Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy

Guide to Santa Barbara 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 Mission Santa Barbara and was founded on December 4, 1786 in what is now Santa Barbara. The county derives its name from the mission. The county seat Santa Barbara and the county were created in 1856. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Santa Barbara 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: 805-882-4520 Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Superior Court has divorce, probate, court and naturalization records. Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records from 1850

Populated Places
The following list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have websites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names. Information about the cemeteries can be found in these pages if known.

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:

History Timeline
Santa Barbara area Native Americans were first contacted by several early explorers in the 1500s and 1600s but the first moves toward settlement by Europeans were Spanish in 1769. The Santa Barbara mission was founded in 1786 by Franciscan padres who were also the first record keepers.

Biographies

 * Santa Barbara County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Santa Barbara County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index to Santa Barbara County, California Biographies and Histories (CAGenWeb)

Census Records

 * 1850 Federal Census, Santa Barbara, California (CAGenWeb Project)

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Santa Barbara County Churches & Synagogues (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Santa Maria

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

Directories

 * 1958 Santa Maria - Lompoc, Santa Barbara, California, City Directory, 1958 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1959 Santa Maria - Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California, City Directory, 1959 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Genealogies
The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society has free online databases and indexes to search at sbgen.org and maintains the Sahyun library open for research at 316 Castillo St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1844-1917 (*); Santa Barbara County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1861-1923 (*); Santa Barbara County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Index to Federal Land Records, Santa Barbara County (USGenWeb Archives)

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

 * Santa Barbara County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War Service Men in Santa Barbara 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:
 * Index to Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts, Santa Barbara County (USGenWeb Archives)
 * - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
 * - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company C

 World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 World War II
 * Index to Santa Barbara County Army Enlistees, World War II (USGenWeb Archives)
 * World War II Draft Registration Cards, Santa Barbara County (CAGenWeb Project)
 * WWII Honor List of Dead and Missing, Santa Barbara County (Genealogy Trails)
 * Alphabetical Listing of Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Detailed Records of Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II (CAGenWeb Project)

 Vietnam War
 * Vietnam War Casualties Listed on the Virtual Wall - listed by city. (CAGenWeb Project)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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

 * Santa Barbara County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Santa Barbara County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Voting Records

 * San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1931-1975 Grantee and Grantor Historical Probate Index 1931-1975 - index and images
 * 1975-present Online index for Santa Barbara probates; images available for a fee

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
Santa Barbara Mission archives contain early births, baptisms, marriages and deaths.

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 ($)
 * 1905 Birth Index, Santa Barbara County (Genealogy Trails)
 * Early Santa Barbara County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

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

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 ($)
 * Pre-1905 Index to Pre-1905 Deaths, Santa Barbara County (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Santa Barbara County Death Index by year (CAGenWeb Project)

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Lompoc California FamilySearch Center
 * Ojai California FamilySearch Center
 * Oxnard California FamilySearch Center
 * San Luis Obispo California FamilySearch Center
 * Santa Barbara California FamilySearch Center
 * Santa Maria California FamilySearch Center
 * Solvang California FamilySearch Center
 * Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Southern California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Societies
Santa Barbara Chapter; Sons of the American Revolution Website Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society 316 Castillo Street PO Box 1303 Goleta, CA 93116-1303 Website Santa Barbara Genealogical Society Website Santa Maria Valley Genealogical Society PO Box 1215 Santa Maria, CA 93456 Website Vandenburg Genealogical Society PO Box 81 Lompoc, CA 93438-0081

Websites

 * Santa Barbara County CAGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Linkpendium
 * Santa Barbara 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.

Research Guides

 * Santa Barbara Research Guide at California State Library