Bonner County, Idaho Genealogy

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Guide to Bonner County, Idaho ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Landscape near Clark Fork, Bonner CO., Idaho by Peg Owens

Quick start:


Bonner County, Idaho
Map
Map of Idaho highlighting Bonner County
Location in the state of Idaho, United States Genealogy
Map of the U.S. highlighting Idaho
Location of Idaho in the U.S.
Facts
Founded February 21, 1907
County Seat Sandpoint
Courthouse
IDbonnercourthouse.jpg
Address Bonner County Courthouse
602 Bonner
215 South First Ave
Sandpoint, ID 83864-1392
208-265-1438
Fax: 208-265-1434


County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named after Edwin L. Bonner who established a ferry on the Kootenai River in 1864 near present day Bonners Ferry, Idaho.[1] The County Seat is Sandpoint[2] and was founded February 21, 1907. It is located in the northwest area of the state.[3]

Bonner County, Idaho Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1907 1907 1907 1907 1890 1890 1870
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1911. General compliance in the 1920s.

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Bonner County Courthouse
215 South First Avenue
Sandpoint, ID 83864-1392
Phone: 208-265-1438
Fax: 208-265-1434
Bonner County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1911 marriage, divorce and court records from 1907 probate from 1890 and land records from 1889. [5]

Quick Facts[edit | edit source]

Parent County[edit | edit source]

21 February 1907: Bonner County was created from Kootenai County. Named for Edwin L. Bonner who established a ferry on the Kootenai River near present day Bonners Ferry. [6]

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

23 January 1915: Boundary County created from portions of Bonner and Kootenai Counties

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

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

Places/Localities[edit | edit source]

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:[7]

Cities
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places


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 Bonner County, Idaho Genealogy entries with names, images, or information.

Tip
 Don't overlook Bonner 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 Bonner County have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and 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 Sandpoint. [8]

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 FamilySearch Places
Tombstone Project
Idaho Gravestones
Billion Graves
See Idaho Cemeteries for more information.

There are many cemeteries in Bonner County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Bonner 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. %±
191013,588
—
192012,957−4.6%
193013,1521.5%
194015,66719.1%
195014,853−5.2%
196015,5874.9%
197015,560−0.2%
198024,16355.3%
199026,62210.2%
200036,83538.4%
sources:[9][10]


The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.


For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

Church History and Records[edit | edit source]

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)[edit | edit source]

Green check.png
The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.


In 1930, Bonner County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.

  • The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Bonner County, Idaho prior to 1950.
  • Sandpoint
  • 21 February 1907: Bonner County was created from Kootenai County, Idaho.


List of Churches and Church Parishes

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 Bonner 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'sFamily History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Bonner County courthouse in Sandpoint, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

Some of the Bonner County court records that have been microfilmed are:

  • Civil actions, 1904-1928; register, 1911-1912; index, 1904-1911
  • Power of attorney, 1883-1938; index, 1891-1986


Judgment Books[edit | edit source]
  • Judgments, 1891-1931; index, 1882-1949

(Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions and many other court actions.)




Miscellaneous records are outlined in the Miscellaneous Series below.

History[edit | edit source]

Online County Histories

  • Beautiful Bonner, The History Of Bonner County, Idaho. c1991. By Bonner County History Book Committee; Marylyn Cork, project director. Dallas, Texas : Curtis Media. Online at: At various libraries(WorldCat).
  • Beautiful Bonner: History and Memories. c1991. Marceline, Missouri. : Walsworth Publishing Co. Online at: At various libraries(WorldCat).
  • Hoodoo Valley History. c2004. By Virginia Judge Overland. [S.l.] : Morton History Committee. Online at: At various libraries(WorldCat).
  • Morton Valley Memories. c1996. By the Morton History Committee; Virginia J. Overland, editor. [S.l.] : Morton History Committee. Online at: At various libraries(WorldCat).

Land and Property[edit | edit source]

Bonner CO.Lake Pend Oreille.jpg

Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Bonner County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Sandpoint, Idaho.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many county records of Bonner County and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed some Bonner County records pertaining to land and property, which can be viewed in the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers. Films available are:

  • Civil actions, 1904-1928; register, 1911-1912; index, 1904-1911
  • Deeds, 1885-1906; index, 1885-1910
  • Miscellaneous court records, 1905-1933

Maps[edit | edit source]

Pend Oreille CountySpokane CountyBoundary CountyKootenai CountyShoshone CountySanders CountyLincoln CountyID BONNER.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Military History and Records[edit | edit source]

World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Bonner County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their microfilm number 1452110) 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. These records are also available online on the Bonner County GenWeb site. See the links to other Military records from Bonner County on this site.

Online Records[edit | edit source]

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 Bonner County. The originals are held in the Bonner County courthouse in Sandpoint, 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

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Current[edit | edit source]
Historical[edit | edit source]

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed some of the early Sandpoint newspapers as well as other Bonner County newspapers which can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho. The newspapers are listed under the name or town where the newspaper was published.

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Probate[edit | edit source]

Online Probate Records

Any existing original probate records for Bonner County should be in the county courthouse located in Sandpoint, Idaho. You can access these records by visiting the courthouse.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilm copies of many of the early Bonner County probate records which can be read at the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also has some microfilms of earlier Bonner County probate records. The following are available for viewing at the Library in Salt Lake City, or at any of itsFamily History Centers:

Taxation[edit | edit source]

Any existing tax assessment rolls for Bonner County should be in the courthouse in Sandpoint and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Birth[edit | edit source]

Online Records


The Birth Registers for Bonner County, 1907-1911, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Bonner County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Online Records

Over 3200 marriages, 1907-1931, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Online Records

Deaths[edit | edit source]

Online Records


The death registers for Bonner County, 1907-1911 have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

After 1911, deaths occurring in Bonner 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 issued 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, the Family History Library, 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 the US Genweb Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.

Societies, Libraries and Museums[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.

  • Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Websites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Bonner County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ida/bonner/
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Bonner County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonner_County,_Idaho
  3. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Bonner County, Idaho Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ida/bonner/
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Bonner 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.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Bonner, Idaho page 177, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Bonner County, Idaho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonner_County, Idaho, accessed 3 April 2019.
  8. ↑ Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series, Number 10, Counties and County Seats, Reissued July, 1991.
  9. ↑ census.gov - Idaho population by county, 1900-90 accessed 2009-05-03
  10. ↑ quickfacts.census.gov - Canyon County accessed 2009-05-03
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