Idaho does not keep its historical and administrative records in one place. The state, 44 counties, dozens of cities and many individual agencies each hold their own files, under their own retention rules. Our database lists seven archive offices across the state, from the Idaho State Archives in Boise to sheriff records archives in Rupert and Twin Falls. This page explains who holds what, so you can call the right office the first time.

Who Keeps Archival Records in Idaho: State, County and City

The Idaho State Historical Society, a state agency, operates the Idaho State Archives. Its collections are housed at 2205 Old Penitentiary Road in Boise, the address shown in our database for the Boise Archive (208-334-3356). The archives preserve permanent records of state government, such as governors' papers, legislative materials and agency files. They also hold manuscripts, photographs, maps and newspapers that document Idaho from territorial days in 1863 through statehood in 1890 and beyond.

County records follow a separate path. Idaho has 44 counties, and in most of them the elected county clerk also serves as auditor and recorder and as clerk of the district court. That one office usually holds deeds, mortgages, plats, marriage licenses, commissioners' minutes and court case files. Other elected officials, including the assessor, treasurer, coroner and sheriff, keep their own records.

Some counties set aside older material in a dedicated records archive. Our database lists the Cassia County Records Archive at 129 East 14th Street in Burley (208-878-1107) and the Bannock County Records Archive at 5800 South 5th Avenue in Pocatello (208-236-7119). Both are county-level offices. They are the right first call for local land, tax and commission records, rather than the state archives.

Cities add a third layer. City clerks keep council minutes, ordinances, resolutions and contracts. Boise has two listings of this kind: the Boise Corporate Records Archive at 700 West Jefferson Street (208-334-2301) and the Boise Purchasing Division Records Archive at 5327 West Kendall Street (208-327-7060). The names point to business filings and procurement files, but ask which agency runs each office, and what it will release, before you travel.

The Idaho State Archives on Old Penitentiary Road in Boise

If your question involves state government or statewide history, start in Boise. The Idaho State Archives sits near the Old Idaho Penitentiary, a historic site that the same state society manages. The reading room serves genealogists, attorneys, students, authors and state employees. Staff can point you to finding aids, which list what each collection contains and how it is arranged.

Typical holdings include territorial and state government records, county and city records transferred for safekeeping, business and family papers, oral histories, historical photographs and Idaho newspapers. Collections of this kind often include material that exists nowhere else, so ask staff what is available for your surname, place or topic. Many items must be retrieved from storage, which takes time.

State agencies also work with the Idaho State Historical Society on records management. Agencies follow retention schedules that decide what is kept, what is destroyed and what moves to the archives as permanent history. Records still in active use remain with the agency that created them. Older records of lasting value may be transferred, though some stay restricted for a period if they contain confidential information.

Call 208-334-3356 before you drive in. Hours, appointment rules and request procedures change, and staff can often answer simple questions by phone or email. If you are researching a family, bring names, approximate dates and the counties where relatives lived. Those details narrow a search much faster than a surname alone.

Treasure Valley, Magic Valley and Southeast Idaho: How Access Differs

Where you live changes how you reach records. Ada County and the Treasure Valley hold three of our seven listings, which fits Boise's role as both state capital and county seat. Offices here are larger, with more staff and more consistent hours, and the state archives are close at hand. Even so, city, county and state offices are separate, so one phone call rarely covers all three.

South-central Idaho, often called the Magic Valley, is different. Twin Falls County, Cassia County and Minidoka County are farming counties along the Snake River. Many requests here involve land, water and irrigation-era property records. Courthouse staff are fewer and handle many duties at once, so a short call or email that names the document and the year helps a great deal.

Two of those counties also list sheriff records archives. The Minidoka County Sheriff Records Archive is at 724 H Street in Rupert (208-434-2324). The Twin Falls County Sheriff's Records Archive is at 650 Addison Avenue West in Twin Falls (208-736-4073). Incident reports, arrest logs and similar files fall under the public records law, but active investigations, juvenile matters and victim information are commonly withheld. Court case files are a separate matter and come from the district court clerk.

In southeast Idaho, Bannock County centers on Pocatello, a railroad city and home to Idaho State University. Local history requests there often touch railroad and industrial topics, and university libraries sometimes hold regional manuscripts that county offices do not. Beyond these five counties, most of Idaho's other 39 counties have no separate archive listing. For them, the county clerk's office is the place to begin.

Idaho Public Records Law: Deadlines, Fees and Limits

Access to government records in Idaho is governed by the Idaho Public Records Act, found in Idaho Code Title 74, Chapter 1. The starting rule is that public records are open to any person. You do not need to give a reason, and you do not have to live in Idaho. A written request that describes the record clearly gives you a paper trail and makes it easier for the custodian to find what you want.

Timing is set by statute. The agency must tell you within three working days whether it will release the record. If it needs more time to locate or review the material, it may take up to ten working days to respond. A denial should cite the legal exemption behind it. Idaho law provides a route to challenge denials, so keep copies of your correspondence.

Agencies may charge for copies and, beyond a set threshold, for staff time. Ask for an estimate before you approve a large request. Inspecting records in person is often cheaper than ordering copies. Some records carry their own fee schedules, such as certified copies of recorded documents or vital records.

Not everything is public. Exemptions cover items such as certain personal identifiers, medical information, juvenile records and ongoing law-enforcement investigations. Vital records have their own access rules: recent birth, death, marriage and divorce records are limited to people with a qualifying connection, while older ones open up over time. Statewide vital records are managed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Before You Visit an Idaho Archive: A Practical Checklist

A little preparation saves a trip across a long, narrow state. The drive from Boise to Pocatello alone takes several hours on Interstate 84 and Interstate 86. Run through this list before you set out:

If you are unsure which office holds a document, begin with the county clerk where the event took place, or call the Idaho State Archives at 208-334-3356. Staff there can often redirect you. The county pages linked above let you compare offices in each area before you pick up the phone.

Government archives in Idaho are administered by the state archives and records management division, which is typically housed within the Secretary of State's office or a dedicated cultural affairs agency. The state archives preserves official government records while also maintaining collections of historical significance to Idaho residents.

Archives locations are available in 5 cities across Idaho. They are spread across 5 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Boise, Pocatello, Burley, which tend to have more archives facilities due to their roles as county seats, state capitals, or historic centers of government activity.

Residents of Idaho conducting genealogical or historical research should check whether their county or city maintains a separate archives in addition to the state repository, as many local records are held at the municipal or county level.

Archives by Counties

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Researchers in Idaho can often access digitized state archives records through the state library's online portal without visiting in person. For records not yet digitized, contact the archives office in advance to schedule a research appointment and confirm that the specific collection is available for public review.

Browse Archives by county across Idaho to find the nearest location.

Researching Idaho Records: Dates, Boundaries and Dead Ends

Idaho's history shapes what you can find and where. Statewide birth and death registration began in 1911, so earlier events usually turn up in county records, church registers, newspapers or census returns rather than in a state file. Marriage licenses are issued through county offices, so older marriage records generally sit in the county where the license was issued.

County boundaries also moved. Twin Falls County, for example, was formed in the early 1900s, so older records for its area may sit in a parent county. Before you search, check when your county was created and which county covered the land earlier. That single step explains many failed searches.

If an office tells you a record is not there, ask where it was transferred. Many county records end up at the Idaho State Archives, in off-site storage or on microfilm. Ask for the office's retention schedule, which shows how long each type of record is kept. Staff are usually glad to help when your question is specific.

Frequently Asked Questions About Archives in Idaho

The Idaho State Archives is operated by the Idaho State Historical Society, a state agency, at 2205 Old Penitentiary Road in Boise. Our database lists it as Boise Archive, with the phone number 208-334-3356. It preserves permanent records of state government along with manuscripts, photographs, maps and newspapers about Idaho history. Because some materials are stored away from the reading room and some are restricted, call before you visit. Tell staff your topic, names and date range so they can suggest finding aids and explain how to request items.

Under the Idaho Public Records Act, the agency must tell you within three working days whether it will release a record. If it needs more time to find or review the material, the law allows up to ten working days. Put the request in writing, describe the record as specifically as you can, and keep a copy for your files. Agencies may charge for copies and for staff time beyond a set threshold, so ask for an estimate first. You do not have to explain why you want the record.

In Idaho the county clerk usually acts as county recorder and auditor, so recorded deeds, mortgages, plats and marriage licenses are generally filed in the county where the property sits or the license was issued. Cassia and Bannock counties also list separate records archives, at 129 East 14th Street in Burley and 5800 South 5th Avenue in Pocatello. Call the number in our listing and ask whether older volumes are on site, on microfilm or stored elsewhere. Bring names, an approximate year and a parcel number if you have one.

Contact the sheriff's records archive directly. The Minidoka County Sheriff Records Archive is at 724 H Street in Rupert, phone 208-434-2324. The Twin Falls County Sheriff's Records Archive is at 650 Addison Avenue West in Twin Falls, phone 208-736-4073. Give the date, location and names involved, plus a report number if you have one. Idaho law allows agencies to withhold some material, including parts of active investigations and juvenile or victim information. Court case files are kept by the district court clerk, and statewide criminal history checks go through the Idaho State Police.

Yes. Our database lists archive offices in Burley (Cassia County), Pocatello (Bannock County), Rupert (Minidoka County) and Twin Falls (Twin Falls County), in addition to three in Boise. These are county-level or sheriff-level offices, so they cover local records, not statewide collections. The Magic Valley sites are within a day's drive of each other, which helps if you need several offices in one trip. For the other 39 Idaho counties, start with the county clerk's office in the courthouse and ask where older records are kept.

Our database lists the Boise Corporate Records Archive at 700 West Jefferson Street (208-334-2301) and the Boise Purchasing Division Records Archive at 5327 West Kendall Street (208-327-7060). Their names suggest administrative, business and procurement files rather than historical collections. Our data does not name the managing agency, so call first to confirm what each office keeps, which records are public and whether you need an appointment. Contracts held by public bodies are generally public records under Idaho law, though some exceptions apply.

Certified vital records are issued by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, not by local archive offices. Recent records are limited to people with a qualifying relationship, and older ones become open to the public over time. Statewide registration began in 1911, so for earlier events try the county clerk, newspapers, church records and the Idaho State Archives at 208-334-3356. Staff there can explain which sources fit your family and time period. Check current eligibility rules and fees with the state before you order.