Arizona Genealogy

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Overview of Arizona records

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Overview of Arizona Genealogy Records

• History: Arizona was first settled in 1821 as part of Mexico. It became part of the United States in 1854 and became part of New Mexico Territory. It became Arizona Territory in 1863 and became a state in 1912.
• Birth records: A few birth records were kept by the government starting in 1855. State registration began in 1909 with complete records being kept by 1926. Birth records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
• Marriage records: Marriage records were kept by the government starting in 1864 by county recorders. Marriages were recorded by clerks of the probate court from 1891 to 1912. Copies of marriage records can be obtained from the Clerk of the Superior Court in the individual counties.
• Death records: A few death records were kept by the government starting in 1855. Statewide registration began in 1909 with complete records being kept by 1926. Death records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
• Divorce records: Divorce records are kept by the clerk of the superior courts in each county.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Arizona is 1860. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1860 (listed with New Mexico), 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There were partial territorial censuses taken in 1864, 1866, 1867, and 1869.
• County records: Court, land, probate, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns kept newspapers, churches kept records, and there are records of cemeteries, histories, schools, city directories, and other records that can be located by using the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Use the links on this site to locate the online indexes and images of many of the above records.