Located in northeastern Oklahoma, Washington County was named after President George Washington. American explorers traveled the region with the Glenn-Fowler Expedition in 1821, and by the late 1800s, Washington County was being cultivated for agriculture and raising cattle. A cattle trail to Kansas ran through the county and was used until the railroad was introduced. The first railroad in Washington County was the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1899. In 1897, Oklahoma’s first commercial oil well was drilled in Bartlesville, creating an oil boom and making the county an oil production center. Today, the Bartlesville Area History Museum showcases the history of the area with displays and artifacts. Also located in Bartlesville, the magnificent Price Tower stands as Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper. Copan Lake near Copan offers campsites and fishing, and Hudson Lake near Bartlesville offers fishing and kayaking.
In 2000, census records showed 48,996 people living in Washington County. Countless assets exist for tracing genealogy in Washington County including legal records, cemetery records and a local genealogical society. Valuable resources for researching genealogy in Washington County are provided below, including a list of existing towns, the county courthouse address, a detailed map of the county and a list of cemeteries located within the county.
Washington County Courthouse Information
Washington County Courthouse
420 S. Johnstone Ave.
Bartlesville, OK 74003
Telephone: (918) 336-0330
Directions: At 5th & S. Johnstone.
Records available: Court Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and civil court records from 1907.
Washington County Website: http://www.countycourthouse.org/
Detailed Map of Washington County
Search for cemeteries, highways and scenic sites, or examine county and township lines with this detailed map of Washington County.
Existing Towns in Washington County
While researching your family history in Washington County, be sure to visit Bartlesville, the largest town in the county. The following towns and cities are located in present day Washington County, Oklahoma.
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Ghost Towns in Washington County
The following towns and cities either no longer exist in Washington County or are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past. These towns and cities are commonly referred to as "ghost towns."
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Oglesby |
Owen |
Silver Lake |
Cemeteries in Washington County
The following cemeteries are located in present day Washington County, Oklahoma.
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Saint Lukes Episcopal |
Libraries in Washington County
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Bartlesville Public Library |
Herbert F. Tyler Memorial Library |
Historic Newspaper Archives of Washington County
Bartlesville Enterprise
The Morning Examiner
Tribal Nations in Washington County
Delaware Tribe of Indians
170 NE Barbara
Bartlesville, OK 74006
Telephone: (918) 333-0733
Additional Genealogy Resources for Washington County
Washington County on OKGenWeb: Oklahoma Genealogy & History
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Bartlesville Genealogical Society |
Washington County Historical Society |
Places to Visit in Washington County
While researching your family history in Washington County, be sure to check out the following attractions located in the area.
