Oregon Secretary of State

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Land Records

​​​​​​​Learn About the Past With Land Records

All levels of government deal with land records documenting ownership transfers, taxation, alterations and other actions. In addition to documenting important rights, these records are valuable to researchers. For example, old assessment and taxation records often have information about real and personal property, down to the number of cattle and pigs on the property and the value of farm equipment. 

The State Archives holds land records from county, provisional, territorial, state and federal governments. Examples include:

  • Assessment and tax rolls in the county records
  • Maps and program records regarding land use, land management and environmental issues in the state records
  • Land claims, land use surveys and land legislation in the Provisional and Territorial​ government records
  • Donation Land Claim files in the federal records

Land Records

​​​​​The following cou​nty government land records are available for research at the State Archives.

B​aker

Assessment Rolls, 1892-1897

Benton

Assessment Rolls, 1851-1865
Inheritance Tax Rolls, 1918-1959
Tax Rolls, 1851-1863

Clackamas

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1850-1949
Assessment and Tax Rolls Index, 1901-1949
Deed Index, 1850-1911
Deeds, 1855-1957
Homestead Grant Records, 1916-1938
Lake Oswego Plat, 1888
Land Records, 1850-1853
Land Transaction Register, 1890-1910
Land Use Petitions, 1957
Oregon California Land Grant Records, 1921-1935
Oregon City Lot Purchase Register, 1850
Plat Book, 1940
Quit Claim Deed Record, 1850-1868
San Francisco Plat, 1850
Women's Separate Property Register, 1859-1909

Clatsop

Assessment and tax rolls, 1847-1921
Deeds [quitclaim], 1849-1858
Deed Index, 1850-1870
Land Claim Records, 1848-1893
Point Adams Military Reservation Land Acquisition Records, 1905

Columbia

Assessor's Grade Book, 1912-1923
Assessment and tax rolls, 1854-1920
Deeds [with index], 1850-1870
Land Claim records, 1854-1860
Land title registers, 1909-1920
Maps, undated
Women's Separate Property Register, 1874-1904

Crook

Assessment and tax rolls, 1882-1910

Curry

Assessment rolls, 1857-1859
Women's Separate Property Register, 1885-1907

Deschutes

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1920-1930

Grant

Assessment Rolls, 1869-1871, 1875-1898
Delinquent Tax Rolls, 1884-1887
Plat Book, 1894-1910

Harney

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1889-1893
Assessors Plats, 1890-1896
Land Tract Index, 1882-1913

Hood River

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1907-1936
Deeds and Indexes, 1881-1924

Jackson

Assessment and tax rolls, 1858-1885
Assessor's correspondence, 1918-1953
Land claim records, 1862-1882

Lake

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1874-1939

Lane

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1854-1899

Lincoln

Deed Records, 1892-1914
Land Register, 1893-1900
Land Sale Records, 1920-1927

Linn

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1858-1892
Assessor's Certificate of Indebtedness, 1873
Delinquent Tax Rolls, 1860-1901
Real Property Records, 1891
Real Property Sales Record, 1901

Marion

Assessment Rolls, 1854-1925
Assessment and Tax Records, 1852-1943
Land Records, 1846-1855

Multnomah

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1866-1903
Assessment and Tax Rolls Index, 1903
Deeds, 1849-1854
Deed Index [Indirect], ca. 1855-1878
Delinquent Tax Sale Records, 1903-1910
Sheriff's Deeds Record, 1897-1931

Polk

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1850-1940
Donation Land Claim Plats, n.d.
Land Tract Register Index, n.d.

Tillamook

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1890-1904

Umatilla

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1862-1925
Homestead Land Claim, 1882-1902
Plats, 1890-1913

Wasco

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1861-1935
Homestead Certificates, 1902
School Lands Sale Records, 1872-1880
Women's Separate Property Register, 1861-1893

Washington

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1846-1903
Assessment and Tax Roll Indexes, 1910-1945
Assessor's Correspondence, 1913-1937
Assessor's Field Books, 1900-1919
Assessor's Land Abstracts, 1904-1916
Assessor's Military Lists, 1866-1900
Deeds, 1849-1878
Deed Indexes [Direct and Indirect], 1850-1882
Donation Land Claim Survey, 1910
Fairgrounds Plat, 1868
Gaston Plat, 1889
Land Claim Records, 1849-1851
Women's Separate Property Register, 1861-1893

Wheeler

Assessment Rolls, 1898-1910

Yamhill

Assessment and Tax Rolls, 1853-1939
Assessor's Correspondence, 1884-1945
Deed Index, 1881-1883
Delinquent Tax Roll, 1867-1877
Sheriff's Tax Collection Records, 1891-1902
Tax Collection Register, 1856-1874
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​​​Records Available at the State Archives​

Provisional and Territorial Records

Land Claim Records, 1845-1862 (microfilm), 1845-1849
Land Claim Records Index (microfilm)
Oregon Provisional Government Land Claim Abstracts, vol. I-VIII, 1845-1849 (Reference Library publication)

State Records

Board of Control

City and County Maps
Highway and Road Maps
Maps (see NP1P list in Board of Control finding aid at the reference desk)
Plats
Topographical Maps
Wagon Road Maps
 

Capitol Planning Commission

Maps, 1949-1967
 

Court of Appeals

Case Files, 1969-1975
 

Fish and Wildlife, Department of

Administrative Correspondence, 1912-1922
Master Fish Warden Correspondence, 1919-1931
 

Forestry Department

Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Lease Records, 1933-1947
District Annual Fire Plans, 1959-1961
Forest Rehabilitation Program Records, 1949-1971
Forest Type Township Maps and Overlays, 1961-1963
Klamath Indian Land Owner Index, c. 1959
Klamath Indian Land Owner Tax Payment Record Cards, 1959
Klamath Indian Land Sale Records, 1904-1959
Legal Case Records, 1945-1978
Protection Association and District Maps, 1937-1970
Remote Sensing Project Records, 1974-1978
Roadless Area Review Project Records, 1972-1985
State Forester's Committee Membership Records, 1934-1980
State Forester's Correspondence, 1933-1975
United States Forest Service Records, 1929-1983
World War II Forest Defense Records, 1941-1946
 

Highway Division, Oregon

Maps, 1936-1980
City Maps and Plats
County Road Maps
General Highway Maps
Index Maps
Market Road Maps
Plat Maps
Parksites, 1955
Photographs
 

Land Use Board of Appeals

Hearings Case Files, 1979-2002
 

Marion-Polk Counties Boundary Commission

Maps, 1969-1980
Street and Highway Maps
Subdivision Maps
 

Military Department, Oregon

Adjutant General's Correspondence, 1847-1986
Military Camp Records, 1931-1983
Modoc Indian War Campaign Journal, 1873
Public Auction Sale Reports, 1856
Rogue River Indian War Maps, 1855-1856
Maps and Drawings
 

Natural Resources, Committee on

Executive Secretary's Correspondence, 1951-1967
Federal Natural Resource Agency Correspondence, 1957-1967
Natural Resource Project Correspondence, 1954-1964
Outdoor Recreation Council Records, 1961-1966
State Mapping Advisory Committee Correspondence, 1950-1963
 

Planning Board, Oregon State

Land Use and Taxation Records, 1903-1938
 

Portland Metropolitan Study Commission

Committee files, 1963-1971
 

Revenue Department

Assessment Rolls, 1951-1955
Assessment Rolls, Summaries, 1947-1970
Assessor and Tax Collector Records, 1949-1979
Non-taxable Lands, 1973
Private Property Timber and Timberland Sales Data, 1950-1967
Valuation, Property, Relief, Orders, 1969-1978
 

Secretary of State

Community Property Election Records and Index, 1943-1959
Deeds, 1899-1959, 1968-1989, 1990
Deeds and Abstracts of Title, 1960-1968
Deeds Indexes
Deeds Register, 1899
Highway Deeds, 1976-1981
Wagon Road Maps (microfilm)
 

Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Correspondence, Policy, and Historical, 1939-1973
District and Commission Correspondence, 1939-1973
 

State Lands, Division of

Clerk's Correspondence, 1945-1969
Columbia River Ownership Maps, 1977-1979
Escheat Cases Report, 1937-1940
In Lieu Lands Clear Lists, 1859-1967
Land Exchange Records, 1914-1985
Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee Minutes, 1974-1975
Natural Heritage Advisory Council Chairperson Correspondence, 1973-1983
Natural Heritage Advisory Council Program Records, 1973-1987
Natural Heritage Advisory Council Reports, 1975-1985
Overgrazed Land Donation Records, 1955-1963
Plat Book, Oregon (microfilm)
Riparian Rights Advisory Committee Minutes, 1969-1972
Rural Credit Loan Fund Mortgage Satisfaction Records, 1917-1942
South Slough National Estuarine Sanctuary Progress Reports, 1974-1981
South Slough Relocation Records, 1974-1981
State Land Board Minutes, 1878-1976
State Lands Deed and Easement Jackets, 1896-1969
State Owned Land Inventory, 1961-1965
Swamp Land Donation Records, 1976-1934
 

Supreme Court

Reports of School Land Commission, 1870-1878
 

Tax Court

Assessment Rolls, 1934-1950
Centrally Assessed Property Records, 1957
Property Records, 1957
 

Transportation, Department of (also see Highway Division)

Maps
General Highway Maps
Index Maps
City Maps
Plat Maps
Maps, historical (microfilm)
Maps, historical Index (Reference Library, Reference Room)
Traffic Engineering Division: General Highway Maps
 

Treasury, Oregon State

School Land Funds, 1906-1910
County Inheritance Tax Index, 1913-1934
Inheritance Tax Index, 1913
Inheritance Tax Ledger, 1907-1914
Inheritance Tax Quarterly Reports, 1903-1913
Inheritance Tax and Transfers, 1903-1917
 

Water Resources Department

Columbia Southern Irrigating Company Case Records, 1893-1916
Desert Land Board Reclamation Records, 1902-1978
Hydroelectric Commission Peoples' Utility District Records, 1931-1968
Hydroelectric Project Records, 1960-1987
Maps of Park and Recreation Areas and U.S. Government Land Office Survey Plates
Photographs
Publications
Reclamation Commission Records, 1914
Upper Columbia River Basin Commission Records, 1952-1956
Water Resources Board Records, 1955-1975
Water Resources Committee Records, 1951-1975
Willamette River Basin Commission Records, 1930-1956
 

Willamette River Basin Commission

Project Files on Dams, 1949-1972
 

Willamette Valley Environmental Protection and Development Planning Council

Willamette Valley Choices for the Future, 1972
 

Willamette Valley Rail Study Commission

Reports and Studies, 1975-1982
 

World War Veterans State Aid Commission

Property Analysis Ledger (1903-1940)
Bond Issue Reports (1921-1951)
Mortgage Loan Inspector's Reports (1923-1929)
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​​​​Donation Land Claims (DLC)

Under terms of an 1850 act, certain white settlers and Indians of mixed blood in Oregon Territory (then including Washington), and certain settlers arriving between Dec. 1, 1850 and Dec. 1, 1853, were entitled to land. The number of acres granted (between 160 to 640) depended on the marital status of the settler and the date of settlement. Settlers were required to live on the land and cultivate it for 4 years.

The Oregon donation files for each land office (Oregon City, Roseburg and The Dalles) are filed in two numerical series. One relates to complete entries, the other to incomplete or cancelled entries. Documents in a DLC file for a completed entry include the:

  • Notification of settlement, which describes the land either by legal description (township, range, section and fraction of section) or by natural features (metes and bounds), sometimes accompanied by a plat.
  • Affidavit of settlement, which includes date and place of birth and, if applicable, of marriage as well as proofs of cultivation.
  • Oath that the land had been used for cultivation only.
  • Proof of citizenship for naturalized persons (not filmed on National Archives film M815).
  • Donation certificate, which shows name of entryman, place of residence, description of land, date of patent and volume and page number of the recorded patent in the National Archives.

State Archives Resources

  • Oregon Donation Land Files, 1851-1903 (National Archives (NARA) microfilm M815)
  • Oregon Donation Land Claims, vol. I-V, 1851-1903 (Reference Library publication)
  • Oregon Donation Land Claim File Index (Reference Library publication)
  • Oregon Donation Land Claim Abstracts (NARA microfilm M145)
  • Washington Donation Land Claims, 1851-1903 (NARA microfilm M203)

Other Resourc​es

Oregon Donation Land Claim Index (Gen​ealogical Forum of Oregon)

Homestead Records

Under the Homestead Act of 1862, citizens and persons who filed their intentions to become citizens were given 160 acres of land in the public domain if they fulfilled certain conditions. In general, an applicant had to build a home on the land, reside there for 5 years and cultivate the land.

The homestead entry papers filed by name of land office are dated 1863 through June 30, 1908. Typically, there are two separately numbered series for each land office, one relating to complete and the other relating to incomplete homestead entries. A complete homestead entry file includes such documents as:

  • Homestead application
  • Certificate of publication of intention to make a claim
  • Homestead proof, consisting of testimonies of two witnesses and the testimony of the claimant
  • Final certificate authorizing the claimant to obtain a patent
  • Copy of naturalization proceedings or a copy of a Union veteran's discharge certificate (when appropriate)

Records From the Bureau of Land Management and the National Archives

  1. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records
    Includes Homestead land patent abstracts and images of homestead documents.

  2. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Offic​e​

  3. Textual Reference Branch - Land (NWDT1)
    National Archives
    Washington, DC 20408
    202-501-5395
When contacting th​e Textual Reference Branch-Land provide the name of the land office, the type of land transaction (cash sales, credit sale, homestead entry) and the file number. The name of the entryman, state and complete township/range description is also acceptable.

If you know the property description for land in Oregon, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office in Portland may provide you with the information to access the land entry files at the Textual Reference Branch - Land.
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The records listings include links to resources such as: