Who Lived or Worked There?
Researching occupants provides social, cultural, and historical context for a building. Ownership and occupancy do not always align, so cross-referencing sources is recommended.
County Assessors
County recorder offices maintain property transaction records, commonly called title abstracts or chain-of-conveyance records, which track ownership over time. Some counties offer online access. A legal description of the property is required. For counties without online tools, contact the assessor directly. Having detailed property information, such as a parcel number, will facilitate the search.
Counties with online searches include: Cache, Carbon, Davis, Kane, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Weber.
City Directories
City directories provide reliable information about occupants at specific addresses.
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Local libraries (some provide access through genealogy databases such as Heritage Quest or ancestry.com)
Genealogy Websites
Genealogy websites provide access to census records and family information. Most require paid subscriptions, though FamilySearch.org offers a free alternative.
U.S. Census Records
Census data is a strong source for identifying occupants. Some local libraries provide access through genealogy research tools.
Historic Newspapers
Newspapers frequently include information about residents and businesses. Flexible searching is essential due to spelling variations and scanning errors.
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Subscription services such as newspaperarchive.com and newspapers.com
Publications and Websites
Several publications and websites contain biographical and historical information:
Vital Records
The Utah State Archives maintains birth and death certificates, which can help confirm life dates and family relationships.
Preservation Directory
If you would like to hire a professional, consult Preservation Utah’s Preservation Directory (see the consultants category).