Trinity County, California Genealogy

Guide to Trinity County, California ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named from the Trinity River. The county seat Weaverville and the county was created February 18, 1850. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Trinity County Courthouse 11 Court St Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1208 Trinity County Website County Recorder has birth and death records indexes 1873-1905, birth and death records from 1905, marriage record indexes 1857-1905, marriage records from 1905 and naturalization 1850-1940. Court Services has divorce and court from 1881, probate records from 1887 and land records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Biographies

 * Index to Trinity County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Trinity County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records

 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Index to Federal Land Records, Trinity County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * 1891 Trinity County, 1891, in Memorial And Biographical History Of Northern California (USGenWeb Archives)
 * California Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

 * 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Military Records
 Civil War
 * 1883 Trinity County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)

Regiments. Civil War service men in Trinity County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:
 * - 1st Battalion Mountaineers, California Infantry (Union), Company C

World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * World War I Draft Registration, Trinity County, California (USGenWeb Archive

 World War II
 * World War II Army Enlistees, Trinity County (Genealogy Trails)
 * Trinity County Army Enlistees, World War II (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Trinity County Honor List of World War II Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
 * California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

 * Trinity County Death Notices (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Trinity County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Voting Records
California county clerks were to keep voting registers every other year from 1866 and well into the 20th century. These large books, called Great Registers, listed the men who registered to vote in that county. Besides name and age, the record may show place of birth, address, occupation, naturalization date and sometimes even a physical description.

These records are at the California State Library (1866-1944), and microfilmed copies are available through FamilySearch Centers (1866-1910). Ancestry ($) has a searchable database of Trinity Great Registers from 1867-1896.
 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1872 The Trinity records for 1872 are available on the RootsWeb site, by clicking here.
 * 1887 Index to the Trinity County Great Register, 1887 (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Vital Records

 * Early Trinity County Vital Records (Births and Deaths) (CAGenWeb Project)

Birth

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Early Birth Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1857-1860 Trinity County Marriage Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Index to Trinity County Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Divorce

 * 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

FamilySearch Centers

 * Anderson California FamilySearch Center
 * Eureka California 1st Ward FamilySearch Center
 * Fortuna California FamilySearch Center
 * McKinleyville California FamilySearch Center
 * Miranda California FamilySearch Center
 * Red Bluff California FamilySearch Center
 * Redding California FamilySearch Center
 * Weaverville California FamilySearch Center

Societies

 * Trinity County Historical Society PO Box 333 Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone:530-623-5211 Website

Websites

 * Trinity County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Trinity County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Trinity County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.