Oregon Genealogy

USA (1,379,301) > Oregon (12,566)

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Overview of Oregon records

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Overview of Oregon Genealogy Records

• History: Oregon was first settled in 1811, became Oregon Territory in 1845, and became a state in 1859.
• Birth records: Statewide registration of births in Oregon began in 1903. Some counties and cities kept records earlier than 1903. Birth records from 1903 to the present can be obtained from the Oregon Health Authority.
• Marriage records: Marriage records were kept in Oregon soon after the each county was organized and are held by county clerks. Statewide registration of marriages began in 1906. Marriage records from 1911 to the present can be obtained from the Oregon Health Authority.
• Death records: Statewide registration of deaths in Oregon began in 1903. Some counties and cities kept records earlier than 1903. Death records from 1903 to the present can be obtained from the Oregon Health Authority.
• Divorce records: Divorce records are kept by the circuit court in each county. Divorce records from 1925 to the present can be obtained from the Oregon Health Authority.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Oregon is 1850. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There were several partial territorial or state censuses taken between 1845 and 1895.
• County records: Court, land, probate, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns kept newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, 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 online indexes and images of many of the above records.