My name is Bill Cook and I am your host for the Douglas Co. GenWeb site.
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In 1849, the first white settlement was established in this area. The settlement, known as the "Mormon Station", was a trading post and way station established by H.S. Beatie for travelers on their way to California from the Great Basin. The station was abandoned within the year due to Indian troubles. The station was re-established in 1851 under new ownership, again by Mormons from Salt Lake City, and became the first town in the territory, Genoa. Genoa still exists today at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

In 1850, the "Washoe Country" became part of Utah Territory (Millard County, Utah). By 1851, an independent government had been established in the Territory but lasted only until Utah authorities intervened.

In 1854, Millard County was replaced with Carson County, Utah... the County Seat was the town of Genoa. The name changed but the problems remained the same. The disgruntled inhabitants petitioned Congress to annex them to California. Petition denied. By 1856, sixty to seventy Mormon families were living in this territory - as well as a number of Gentiles.

In 1857, Brigham Young sent word to these families that they were to return to Salt Lake City to help defend the Church against the United States Government. Those that were devout Mormons deserted their homes and returned to Salt Lake City as directed by Brigham Young. Gentiles in the area quickly seized their lands. There were a number of Mormons that did not return to Salt Lake, they were termed "Jack" Mormons.

In 1859, Territory inhabitants once again tried to free themselves from Utah. Several of them met in the town of Genoa and drew up a State Constitution over a ten-day period. The new state failed. In the same year, a silver bonanza was discovered in the Territory and the Federal Government began to take serious notice of the area.

On March 22, 1861, the Utah Territory was divided. The western portion of the Territory became the Nevada Territory. President Abraham Lincoln named James W. Nye, from New York, the first Territorial Governor.

On November 25, 1861, the Nevada Territory was divided into nine separate counties with county seats: Douglas, Esmeralda, Ormsby, Washoe, Storey, Churchill, Humboldt, Lake and Lyon. Douglas County was named for Stephen A. Douglas, Representative and Senator for the state of Illinois.   On October 31, 1864, Nevada became our 36th State... After the turn of the Century, the County Seat for Douglas was moved from Genoa to Minden, Nevada where it remains today.

Douglas County is 710 square miles in area, the fourth most populated county in Nevada with some 40,000 residents. Its boundaries encompass the Sierra Nevada mountains and Lake Tahoe as well as the Carson River and Topaz Lake. Elevations vary from a low of 4,625 feet on the valley floor to a high of 9,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada. An arid climate prevails with warm summers, moderate winters, and cool night temperatures year around.

Submit any of the above items to: Bill Cook, Douglas, County NV. Coordinator
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Douglas County Research Links -
Douglas County Nevada Vital Records
Douglas County Recorder
1594 Esmeralda Avenue Room 105
Minden, Nevada 89523 Phone: (775) 782-9014
Note: all sites indicating online have records available for you to view free of charge at the website.
Division of Health / Vital Statistics
4150 Technology Way Ste: 104
Carson City, NV 89706 , 775-684-4156

Census Records - 1930 Federal Census - Lookups - I am in the process of transcribing these records for the NVGenWeb and would be glad to do Douglas County lookups until they are online. Email me: drobin5727@aol.com - Subject: 1930 Look Up - please provide name and town

Local Newspapers

The Record Courier Douglas Co., Nevada - Newspaper online

View all of Rootsweb

CLICK HERE TO POST AND VIEW QUERIES PERTAINING TO DOUGLAS COUNTY

Nevada State research Links -
all notations of "online records refer to records available online to review at no cost.

United States research Links -

BLM/ GLO Records Website	(The Official Federal Land Patent Website)
Family Search LDS site	online records including the entire 1880 census!
National Archives.gov Online	Many items available online for search
Western States Marriage Index	Nevada marriage records from Ricks College online records

More Helpful research Links -
all notations of "online records" refer to records available online to review at no cost.

USGenweb and Nevada Genweb

Nevada State Coordinator: Robert V. Bremer Douglas Co Coordinator: Bill Cook Click logo to access sites

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William A. "Bill" Cook

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