Kiowa County Genealogy Records
Kiowa County genealogy records date back to 1905 and include marriage files, land deeds, court documents, burial records, and military discharge papers. The courthouse in Hobart is the central place for all these records. Named for the Kiowa people, the county was formed in 1901 from Kiowa-Comanche-Apache and Caddo-Wichita lands in southwest Oklahoma. With a 2020 population of about 8,509, this is a smaller county, but the range of records it holds is broader than many larger places. Researchers can search Kiowa County land records online and contact the courthouse for marriage, probate, and other genealogy files.
Kiowa County Overview
Kiowa County Clerk Office
Nikki Dodd serves as the Kiowa County Clerk. The office is in the courthouse in Hobart and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can call at (580) 726-5286 or email kiowacountyclerk@sbcglobal.net. The County Clerk keeps land records, burial records, and military discharge papers, all dating from 1905.
The burial records at the Kiowa County Clerk's office are an unusual find. Not every Oklahoma county keeps burial records at the clerk level. These files cover cemetery records and burial permits from 1905 onward. For genealogy researchers, burial records can confirm a death date and show where a person was laid to rest. This is especially useful when death certificates are hard to get or when you need to locate a grave site. Military records from 1905 are also at the clerk's office and cover veterans' discharges and service documents.
| Office | Kiowa County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Nikki Dodd |
| Address |
Kiowa County Courthouse P.O. Box 73 Hobart, OK 73651 |
| Phone | (580) 726-5286 |
| kiowacountyclerk@sbcglobal.net | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Kiowa County Court Records
The Kiowa County Court Clerk handles marriage records from 1905, divorce records from 1905, probate records from 1905, and general court records from the same year. Marriage records are among the most valuable genealogy sources in any county. They tie people together by name, date, and location. Divorce records do the same and sometimes include even more family detail.
Probate files are another key resource for Kiowa County genealogy. When a person died with property, the probate court created a record that usually names all the heirs. Wills and estate cases can show family relationships that no other document captures. If you are stuck on a family connection, checking probate records is often the way to break through.
Birth and death records for Kiowa County begin in 1908 under Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The OK2Explore portal from the Oklahoma State Department of Health is the online search tool for these records. Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, Title 51 Sections 24A.1 through 24A.33, birth records that are 125 years old and death records that are 50 years old are public. For newer records, you need to meet eligibility requirements.
Note: Kiowa County marriage and court records go back to 1905, but birth and death records start at 1908 with the state system.
Search Kiowa County Land Records
Kiowa County land records are searchable online at OKCountyRecords.com. The site has indexed data from September 2005 and scanned images from February 2006. New records are added in real time. You can search by name, party type, instrument type, or legal description. The basic search is free, but full document images may require a fee.
For older land records, you will need to visit the courthouse in Hobart or write to the County Clerk. Land records at the courthouse go back to 1905. The Bureau of Land Management General Land Office has federal land patents that cover the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache lands. Since this area was opened by lottery in 1901 rather than a land run, the BLM records may show the original allotments and homestead claims for your ancestors.
Kiowa County Genealogy and Historical Societies
The Kiowa County Genealogical Society is based in Hobart at PO Box 191, Hobart, OK 73651. You can reach them at gbchain@sbcglobal.net. They focus on family history research for the county and can help with lookups and research questions. The Kiowa County Historical Society is at 518 S Main St. in Hobart. Call (580) 726-6202 or email kiowacomuseum@cableone.net for museum and research inquiries.
The Kiowa County OKGenWeb page is a free online resource with cemetery listings, family submissions, and links to county records. OKGenWeb volunteers maintain the site and sometimes handle lookups for researchers who cannot visit in person.
The Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society in Lawton at PO Box 148 also serves Kiowa County and the surrounding area. For statewide resources, the Oklahoma Historical Society has marriage records from 1889 to 1951, the Gateway to Oklahoma History has digitized newspapers, and the Oklahoma Genealogical Society has county research links.
Several funeral homes have operated in Kiowa County over the years. Becker-Rabon Funeral Home in Snyder, People's Cooperative Funeral Home in Lone Wolf, and Ray and Martha's Funeral Home in Hobart and Mountain View may have older records that are useful for genealogy. Funeral home records often include birth dates, parents' names, and burial details that county records miss.
Cities in Kiowa County
Hobart is the county seat. Other communities include Snyder, Mountain View, Lone Wolf, Gotebo, and Roosevelt. All Kiowa County genealogy records are filed at the courthouse in Hobart.
Nearby Counties
Kiowa County is in southwest Oklahoma. If your ancestors lived near a county border, check these neighboring counties for additional records.