SECOND JUDICIAL DIVISION HISTORY AND LOOKUP

Borough & Census Area History Books

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Second Judicial District, Alaska: A Genealogical Overview

Researching family history in Northwest Alaska requires a different approach than in the rest of the United States. Alaska has no counties. Instead, its historical and legal records are organized by judicial districts, and its local government is administered by boroughs. The Second Judicial District, encompassing the vast and sparsely populated Seward Peninsula and Northwest Arctic region, is a land of immense cultural and historical depth. Its story is defined by millennia of Iñupiat and Yup’ik history, the explosive Nome Gold Rush, and the strategic importance of the American Arctic.

I. Jurisdictional History and Evolution

Understanding Alaska’s unique administrative structure is the first step to successful genealogical research. The concept of a “county” does not apply; jurisdiction is divided between state-level offices, judicial districts, and local boroughs.

  • No Counties: Alaska was never organized into counties. Do not search for a “county clerk” or “county courthouse” in the traditional sense.
  • Judicial Divisions and Districts: In 1900, the U.S. Congress divided the Territory of Alaska into three judicial divisions for the administration of justice. The Second Judicial Division, with its court first at St. Michael and soon after moved to Nome, was one of these original divisions. After statehood in 1959, these were reorganized into four Judicial Districts. The modern Second Judicial District corresponds to the historic Second Division.
  • Jurisdictional Seat: The seat of the Superior Court for the Second Judicial District is Nome. This is where all historical and current court records for the entire district, including probate files, are located.
  • Boroughs (County Equivalents): Modern local government functions are handled by boroughs. The Second Judicial District covers two primary areas:
    • Nome Census Area: Part of the statewide “Unorganized Borough,” this area’s local affairs are administered directly by the state and local municipalities.
    • Northwest Arctic Borough: An organized borough with its government seat in Kotzebue.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Indigenous Peoples: The region has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years by the Iñupiat and Yup’ik peoples. Their sophisticated maritime and inland hunting cultures are the foundation of the region’s history. For genealogists, records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal and village corporations are essential resources.
  • The Nome Gold Rush (1899-1909): The discovery of gold on the beaches of Nome triggered one of the world’s last great gold rushes. In a few short years, tens of thousands of prospectors, merchants, and adventurers from across the globe descended on the Seward Peninsula. This event created a massive, albeit often temporary, non-Native population and generated the first significant body of American civil records for the region.
  • The Reindeer Era: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sheldon Jackson led a U.S. government initiative to introduce reindeer herding from Siberia to Alaska to provide a stable food source for Native communities. This program profoundly impacted the Native economy and way of life for generations.
  • Twentieth-Century Development: The growth of aviation became critical for connecting the region’s remote communities. During the Cold War, the area’s strategic location led to the construction of numerous military installations and Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line radar sites, bringing in military personnel and civilian contractors. The 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) established the regional NANA and Bering Straits Native Corporations, which are major economic and social forces today.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Record-keeping in Alaska is highly centralized at the state level, with court records held at the district level and federal records being of paramount importance.

  • Statewide Vital Records:
    • Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics: Located in Juneau, this office is the sole repository for all official birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in the state from 1913 to the present. This should be the first source for these records.
  • Court Records (Probate and Civil Cases):
    • Nome Superior Court: As the seat of the Second Judicial District, the courthouse in Nome holds all court records for the region dating back to its establishment around 1900. This is the primary location to search for wills, probate files, guardianship records, and civil court cases (including historical divorce filings).
  • Federal Records:
    • National Archives at Seattle: This is arguably the most critical repository for historical Alaska research. Its collection includes Territorial Court records (pre-1959), U.S. Census records for Alaska (including mortality and social statistics schedules), records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), mining claims, and land office records.
  • Land and Property Records:
    • For the Nome Census Area, which is part of the Unorganized Borough, land records are maintained by the State of Alaska Recorder’s Office for the Cape Nome Recording District.
    • For the Northwest Arctic Borough, property records are maintained by the borough government in Kotzebue.
  • Libraries and Archives:
    • Alaska State Archives (Juneau): Holds records of the territorial and state governments.
    • University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives: A premier repository for historical manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, and newspapers related to the entire state, including the Second Judicial District.
  • Major Hubs within the District:
    • Nome (Judicial District Seat)
    • Kotzebue (Northwest Arctic Borough Seat)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks