Power County, Idaho Genealogy
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Guide to Power County, Idaho ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Quick start:
| Power County, Idaho | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Idaho | |
 Location of Idaho in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | January 30, 1913 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | American Fall |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Power County Courthouse 543 Bannock American Falls, ID 83211-1200 Phone: (208) 226-7611 Fax: (208) 226-7612 |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 Quick Facts
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 6 Cemeteries
- 7 Census
- 8 Church
- 9 County Commissioners' Records
- 10 Court Records
- 11 History
- 12 Land and Property
- 13 Maps
- 14 Migration
- 15 Military
- 16 Miscellaneous Series
- 17 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 18 Newspapers
- 19 Obituaries
- 20 Pension Records
- 21 Probate
- 22 Taxation
- 23 Vital Records
- 24 Societies and Libraries
- 25 Websites
- 26 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for the American Falls Power Plant. The County has American Falls as its seat and the County was created January 30, 1913. The County is located in the south central area of the state.[1]
Power County, Idaho Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1911 | 1914 | 1911 | 1913 | 1913 | 1913 | 1870 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Power County Courthouse
543 Bannock
American Falls, ID 83211-1200
Phone: (208) 226-7611
Fax: (208) 226-7612
County Clerk has marriage records from 1914and divorce records from 1916.
Probate Court has probate records.
Magistrate Court has court records Assessor Office has land records. [3]
Quick Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
1913--Power County was created 30 January 1913 from Bingham, Blaine, and Oneida Counties.
County seat: American Falls [4]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
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The above list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have websites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.
This list of places in Power County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Power County in Virtual Earth.
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 Power County, Idaho Genealogy entries with names, images, or information.
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Don't overlook Power County, Idaho 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. |
Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Power County have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in American Falls[6].
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
| Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
| Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
| IDGenWeb | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
| IDGenWeb Archives | ||
| Tombstone Project | ||
| Idaho Gravestones | ||
| Billion Graves | ||
| See Idaho Cemeteries for more information. | ||
There are many cemeteries in Power County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Power County, Idaho Cemetery Records.
For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 5,105 | ||
| 1930 | 4,457 | −12.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,965 | −11.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,988 | 0.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,111 | 3.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,864 | 18.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,844 | 40.7% | |
| 1990 | 7,086 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 7,538 | 6.4% | |
| sources:[7][8] | |||
For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records. Power County Schools created a very useful school census beginning in 1913 and continuing into the 1930's. They are listed by school district and contain the names of the children, ages, and the names of their parents. Some districts are missing for a year or two and it appears that not all districts were opperating. The originials are located at the County Historical Society Library and have been imaged by the Family History Library.
Church[edit | edit source]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)[edit | edit source]
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- List of Power County Stakes and Wards to about 1948.
- For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
- Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
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County Commissioners' Records[edit | edit source]
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.
Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Some of the early court records of Power County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Power County courthouse in American Falls, and can be accessed by making a visit there.
Some of the records of the courts of Power County that have been microfilmed include:
Judgment Books
- Judgment docket, 1913-1928; index, 1913-1984
History[edit | edit source]
Historical Sketch of Power County (From the Power County, Idaho Gen Web site)
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Power County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in American Falls, Idaho.
At this point, neither the Idaho State Archives nor the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed land and property records of Power County. It is suggested that you check Bingham, Blaine or Oneida counties from which Power County was formed.
Maps[edit | edit source]
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- A digital Power County Idaho map is available online.
- Map of Power County, Idaho is available online.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Early migration routes to and from Power County, Idaho Genealogy for European and African American settlers included:
- Snake River
- Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon[9]
- California Trail 1846 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California[10]
Military[edit | edit source]
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Power County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their microfilm number 1452221) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.
Online Records[edit | edit source]
- 1940-1945 - Idaho, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images
Miscellaneous Series[edit | edit source]
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.
Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Power County. The originals are held in the Power County courthouse in American Falls, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the Family History Library can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1892-1990 - Idaho Naturalization Records, 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — index
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Current[edit | edit source]
Historical[edit | edit source]
- American Falls Press - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1927-1934
- American Falls Advertiser, 4 October 1902-19 March 1904
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1943-2013 - Idaho, Southern Counties Obituaries, 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — index and images
Pension Records[edit | edit source]
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives Boise and have been indexed. Power County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index which is available online.
Probate[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com $
Estate case files have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise.The registers that act as the index and list actions for each case remain in Power County. The Family History Library digital camera team has imaged the registers and the on-line results should soon be available .
Any existing and current probate records should be housed in the Power County courthouse in American Falls and may be accessed there.
Taxation[edit | edit source]
Any existing tax assessment rolls for Power County should be in the courthouse in American Falls and would need to be accessed by visiting there.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. United States Vital Records has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Idaho Vital Records State Department of Health or the Power County Clerk's office . See also Idaho Statewide Indexes and Collections at the Family History Library.
Births[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1861-1911 - Idaho, Birth Index, 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — index
- 1883-1929 - Idaho County Birth and Death Records 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
There are 137 Power County births recorded in the online Idaho Births and Christenings.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1800-1987 - Idaho, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1864-1976 - Idaho Church Marriages, 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — index
- 1864-1950 - Idaho County Marriages, 1864-1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1878-1898; 1903-1942 - Idaho Marriages, 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — index
- 1947-1963 - Idaho Marriage Index, 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — index
Over 1200 marriages, 1913-1941, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1947-1963 - Idaho Divorce Index, 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index
Death[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1883-1929 - Idaho County Birth and Death Records 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1938-1961 - Idaho Death Certificates, 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — index
Deaths occurring in Power County are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as mandated by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under Idaho for details.
Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.
A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.
Idaho Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records gives details about the collection that covers the years of 1907-1965.
Societies and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.
- American Falls District
308 Roosevelt St
American Falls, ID 83211
Phone: (208) 226-2335 - Rockland School/Community
321 E Center
Rockland, ID 83271
Phone: (208) 548-2222
Family History 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.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Websites[edit | edit source]
- The Power County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Power County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Power, Idaho Genealogy and History”, "http://genealogytrails.com/ida/power/."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Power County, Idaho. Page 177-180 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), 180-181.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Power, Idaho page 179, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Power County,Idaho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_County,_Idaho#Communities, accessed 15 June 2019.
- ↑ Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series, Number 10, Counties and County Seats, Reissued July, 1991.
- ↑ census.gov - Idaho population by county, 1900-90 accessed 2009-05-03
- ↑ quickfacts.census.gov - Canyon County accessed 2009-05-03
- ↑ Jim Tompkins, "The Oregon Trail 1841-1848 Map IV" in Oregon Trail Landmarks at
(accessed 18 July 2011).
- ↑ "Oregon California Trails Association" at http://octatrails.micromaps.com/ (accessed 18 July 2011).
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