Free Online Washington City Directories

The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is December 2024)
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City and business directories are available online from all over the U.S. and are what I consider another important set of information that can assist you in advancing your family history and genealogy research.

This activity of presenting links is a collaborative effort between The Ancestor Hunt and Miriam Robbins, who for years has made available the Online Historical Directories website, which presents links to directories of all types that are available online, including free collections as well as those available only via subscription. I wish to thank Miriam for her help in launching this category of records at The Ancestor Hunt.

So, what kinds of directories are available to the researcher?  Naturally city and business directories, but also telephone directories, and alumni, farm, lodge, rural, and social directories.

What can you find in these records? How about:

• Full names, including middle names
• Spouse name
• Occupation
• Widows, working women, and adult children at home.
• Maps
• Businesses (and index to advertisers).
• Addresses and maps of churches, schools, funeral homes, cemeteries, post offices, courts, hospitals, benevolent associations, and newspapers.
• Whether a woman is a widow (including the name of her husband).
• List of marriages and deaths of the previous year.
• Death date.
• etc.

Here are a few good primers on the benefits of searching historical city and other directories:​

• FamilySearch – United States Directories
• How to Use City Directories In Your Genealogy Research 
• What’s In A City Directory? (a 10-article series about City Directories)

And here are various places where you can find other city directories online: 

• Where to Find City Directories Online

Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.

Links to these free collections are presented initially with statewide collections, followed in alphabetical order by city or county. Generally, the publishing company is included in the reference to the collection, along with the collection title, and the date(s) of the directory:

Washington City Directories

Statewide

• 1867 Pacific Coast Directory
• 1872 Puget Sound Business Directory
• 1882-1883 Disturnell’s West Coast Business Directory
• 1883-84 Pacific Coast Directory
• 1884-1885 Oregon, Washington and Idaho Gazetteer and Business Directory
• 1887 Puget Sound Directory
• 1898-1899 Bards Business Directory
• City & County Directories and Pacific Coast Directory, 1886-1887
• Disturnell’s Business Directory and Gazetteer of the West Coast of North America, 1882-1883
• Farmers’ Educational and Co-operative Union of America Directory, Four States Press, 1913
• McKenney’s Pacific Coast Directory, 1883-1884
• Oregon and Washington Gazetteer and Business Directories, 1901-1904, 1901-1904
• Oregon and Washington Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1909-1910
• Oregon and Washington, Pacific Northwest Directory, 1903-1922
• Oregon, Washington and Idaho Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1884-85
• Oregon, Washington and Idaho Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1884-85
• Pacific Coast Business Directory, 1867
• Pacific Coast Business Directory, Langley, 1867
• Pacific Coast Grange Directory, Bancroft, 1875
• R.L. Polk & Co’s Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia Gazetteers and Business Directories, 1886-1902
• R.L. Polk and Co.’s Puget Sound Directory. 1887
• Seattle City and King County Pioneer Directory and Washington Territory Business Directory, Choir, 1878
• The Pacific Coast Directory – 1871-1873
• The Pacific Coast Directory – 1878

Bellingham

• Bellingham Business Directory, Polk, 1962
• Bellingham City and Whatcom County Directory, Polk, 1962
• Bellingham City Directory, Speirs and Anderson, 1890

Benton, Franklin, and Kittitas County

• Benton, Franklin, and Kittitas County Directories, Polk, 1911-2
• Benton, Franklin, and Kittitas County Directories, Polk, 1915-6
• Washington, Benton, Franklin, and Klickitat Counties, Directories, 1915-1916

Cedar Valley

• Cedar Valley Rural Directory, Polk, 1894

Chelan-Douglas-Grant-Okanogan County

• Washington, Chelan-Douglas-Grant-Okanogan Counties, Directories, 1914-1921

Clark County

• Clark County Farmers Directory, Farmers Directory Corp., 1922-3
• Washington State Farmers Directory, Clark County – 1922-1923

Clarkston

• Clarkeston, Wash., Directory, 1908
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1953
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1956
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1958
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1959-1960
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1961
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1962
• Clarkston, Washington City Directory – 1965
• Clarkston, Washington including Clarkston Heights North Lewiston and Lewiston Orchards including Alphabetical List of Names Street & Avenue Guide reverse Telephone Directory – 1956

Ellensburg & Kittitas County

• Ellensburg and Kittitas County Directory, Polk, 1923-4
• Washington, Ellensburg & Kittitas County, City & County Directories, 1923-1924

Enumclaw

• Temporary Telephone Directory 1953 for Enumclaw, Buckley-Wilkeson

Everett

• Everett and Snohomish County Rural Directory, Polk, 1894

Fairhaven

• Fairhaven City Directory, Polk, 1890
• Fairhaven City Directory, Speirs and Anderson, 1890

Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens County

• Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties Directories, Polk, 1911-2

King County

• 1892 King County Directory
• 1914-1915 King County Directory

Lewis and Pacific County

• Lewis and Pacific County Directories, Polk, 1914-5
• Lewis and Pacific County Directories, Polk, 1915-6
• Lewis and Pacific County Directories, Polk, 1917-8
• Lewis and Pacific County Directories, Polk, 1920-21
• Lewis and Pacific County Directories, Polk, 1922-23
• Washington, Lewis & Pacific Counties, City & County Directories, 1914-1921

Monte Cristo

• Monte Cristo Town Directory, Polk, 1894

Olympia

• Washington, Olympia-Thurston-Mason, City & County Directories, 1911-1924

Olympia & Thurston County

• Washington, Olympia & Thurston County, City & County Directories, 1902-1915
• Washington, Olympia & Whatcom County, City & County Directories, 1890

Pierce County

• Washington, Pierce County, City & County Directories, 1915-1916

Port Angeles

• Port Angeles Telephone Directory, 1906
• Port Angeles and Port Townsend (Washington) City Directories – 1959-60
• Port Angeles and Port Townsend (Washington) City Directories – 1962

Seattle

• 1850-1897 Chronological History of Seattle
• 1871 Business of Seattle
• 1876 Seattle Business Directory
• 1878 Pioneer Directory of the City of Seattle and King County
• 1879 Directory of the City of Seattle
• 1882 Residence and Business Directory of Seattle
• 1884-85 The City Directory of Seattle
• 1885-86 Seattle City and King County Directory
• 1888-1889 Seattle City Directory
• 1890 Ballard Directory
• 1891 Ballard Directory
• 1892 Ballard Directory
• 1893 Ballard Directory
• 1901 Seattle City Directory
• 1904 Ballard City Directory
• 1904 Seattle Blue Book
• 1905 Ballard City Directory
• 1906 Ballard City Directory
• 1907 Ballard City Directory
• 1908 Raymer’s Dictonary of Greater Seattle
• 1928 Seattle House and Street Directory
• 1931 Heiden’s Seattle House and Street Directory
• 1934 Seattle Numerical Street Address Directory
• 1939 Seattle City Directory
• 1940 Seattle City Directory
• Business Directory of the City of Seattle for the Year 1876
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1890-1891
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1892
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1893
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1894-1895
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1895-1896
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1898
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1899
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1900
• Seattle (King County, Wash.) City Directory, 1913
• Seattle City and King County Pioneer Directory and Washington Territory Business Directory, Choir, 1878
• Seattle City Directory, 1890
• Seattle City Directory, 1891-1892
• Seattle City Directory, Polk, 1890
• Seattle City Directory, Polk, 1891-3
• Seattle City Directory, Polk, 1901
• Seattle, Washington 1923 City Directory
• Washington, Seattle, City & County Directories, 1890-1922

Sehome

• Sehome City Directory, Speirs and Anderson, 1890

Skagit County

• Skagit County (Washington) Directory – 1921-22
• Skagit County, Washington, Directory, 1921-22

Spokane

• Polk’s Spokane (Washington) City Directory, 1914
• Spokane Postal Directories 1906 O-R
• Spokane Postal Directories 1916 C-D
• Spokane Postal Directory 1903 A-E
• Spokane Postal Directory 1903 F-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1904 A-B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1904 H-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1904 R-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1905 D-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1905 H-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1906 A-C
• Spokane Postal Directory 1906 D-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1906 H-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1906 L-N
• Spokane Postal Directory 1906 S-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 A-B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 C-D
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 E-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 H-J
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 K-L
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 M-N
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 O-R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1907 T-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 C-E
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 F-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 L
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 M
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 N-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 T-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1908 W-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 A-B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 C
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 D-E
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 M N
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 O-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 T-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1909 W Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 A-B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 D-E
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 F-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 M-N
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 O-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 T-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1910 W-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 A-B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 C
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 D-E
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 F-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 H-I
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 J-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 M-N
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 T-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1911 W-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 A
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 C-D
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 E-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 I-J
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 M
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 N-O
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 P-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 T-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1912 W-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 A
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 C-D
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 E-F
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 M
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 N-O
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 P Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 S-So
• Spokane Postal Directory 1913 W Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 A
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 E-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 M
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 N-O
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 P-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 S
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 T-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1914 W-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 A
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 C-D
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 E
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 M
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 N-O
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 P-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 R
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 Sp-V
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 S-So
• Spokane Postal Directory 1915 W-Z
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 A
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 B
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 E-G
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 H
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 I-K
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 L-Mc
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 M
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 N-O
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 P-Q
• Spokane Postal Directory 1916 R
• Washington, Spokane, City & County Directories, 1890-1922

Spokane Falls

• Spokane Falls City Directory, Polk, 1890
• Spokane Falls City Directory, Polk, 1892
• Spokane Falls City Directory, Polk, 1896

Tacoma

• Tacoma City Directory – 1910
• Washington, Tacoma, City & County Directories, 1893-1922

Thurston and Mason County

• Thurston and Mason County Directories, Polk, 1921-2

Walla Walla

• Washington, Walla Walla & Columbia Counties, City & County Directories, 1911-1922
• Washington, Walla Walla, City & County Directories, 1900-1910

Wenatchee-Chelan-Douglas County

• Washington, Wenatchee-Chelan-Douglas County, City & County Directories, 1907

Whatcom

• New Whatcom and Fairhaven Business Directories, Unknown, 1900
• New Whatcom City Directory, Polk, 1890
• New Whatcom City Directory, Speirs and Whittaker, 1891
• New Whatcom City Directory, Speirs and Whittaker, 1891
• Whatcom City Directory, Polk, 1890
• Whatcom City Directory, Polk, 1890
• Whatcom City Directory, Speirs and Anderson, 1890
• Whatcom County Directory, Polk, 1901-2

Whitman & Garfield County

• Washington, Whitman & Garfield Counties, Directories, 1915-1916

Yakima

• North Yakima City Directory, Polk, 1888

Yakima County

• Washington, North Yakima & Yakima County, City & County Directories, 1917