GOSHEN COUNTY, WY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Goshen County, Wyoming: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the southeastern corner of Wyoming, Goshen County is a land of rich agricultural heritage and deep historical importance. Its identity was shaped by the North Platte River, which served as a vital corridor for the great westward trails of the 19th century and later provided the water for irrigation projects that transformed the arid prairie into productive farmland. For genealogists, researching Goshen County means tracing the path of westward pioneers, open-range ranchers, and the determined homesteaders who built a thriving community from the soil up.

I. County Formation and Evolution

As a relatively young county, Goshen’s records are consolidated, but all research prior to its formation must be conducted in its parent county.

  • 1911: County Formed: Goshen County was created by an act of the Wyoming Legislature on February 9, 1911.
  • 1913: County Organized: The county government was formally organized and began operations on January 6, 1913. This is the date from which its own official records begin.
  • Parent County: Goshen County was formed entirely from the northern portion of Laramie County. Any and all official records for people living in the area prior to 1913—including land, marriage, and court records—will be found in the records of Laramie County, located in Cheyenne.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for the Goshen Hole, a large, fertile valley in the region. The name itself is a biblical reference to a land of plenty.
  • County Seat History: Upon organization in 1913, the town of Torrington was chosen as the county seat and has remained so.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The lands of Goshen County were historically the territory of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples, who hunted the vast herds of bison that roamed the plains.
  • The Great Westward Trails: The North Platte River valley was a superhighway of westward expansion. The Oregon Trail, Mormon Pioneer Trail, and California Trail all followed the river through present-day Goshen County. Tens of thousands of emigrants passed through, leaving their mark at sites like Register Cliff, where they carved their names into the soft sandstone. The nearby Fort Laramie was a critical supply post for this migration.
  • The Cattle Kingdom: Following the Plains Indian Wars of the 1870s, the region became part of the open range of Wyoming’s “Cattle Kingdom.” Huge cattle outfits, many financed by foreign investors, grazed immense herds across the unfenced prairie.
  • Homesteading and Irrigation: The most significant transformation in the county’s history began in the early 20th century with the arrival of homesteaders. Their success was made possible by large-scale irrigation projects that diverted water from the North Platte River. The Whalen Diversion Dam (1909) and the Interstate Canal system turned thousands of arid acres into productive farmland, ideal for growing sugar beets, beans, corn, and alfalfa.
  • Railroad Development: The arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was crucial, connecting the county’s new farms to national markets and spurring the growth of Torrington and other agricultural towns.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Research is focused on the courthouse in Torrington for post-1913 records and the Laramie County courthouse in Cheyenne for all earlier records.

  • County Courthouse: The Goshen County Courthouse, 2125 East A Street, Torrington, WY 82240, is the central repository for county records.
    • County Clerk: This office holds land records (deeds, mortgages), and marriage licenses from 1913 to the present.
    • Clerk of the District Court: This office maintains the records of the district court, which in Wyoming include probate records (wills and estates), divorce decrees, and other civil and criminal case files.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Wyoming began in July 1909. For official certificates, contact the Wyoming Department of Health’s Vital Statistics Services. Some delayed birth records may be held by the Clerk of the District Court. Any records before 1913 would be in Laramie County.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from January 1913 to the present are held by the Goshen County Clerk. Any marriage taking place in the area before that date must be sought in the records of Laramie County.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Goshen County Homesteaders Museum: Located in Torrington, this is an essential stop for researchers. Its collections focus on the homesteading era, irrigation projects, and the histories of local families.
    • Goshen County Library: Also in Torrington, the library has a local history collection, newspaper archives on microfilm, and other genealogical resources.
  • State-Level Resources:
    • Wyoming State Archives: Located in Cheyenne, this is a critical resource holding microfilm copies of county records, state documents, manuscript collections, and photographs.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Niobrara County, WY (north)
    • Platte County, WY (west)
    • Laramie County, WY (south)
    • Banner County, NE (southeast)
    • Scotts Bluff County, NE (east)
    • Sioux County, NE (northeast)

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