Storey County Nevada marriage records, 1874-85

The following records are contained in this database and are available on microfilm at the Nevada State Library in Carson City, Nevada: Gold and silver were the "life and breath" of early Nevadans. In no place was this more apparent than in Storey County. Starting in the early 1860s, Virginia City and Gold Hill, the two primary towns of Storey County, grew rapidly into boomtowns, their populations swelling with miners, merchants, and their families. The residents of Storey County were a diverse group, the wealthy, the poor, the educated and those who signed their name with an "X." They represented a variety of races and religions; large populations were Chinese, Irish, Welsh, and Germans, as well as many others. Virginia City's population in the 19th century grew from less than 7,000 in 1860 to 75,000 by 1875. The city boasted an opera house, fine schools, an orphanage, restaurants, numerous churches, fraternal organizations, a fire department, and stores of every description. Gold Hill, though a much smaller community, had similar successes, its population reaching about 8,000 by the mid-1870s. "Storey County Marriage Applications" contains over 2,600 marriage applications for Virginia City, Gold Hill, and the surrounding area, including Lousetown, Divide, American City, Devil's Gate, and Six Mile Canyon - all within a few miles of Gold Hill and Virginia City. These records contain thousands more individual names.

Taken from the Storey County Clerk's Marriage License book, these records contain information on those requesting a marriage license. These are not Marriage Certificates, but marriage license applications, required as they are today to be filled out prior to the ceremony. Always keep in mind, an application does not necessarily mean a marriage took place. Information contained in these records: Groom's Name/ Residence/ Bride's Name/ Residence/ Age/ Date of Application/ Volume and Page No. from the License book and Remarks. Remarks include such information as who authorized the marriage of a minor and any other additional information on the record considered pertinent.