About the IDGenWeb Project

The IDGenWeb Project is without a doubt the “Gem of Free Genealogy and History.” We, the volunteers, strive to collect, gather, and preserve all available genealogical and historical information from its richly resourceful State of Idaho and its counties. We make every effort to bring our rich and strong ancestral roots to provide for our patrons and their research needs. We also go after other resources that are available on the internet to one location to ease our patrons’ research endeavors. The IDGenWeb Team, the volunteers, whose aim it is to maintain and to provide local data and contextual information to assist those looking for more answers to their ancestors whereabouts in Idaho. Come and browse a bit in our State site to find what's made available on our site, or search in each of our county's sites, where additional information may or may not be readily available to our patrons online. Again, Welcome!

BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT THE EARLY USGENWEB PROJECTS. --- The Spring of 1996 commenced with the first known genealogy enterprise to bring “free” access to potential genealogists. The Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database Project, a group of genealogists gathered under the direction of Jeff Murphy to organize the beginning of what was later to evolve into the KyGenWeb Project, which was corrected to KYGenWeb Project. Once this concept started, it went across the United States where the individual States were being established into one project by the Fall of 1996. The USGenWeb Project was organized in October 1996 to gathered all the States into one page to connect to with links that got indexed and cross-reference to each other as well as back its parent site, The USGenWeb Project. “The USGenWeb Project continues to evolve thanks to every past, present and future volunteer.” The USGenWeb Project (2017)
To learn more detailed history visit the central site USGenWeb.org/about/

The State of Idaho was one of the newer states to enter the United States on July 3, 1890 as the 43rd state. Today, the state is estimated to have over 1.65 million people living within its boundaries where its lands have more diverse topography than any other state, which includes: high mountain ranges, forest, lakes, lava fields, deserts, lush farmlands, and probably, more running water sources than any other state. The topography is not the only interesting part of Idaho. Its people and its history have been synonymous with diverse walks of life, such as mountain men, the American Indians and their tribes, the miners and their mining districts; as well as the cattlemen and sheepherders and their ranches. Let’s not forget about the outlaws and the law-abiding citizens who were the early pioneers of the territory and later statehood. The state has seen its share of immigrants as well from all parts of the world.

Idaho was originally a part of the Northwest Territory or better known as the Oregon Territory. Idaho became a territory about the same time as Washington did in 1863. Idaho Territory included the lands of Montana and Wyoming, but eventually, it separated about the time Idaho became a state in 1890. There are currently 44 counties within the state, including four different Indian reservations. When Idaho became a territory, the first capitol was in Lewiston, Idaho until the territorial legislature voted to have the capitol located in Boise City, which in later years became just simply Boise.

The first territorial governor was William H. Wallace, who was appointed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Wallace served for only five months in 1863, then following by Caleb Lyon. There were sixteen territorial governors before Idaho’s first appointed governor. George Laird Shoup was the last territorial and first state governor of Idaho. Though, it was short lived.

The official flag of the State of Idaho was adopted in 1907. The background color is deep blue with the state seal in the center surrounded by a yellow band. The seal is a man---a miner carrying his pick and shovel, and then there’s a woman---carrying a scale of justice, symbolizing liberty and justice. The motto: “Esto Perpetua” ---meaning “May it Endure Forever” ---written around the yellow cornucopias. An elk head atop, shield with a river, settlers, a fir tree, and mountainous land, a sheaf of grain, green grass, and a blue sky. Emma Edwards Green designed the state flag.

Idaho continues to enrich its history with more formidable ancestral roots.

First IDGenWeb Logo

New (1998) IDGenWeb logo design by Janice Noblitt, Teton County Coordinator.

IDGenWeb Project (12/2/1998)

The IDGenWeb Project was created sometimes in the Summer or Fall of 1996. The historical specifics have been lost over time; however, the respective history of the “Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database Project” or KyGenWeb Project remains the same beginning for The IDGenWeb Project, to bring free genealogy to researchers in one location. One of the founders of the original project, Dale Schneider, better known as “Doc” Schneider had created several of the States on his own domain name, www.dsenter.com, which its original contexts was completely lost as well. After the USGenWeb Project became officially organized, and maintained its ideal, many of the State projects moved onto the Rootsweb.com server, where The IDGenWeb Project’s first pages were built. The following year the project got its jump-start when it exploded with willing volunteers who took the available resources of genealogical data and historical information to the next level which caused the IDGenWeb Project to expand in leaps and bounds into what it is today with the many help of our volunteers, contributors and the visits of our patrons which makes the project what it is now.

The first State Coordinator, Elaine Johnson---who so proudly proclaimed her Idahoan heritage of being the 5th generation of descendants--once stated about the original project that it was "... a loosely organized group of volunteers working to create a center for genealogical researcher for every county in the United States." The IDGenWeb Project (Dec. 27, 1998)

Today, The IDGenWeb Project continues to keep the past moving forward into the present, and hopes in future generations, to maintain the free genealogy and history resources for research. Elaine Johnson put it quite nicely when she said, "We are very proud of this project and hope that you are too." In return, we hope our patrons today take pride in our project as well. We surely do! Greetings from the IDGenWeb Team. The IDGenWeb Project (Dec. 2, 1998)

This Banner Created By Matthew D. Friend (2011)

The IDGenWeb Project is a genealogical and historical collection from the State of Idaho and its counties. The state and each county site are provided by volunteers, who are committed to dedicate and to promote free resources from its respective localities and its state's rich ancestral history. Come and browse our State site to find what's available in each of our county's sites that may or may not be readily available to our patrons online. Welcome!