySearch Library.
Restricted records
Access to official birth records within 100 years is restricted to those who meet certain requirements. Order copies:
  • Office of Vital Records and Statistics, 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, Phone: (801) 538-6105. How to order online, by mail, or in person.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Divorce[edit | edit source]

Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Utah Vital Records for excellent information.

Death[edit | edit source]

Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed. A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birthdate, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.

Voting Registers[edit | edit source]

Websites[edit | edit source]

Archives, Libraries, etc.[edit | edit source]

Resources for Grand County, Utah Genealogy are available in repositories (such as libraries and archives) at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Check websites and catalogs of archives and libraries for items for this county. Examples: Grand County, Utah Genealogy items in FamilySearch Library (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana). When you find items you'd like to access, see Get a Copy

See Courthouse · FamilySearch Centers · Libraries · Museums · Other Repositories · Societies sections.

Courthouse[edit | edit source]

[http://www.grandcountyutah.net www.grandcountyutah.net County Courthouse, 125 E. Center St., Moab, UT 84532. Phone: 435-259-1346.

County seat: Moab

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Local public libraries usually have histories, genealogies, indexes of cemeteries, copies of local newspapers, or other records for the area they serve. Many libraries in Utah have an area dedicated to local collections and manuscripts.

See also Utah Public Library Directory, which provides links to library web pages, addresses, phone numbers, hours, and maps. Does not mention holdings.

Societies[edit | edit source]

See also a List of Utah Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Towns and Communities[edit | edit source]

  • Castle Valley
  • Moab
  • Cisco (ghost town)
  • Brendel
  • Thompson Springs

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grand, Utah" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_County,_Utah accessed 4 Dec 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Grand County, Utah Page 686 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Grand County, Utah . Page 686-688 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 676-677.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grand County, Utah," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_County,_Utah, accessed 17 February 2019.
  5. ↑ Funeral Home Cemetery Directory.(Youngstown, OH: Nomis Publications, Inc., c2009,938.
  6. ↑ "Grand County, Utah: Family History and Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records and More," Linkpendium, http://www.linkpendium.com/genealogy/USA/UT/Grand/, accessed 1 February 2012.
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