Home > History and Archives > Arizona Genealogical Material

Arizona Genealogical Material

The Arizona State Archives contains a number of helpful resources for researchers trying to trace their Arizona genealogy.

To see a partial list of records the Arizona State Archives holds for each county, click on the county name on the map below. Don't know what county your desired city is in? Click here for list of select Arizona cities.

Apache County: Organized on February 14, 1879 from parts of Yavapai and Maricopa Counties. St. Johns was named the county seat. Originally, the county included the areas which later became Navajo County and portions of Gila and Graham counties.

Cochise County: Organized on February 1, 1881 from part of the eastern part of Pima County. At that time, Tombstone was designated as the county seat. The seat moved to Bisbee in 1929.

Coconino County: Organized in 1891 created from part of Yavapai county. The county seat has always been in Flagstaff.

Gila County: Organized on February 8, 1881 from parts of Maricopa and Pinal counties. In 1889, Gila County enlarged itself by purchasing land from Yavapai County. The county seat has always been at Globe.

Graham County: Organized on March 10, 1881 from parts of Apache and Pima Counties. The first county seat was at Safford, but it was moved in 1883 to Solomonville. It was returned to Safford in 1915.

Greenlee County: March 13, 1909 from the eastern portion of Graham County. The county seat has always been at Clifton.

La Paz County: Organized on January 1, 1983 from the northern half of Yuma County. The county seat is Parker.

Maricopa County: Organized on February 14, 1871 from a portion of Yavapai County. Phoenix has always served as the county seat.

Mohave County: One of the four original counties created in Arizona Territory in 1864. Hardyville was the first county seat, followed by Mineral Park until 1887 when it was moved to Kingman which was the fifth and final seat.

Navajo County: Organized on March 21, 1895 from the western portion of Apache County. The county seat was located in Holbrook.

Pah-Ute County: Once an Arizona county. The second Territorial Legislature created Pah-Ute County in 1865. However, on May 5, 1866, the United States Congress transferred part of the county to Nevada. However, Arizonans objected to the transfer. Pah-Ute continued to send representatives to the Arizona Territorial Legislature until 1868. Finally, in 1871, the Arizona Territorial Legislature revoked the bill creating Pah-Ute County.

Pima County: The last of the four Arizona counties created under the Howell code in 1864. The county seat was located in Tucson. Parts of this county were taken to create the counties of Maricopa, Pinal, Cochise, Graham and Santa Cruz.

Pinal County: Organized on February 1, 1875 from parts Pima and Maricopa counties. The county seat was located at Florence.

Santa Cruz County: Organized on March 15, 1899 from the southeastern part of Pima County. The county seat was located at Nogales.

Yavapai County: The first county created by the Territorial Legislature in 1864 under the Howell code. The county seat was located at Prescott.

Yuma County: The third county the first Territorial Legislature created under the Howell code in 1864. The county seat was established at La Paz. An act approved January 26, 1871 changed the county seat to Arizona City which later became the city of Yuma.

top of page