When researching a property, most REALTORS® are familiar with iDocMarket, Flathead County’s online system for searching recorded documents. But did you know there is another County resource that can be especially valuable when your research takes you further back in time?

The Flathead County Record Archives provides access to historical records, indexes, maps, surveys, road files, ownership information and other documents that may not be readily found through a current recorded-document search.

For REALTORS® researching older properties, historic roads, surveys, boundaries or ownership history, the Archives can be an incredibly useful tool.

iDocMarket vs. the Record Archives

The easiest way to think about the two systems is that iDocMarket is primarily for modern recorded documents, while the Record Archives is a historical research resource.

iDocMarket is the primary online system for searching recorded documents from 1984 forward. In 1984, Flathead County transitioned from the historic book-and-page recording system to the 12-digit document and reception numbers used today. iDocMarket is updated throughout the day at approximately 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., so recently recorded documents become available online fairly quickly.

The Flathead County Record Archives, on the other hand, provides access to records and indexes that predate iDocMarket, along with digitized versions of other historical resources maintained by the Clerk & Recorder and Plat Room. While much of the information dates to before 1984, some collections extend beyond 1984 because they were maintained or digitized separately from the modern recording system.

The two systems complement each other. For a current property, you may start with current parcel information and iDocMarket, then move into the Archives if your research leads you into older records or historical sources.

What Can You Find in the Archives?

The Archives contain a wide range of historical resources. Some of the most useful for real estate research include:

Tract Books

One of the most valuable resources for researching historical ownership, tract books provide a chain-of-ownership reference for properties throughout Flathead County.

The Section-Township-Range tract books were last digitized in 2020, while the Subdivision tract books were last digitized in 2021.

These can be particularly helpful when you need to work backward through the ownership of a parcel rather than starting with a specific recorded document.

Road Files & Road Abandonments

If you're researching access, the history of a roadway or the status of an old county road, don't overlook the road records.

Flathead County maintains historical files on nearly every county road. These files can provide detailed background and supporting information about an individual road.

The Road Abandonments collection contains historical files relating to the abandonment of county roads. These records can be especially valuable because information about older road abandonments may not be readily apparent through a standard recorded-document search.

Field Books

Historic surveying field books preserve original survey information and field observations.

Depending on the entry, they may include measurements, bearings, distances, notes, sketches, monuments and other information documented during survey work.

For REALTORS® researching older surveys or property boundaries, these records can provide information that isn't available by simply looking at a modern survey or GIS map.

The Field Book Index can help you locate information within the historic Field Books.

Grantor/Grantee Indexes

Before Flathead County moved to its current document numbering system in 1984, recorded documents were organized using a book-and-page system.

The historical Deed Grantor/Grantee Index can be used to locate deeds recorded under that system. The Miscellaneous Grantor/Grantee Index serves a similar purpose for historical miscellaneous recorded documents.

These indexes can help you trace older transactions and identify the appropriate book and page for the underlying document.

Certificates of Survey & Plat Paperwork

The Archives also contain supporting paperwork associated with Certificates of Survey (COS) and recorded subdivision plats.

For older surveys, the COS paperwork may contain documents filed or recorded in connection with the survey that aren't readily apparent from looking at the survey itself.

Similarly, Plat Paperwork contains supporting documentation associated with recorded subdivision plats. Much of this collection is historical, although some files extend beyond 1984.

For newer Certificates of Survey and plats, much of the associated recorded documentation can generally be researched through iDocMarket.

Unrecorded Plats

The Unrecorded Plats collection contains historical plats and maps that were never formally recorded.

Because these documents won't appear in a conventional recorded-document search, knowing this collection exists can be helpful when researching certain properties, subdivisions or surveys.

Road Records

The Archives include several historical road resources, including:

• Road Record A and Road Record B, which contain early information concerning roads within Flathead County.
• Road Record Index, a collection of digitized index cards used to locate historical road information.
• Surveyor's Record A, an early historical survey record containing survey and land-related information.

If you're not sure where to begin with an older road-related question, the Road Record Index can be a good starting point. Some index cards reference Road Record A or B, Surveyor's Record A and other road-related records.

Abstracts

Historic Abstracts can provide another research tool for tracing property history and references to recorded instruments. Abstracts are also often referenced on final plats.