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United States Arizona Santa Cruz County

	Arizona Online Records

Santa Cruz County, Arizona
Map
Location in the state of Arizona
Location of Arizona in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	March 15, 1899
County Seat	Nogales
Courthouse
Address	2150 N Congress Dr. Nogales, AZ 85621 (520) 375-7800 TDD for the Hearing Impaired (520)761-7816

Wikipedia has more about this subject: Santa Cruz County, Arizona

County Courthouse

Santa Cruz County Courthouse
2150 North Congress Drive
P O Box 1265
Nogales, AZ 85628-1265
Phone: 520-761-7800

Clerk Superior Court has marriage,
divorce, probate and Court Records from 1899,
military records 1888-1085
and adoption records from 1940 ^[1]

History

Santa Cruz County lies directly south of Tucson. The town of Nogales is the county seat. Nogales is also a major border crossing between the United States and Mexico, and is part of a 'twin border city' situation. The Santa Cruz river runs north out of Mexico towards Tucson.

The historic Catholic mission near Tubac on I-19 was significant in the history of the area. However, any records that were produced when this was an active parish were not kept there, but may be in the Diocese in Tucson. Other missions are also nearby, mainly San Xavier which is in Pima County closer to Tucson.

• Until 1821 -  New Spain controlled land that later would become Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
  
• In 1821 - Mexico obtained jurisdiction over the land that later would become Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City.
• 18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory.^[2] Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded part of present day Arizona.^[3] The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. This included all of present day Santa Cruz County. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 30 Dec 1853 - The United States bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona, including all of present day Santa Cruz County.^[4] Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory.^[5] Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
• 3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.^[6] This county included all of present day Santa Cruz County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
• 1 Feb 1860 - New Mexico created Arizona County from land in Dona Ana County.^[7] Arizona County was located entirely within present day Arizona, including all of present day Santa Cruz County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.
• 18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued Arizona County returning the land to Dona Ana County.^[8] Look for records in Dona Ana County.
• 24 Feb 1863 - The US created the Arizona Territory from the western half of New Mexico Territory.^[9] All previous counties were discontinued for this new territory. Look for records in the Arizona State Library and New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
• 10 Nov 1864 - Arizona created Pima County.^[10] This county named for the Pima Indians. Look for records in Pima County.

Parent County

15 Mar 1899 - Arizona created Santa Cruz County from land in Pima County.^[11] County seat: Nogales ^[12] This county named for the Santa Cruz River. Look for records in Pima and Santa Cruz counties.

Boundary Changes

See Previous Jurisdictions to land in Arizona showing dates the jurisdictions were created and maps. This will help in determining what jurisdiction your ancestor lived in and where the records are now located.

Record Loss

Places/Localities

Populated Places

Neighboring Counties

• Cochise, Arizona
• Pima, Arizona

Resources

Cemeteries

 Arizona Cemetery Transcription and Photo Project

Census

For tips on accessing Santa Cruz County, Arizona census records online, see: Arizona Census.

Church

LDS Ward and Branch Records

• Nogales

Court

Land

Local Histories

Maps

Military

Newspapers

Probate

Taxation

Vital Records

Many early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

The Tumacacori National Historical Park has created a website with searchable Spanish Mission Records as well as an annotated bibliography of the Tohono O'odham (Papago Indians).  Along with transcribed marriage records from the Cathedral of Culiacan in spanish, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Societies and Libraries

Pimeria Alta Historical Society
136 North Grand Ave.
Nogales, AZ 85621
PO Box 2281
Nogales, AZ 85628
Telephone 520-287-4621
Hours 10-4 Thurs.-Sat

Family History Centers

Introduction to Family History CentersNogales Arizona Family History Center

Nogales Arizona
621 W Green Pl
Nogales, Santa Cruz, Arizona, United States
Telephone: 520-281-0368

This is not a mailing address. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Web Sites

• USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Family History Library Catalog
• Santa Cruz County, Arizona Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

References

1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Santa Cruz County, Arizona p. 56. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
2. ↑ Williams 108-110
3. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 9, pp. 922-943; Parry, 102: 29-59; Van Zandt, 11, 28-29; Walker and Bufkin, 19, 20A
4. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 10, pp. 1031-1037; Van Zandt, 11, 29, 162
5. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 10, ch. 245[1854]/p. 575; Van Zandt, 162; Walker and Bufkin, 21-22
6. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1854, 4th assy. /p. 57
7. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy. /p. 74
8. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 18
9. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 56[1863]/pp. 664-665; Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy./ pp. vii-viii; Van Zandt, 162
10. ↑ Howell Code, Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy., ch. 2/ pp. 24-25
11. ↑ Ariz. Terr. Laws 1899, 20th assy./ pp. 49-57
12. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).

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