WASHAKIE COUNTY, WY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Washakie County, Wyoming: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of the Bighorn Basin in north-central Wyoming, Washakie County is a testament to the transformative power of irrigation in the American West. Its history is not one of early trappers or Oregon Trail pioneers, but of 20th-century homesteaders who, with the help of the railroad and ambitious water projects, turned an arid landscape into a productive agricultural center. Named for one of the region’s most respected Native American leaders, the county’s story is one of perseverance, farming, and community building. For genealogists, its records reflect a relatively modern settlement pattern distinct from much of Wyoming.

I. County Formation and Evolution

As a 20th-century creation, Washakie County’s records are consolidated, but all research prior to its formation must be done in its large parent county.

  • 1911: County Formed: Washakie County was created by an act of the Wyoming Legislature on February 9, 1911.
  • 1913: County Organized: The county government was not formally organized and functional until January 1913. This is the effective date for the start of Washakie County’s independent record-keeping.
  • Parent County: The county was formed entirely from the eastern portion of Big Horn County. All official records for individuals living in the area prior to 1913—including land, marriage, and probate records—will be found in the records of Big Horn County, with its county seat in Basin.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Chief Washakie, the distinguished and influential leader of the Eastern Shoshone tribe. He was a statesman known for his wisdom, negotiating skills, and fostering peace with the United States government.
  • County Seat History: The town of Worland, which had been established just a few years earlier as part of an irrigation project, was chosen as the county seat and has remained so.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The Bighorn Basin was a vital hunting and wintering ground for numerous tribes, most prominently the Shoshone, Crow, and Arapaho.
  • Ranching and Late Settlement: While cattle ranchers ran large herds in the Bighorn Basin in the late 19th century, widespread agricultural settlement was minimal due to the arid climate.
  • The Irrigation and Railroad Era: The county’s history truly begins in the early 1900s. The arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1906 was the catalyst for development. Simultaneously, large-scale irrigation projects, spurred by federal legislation like the Carey Act, diverted water from the Bighorn River, making the land viable for farming. This brought a wave of homesteaders to the area.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Founding of Worland: The town of Worland was established in 1906 specifically to serve the new agricultural communities developing on the irrigated lands.
    • Sugar Beet Industry: In 1917, the Holly Sugar Corporation built a major sugar beet processing factory in Worland. For decades, sugar beets were the economic engine of the county, attracting waves of agricultural laborers, including many German-Russian and Hispanic families whose descendants remain in the area.
    • Energy Development: The discovery of oil and natural gas fields, especially the Worland Field in the 1940s, diversified the county’s economy beyond agriculture.
    • World War II: A German prisoner-of-war camp was established near Worland during the war, with the POWs providing labor for the local sugar beet harvest.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

As a newer county, Washakie County’s records are well-organized and located almost entirely in the county seat of Worland.

  • County Courthouse: The Washakie County Courthouse, 1001 Big Horn Ave., Worland, WY 82401, is the central location for all official records since 1913.
    • County Clerk: This is the primary office for genealogical research. It holds all land records (deeds, mortgages), marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and military discharge papers from 1913 onward.
    • Clerk of the District Court: This office maintains the judicial records for the county, including probate and estate files, civil and criminal court cases, naturalization records, and divorce proceedings.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Wyoming began in 1909. Official county-level records for Washakie County begin in 1913 and are available from the County Clerk.
    • Marriage Records: Held by the County Clerk and date from 1913 to the present. Any marriages that took place in the area before 1913 would have been recorded in Big Horn County.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Washakie Museum & Cultural Center: This excellent museum in Worland is the premier institution for local history. It has extensive exhibits on the area’s paleontology, Native American history, pioneer life, and industrial development, as well as genealogical resources.
    • Washakie County Library System: The main library in Worland offers a local history section, newspaper archives on microfilm, and other materials useful for family history research.
  • Land Records: Initial homestead files are federal records held by the National Archives. All subsequent land transactions from 1913 forward are recorded with the County Clerk.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Big Horn County (north)
    • Johnson County (east)
    • Natrona County (southeast)
    • Fremont County (south)
    • Hot Springs County (west)

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