Welcome to King County WAGenWeb

 My name is Bob Jenkins and I am the King County Coordinator.

 We have many genealogical resources available here.

 We would appreciate any contributions you would like
 to make to this site.
 
 

King County, Washington

King County was established on December 22, 1852, while Washington was still part of Oregon Territory. The county originally honored William R. King, Vice President–elect, and was later re‑dedicated in 1986 to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a change formally recognized by the State of Washington in 2005.

Long before territorial organization, the region was home to several Coast Salish peoples, including the Duwamish, Snoqualmie, and Muckleshoot, whose villages, fishing sites, and trade routes shaped the area’s earliest history. American settlers began arriving in the early 1850s, most notably the Denny Party, whose move from Alki Point to the eastern shore of Elliott Bay laid the foundation for Seattle. The city became the county seat on January 11, 1853.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, King County grew through industries such as lumber, coal, shipbuilding, and commerce, with major events like the Great Seattle Fire (1889) and the Klondike Gold Rush (1897) accelerating development. The construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917) further connected the region’s waterways and communities.

Today, King County is Washington’s most populous county, stretching from Puget Sound to the Cascade Range. Its diverse communities, early settlements, transportation corridors, and long record‑keeping history provide rich resources for genealogists researching families who lived, worked, or passed through the region.

 King county record images at familysearch.   These are not indexed but if you know the timeframe
 that relates to your ancestor you can browse through the images.  A  Lot of good info here.