Photocopy a map of the state that shows counties - one of the best maps you can carry in your research notebook is a photocopy of the state from the Handy Book For Genealogists. Use the latest edition because it shows ALL counties in your state and over the border of the state lines. Both the local genealogical society library and the local family history library have the latest edition.

Photocopy a map of the area that shows towns Finding one that has townships that is an added bonus. Wags (Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society) has a township directory that gives a map of every county and its townships. This is especially helpful for census research. Some county US GenWeb pages also have township maps on their county pages.

Check the Handy Book to see when your present day county was formed. It will tell you when and from what county and it will also note if there was a disaster in the county that demolished records or if the census for that county has been lost.  Most county U.S. GenWeb pages also give county formation details.

County formation maps are excellent in Dollarhide's  "Map Guide to the US Federal Census, 1790-1920" (owned both by WAGS and the local LDS Family History Center).   Some County formation maps may be found online here (most are from the eastern to midwestern states)

Look closely at the geography of the area. Think about how people traveled in the period you are researching. Where were the roads? Railroads? Waterways?  Is the river big enough to travel on?  How did people get there?  Does the geography make it easier to get to the western part of the state rather than the eastern part?  Try using Google to see if there is a history of a river, railroad, canal, etc.

Learn the area’s history. Start by checking out the U.S. Genweb page for the county you are researching in. Some of them have extensive histories of an area.  Don't forget to do a Google search for history of an area.  Try different search terms that might include the county name, a landmark, a migration, town etc.

County Histories
Most counties published a county history as part of the country's first centennial celebration or shortly after.  Many researchers hope to find a biographical sketch of a family but that is not the only thing useful found within.  These books often have information about how the area was settled, early church history, epidemics, business.  Even if your family is not in print look for sketches on neighbors or people who married into the family.  See where they came from.  Most early counties were settled by just a few migrations.  Where were people coming from to get there?

Heritage Quest – they have MANY county histories in their database.  If you live in the central Washington district served by North Central Regional Library all you have to do is request a password and you may search their collection.  This is a tremendous resource since many county histories have never been indexed or the index has been published separately and is hard to locate.

 
Family History Catalog ( LDS/Salt Lake) - most county histories have been filmed or microfiched by Salt Lake.  Do a locality search under the county and state.  It also doesn't hurt to look under the town, particularly if you are doing New England research as many town histories were published.

Seattle Public Library has a very large selection of county histories.  If you find what you need in their catalog Wenatchee Public Library should be able to borrow it - you won't be able to take it home but can go there to read it.

If they don’t try to get hold of a county history of the area. Most have been filmed by Salt Lake and can be borrowed at the family history library. Seattle Public Library  has a large collection of county histories and they will loan them to Wenatchee Public Library where you can use them in the library (you can’t take them home).

Remember not to get too focused on "your county".  People often had ties to surrounding counties.  Make certain you know what bordered where they lived. 

copyright © 2003  Anne Livingston - not for profit