Gresham Death Index
The Gresham death index is part of the Oregon vital records system. Gresham is the fourth largest city in Oregon with a population near 114,000. It sits in Multnomah County, east of Portland. Death records for Gresham residents are held at the county and state level. The Multnomah County Records and Archives Division serves Gresham along with other cities in the county. Researchers can use state and county tools to find death index entries for Gresham.
Gresham Quick Facts
Gresham Death Records Overview
Death records for Gresham are managed through the same systems that cover all of Multnomah County. The city does not run its own death index. All death records flow through the county to the state. The Oregon Health Authority holds the official state death index. Multnomah County Records and Archives keeps county-level records that may include death-related documents for Gresham.
Gresham was incorporated in 1905, the same year the Lewis and Clark Exposition brought attention to the Portland area. The city grew steadily through the 20th century. Today it is a large suburb of Portland. Death records for early Gresham residents may be filed under Multnomah County rather than the city name. The state death index covers all of Oregon from 1903 forward.
Note: Gresham shares Multnomah County with Portland, so the same county offices serve both cities for death index records.
How to Search the Gresham Death Index
Start your search with the Oregon State Archives online tool. Go to records.sos.state.or.us and search by name and date. Gresham records are filed under Multnomah County. The tool covers death records across the state and is free to use for basic searches.
The City of Gresham website can help you find local resources. Below is the Gresham city website, which links to services and contact information.
While the city does not issue death records, the site can point you to Multnomah County offices that handle vital records for Gresham residents.
For in-person help, contact the Multnomah County Records and Archives Division. They serve more than 200 agencies in the county. Their office can help you find death-related records for Gresham and other parts of the county. Visit multco.us/archives for details on their services.
Have these details ready when you search:
- Full name of the person who died
- Date or year of death
- Place of death within Multnomah County
- Age or date of birth if known
Multnomah County Death Records for Gresham
Multnomah County is the most populous county in Oregon with over 812,000 residents. Gresham is the second largest city in the county after Portland. The county clerk and the Records and Archives Division handle many types of records. Death-related records at the county level may include coroner files, burial permits, and estate documents tied to deaths in Gresham.
The Multnomah County website provides access to county services. Below is the county portal.
Use the Multnomah County site to find the right office for your records request. County staff can tell you what records they hold for the Gresham area.
The Oregon State Archives also holds Multnomah County records. Visit sos.oregon.gov to see what county records are in the state collection. Older death index entries for Gresham may have been transferred to the state archives. This is a good source for historical records going back to the early 1900s.
Note: Multnomah County death records at the state archives may not cover every year. Check both county and state sources for the best results when looking for Gresham death records.
Oregon Death Records for Gresham
The Oregon Health Authority runs the state vital records system. Their Center for Health Statistics holds death records from 1903 to the present. This is the official source for certified death records for Gresham and all of Oregon. You can order copies in several ways.
Online orders go through VitalChek. You can also mail a request to the Center for Health Statistics. The Oregon Health Authority at oregon.gov has the full list of options and the forms you need. Gresham residents use the same process as anyone else in the state.
Oregon law controls who can get a certified copy. Under ORS 432.350, eligible people include close family, legal agents, and those with a court order. Others can get an informational copy that is not certified. These rules apply to all death records in Oregon, including those for Gresham.
Historical Gresham Death Index
Gresham was a small farming town for much of its early history. The area was settled in the mid-1800s, but the city was not incorporated until 1905. Death records from before 1903 are not in the state system. For early deaths in the Gresham area, check church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper obituaries from Multnomah County.
The city grew fast after World War II. Many new residents moved to Gresham from Portland and other cities. Death records from the mid-1900s onward are well covered in the state index. For gaps in the record, the Multnomah County Records and Archives can help. They hold county records that go back many years and may cover deaths in Gresham that are not in the state index.
Gresham Death Record Search Tips
When searching for a Gresham death record, try both the city name and the county name. Some records list the county rather than the city. Also try nearby cities like Portland, Troutdale, or Wood Village. People who lived near the border of Gresham may have their death filed under a different city name.
The City of Gresham website has links to local services. While it does not handle vital records, it can connect you to the right Multnomah County office. The My Gresham service request system can also help residents find the right contact for records questions in the Gresham area.
Multnomah County Death Index
Gresham is in Multnomah County, and all death records for the city go through the county system. The Multnomah County page has more details on offices, records, and resources for the entire county. For death index records beyond Gresham, visit the county page.