Greenlee County Arizona Genealogy

Greenlee County genealogy records offer a window into the copper mining families who built this remote corner of Arizona. The county seat of Clifton holds marriage records dating back to the 1900s along with property deeds and court documents. Arizona vital records like birth and death certificates come through the state system, but Greenlee County offices maintain local marriage licenses and land records. The County Recorder and Clerk of Superior Court in Clifton serve as your main contacts for family history research in this small mountain county.

Greenlee County Recorder Office

The Greenlee County Recorder maintains land records, deeds, and other property documents useful for genealogy research. You can find this office at 253 5th Street in Clifton, Arizona 85533. Call (928) 865-2632 with questions about recorded documents in Greenlee County. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is closed on Fridays, which matches the schedule many rural Arizona counties follow.

Property records can reveal much about your ancestors. Deeds show when family members bought or sold land. Liens and mortgages tell stories about financial situations. Mining claims were especially common in Greenlee County given its copper mining heritage. The recorder office holds these historical documents that help piece together your family's story in Arizona.

Visit the Greenlee County Recorder website to learn about available services and document requests.

The recorder page above shows contact details and hours for requesting Greenlee County genealogy documents.

Greenlee County Marriage Records

Marriage licenses and records in Greenlee County come from the Clerk of Superior Court. The clerk office sits at 223 5th Street in Clifton, AZ 85533. Phone (928) 865-4242 to ask about marriage record requests. Greenlee County marriage records go back to the 1900s, covering over a century of family unions in this Arizona county. A marriage license costs $83 in Greenlee County, which falls below the $98 fee charged in larger counties like Maricopa.

Marriage records contain valuable genealogy information. You get the full legal names of both spouses. Ages at the time of marriage appear on the record. Some older certificates list the birthplaces of the bride and groom. Parents' names sometimes show up too. All these details help you build out your family tree and connect generations.

The Greenlee County marriage licenses page explains requirements and fees for current licenses and copies of older records.

This page provides marriage license requirements and fees for Greenlee County genealogy researchers.

Greenlee County Vital Records

Birth and death certificates in Arizona are state records, not county records. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records is the main source for these documents. You can reach them at (602) 364-1300 or toll free at (888) 816-5907. The bureau sits at 150 North 18th Avenue in Phoenix. Certified copies of birth and death records cost $20 each.

Arizona is a closed record state under ARS 36-302. Only certain family members can get certified copies of vital records. For genealogy purposes, you can request non-certified copies if you can prove your relationship to the person on the record. Non-certified copies cost $5 and work fine for family history research.

Older vital records are easier to access for genealogy work. Birth records become publicly available 75 years after the date of birth. Death records open up 50 years after the date of death. The free Arizona genealogy database contains searchable records and actual images of historical birth and death certificates.

Note: Call ahead before visiting any office in Greenlee County since rural Arizona offices may have limited staffing or unexpected closures.

Greenlee County Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court in Greenlee County holds probate files, civil cases, and divorce records. These court documents add depth to your genealogy research. Probate files list heirs and assets when someone died. Divorce records show the end of marriages and sometimes include child custody details. Civil cases might reveal disputes between family members or neighbors.

Arizona courts use the eAccess system for online record searches. This portal gives you 24/7 access to search court records from most Arizona counties including Greenlee. You can look up case numbers, party names, and basic case information. For full documents, you may need to contact the clerk office directly or visit in person.

Under ARS 39-121.01, most court records are public in Arizona. You have the right to inspect and copy these documents. The clerk can only charge fees that cover their actual costs for copies.

Arizona State Archives for Greenlee County

The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records holds historical documents from across the state including Greenlee County materials. Located at the Polly Rosenbaum Archives building at 1901 W Madison Street in Phoenix, this facility stores court records, naturalization papers, voter lists, and other genealogy resources. The archives phone is 602-926-3720. Visits require an appointment.

Arizona residents get free access to Ancestry records from the state archives. This benefit helps with Greenlee County genealogy research. The Arizona archives genealogy guide explains available collections. You can find census records, land records, wills, and much more for Greenlee County ancestors.

More Greenlee County Genealogy Resources

Several other resources help with Greenlee County family history research. The Arizona Memory Project contains historical photographs and documents that may include Greenlee County images. Mining company records and local newspaper archives sometimes turn up family names and stories from the copper boom era.

FamilySearch offers free Arizona genealogy records including county courthouse materials. The Arizona Historical Society maintains research libraries with manuscripts and photographs. Cemetery records on Find A Grave help locate burial sites in Greenlee County.

Census records track Greenlee County families over time. Federal census records for Arizona include 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940. These records show who lived in each household, their ages, birthplaces, and occupations. Mining families often appear in the Clifton and Morenci areas of Greenlee County.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Greenlee County borders other Arizona counties where your ancestors may have lived or traveled. Family members sometimes moved between neighboring areas for work or marriage. Check these nearby county pages for related genealogy records:

Cities in Greenlee County

Greenlee County contains no cities with populations over 50,000. The largest communities are Clifton, the county seat, and Morenci, home to one of the world's largest copper mines. Residents of these towns access genealogy records through the county offices in Clifton. The Greenlee County Recorder and Clerk of Superior Court handle all local genealogy document requests for the entire county.