Iowa Genealogy

USA (1,379,301) > Iowa (43,684)

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Overview of Iowa records

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Overview of Iowa Genealogy Records

• History: Iowa was first settled in 1833, became part of Michigan Territory in 1834, became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836, became Iowa Territory in 1838, and became a state in 1846.
• Birth records: Birth records were kept by the government starting in 1880 with complete records by 1924. Birth records for 1880 and later can be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
• Marriage records: Marriage records were kept since about 1835. Copies of marriage records can be obtained from the clerk of the district court where the license was issued. Marriage records for 1880 and later can be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
• Death records: Death records were kept by the government starting in 1880 with complete records by 1924. Death records for 1880 and later can be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
• Divorce records: Early divorce records were located in the district courts with copies sent to the state beginning in 1906.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Iowa is 1840. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There was a territorial census in 1836. There were state censuses taken in 1852, 1854, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1925.
• Probate records: Probate records are kept by the district court clerks.
• County records: Court, land, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns had newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located on the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Online indexes and images of many of the above records can be found by using the links on this site.