Butte County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Butte County was created February 18, 1850 with the original county seat being Hamilton City. In 1853, the county seat was changed to Bidwill Bar, and in 1856 to Oroville. Butte County is located in the north central corner of the state.

County Courthouse
Butte County Courthouse One Court Street Oroville, CA 95965 Phone: 530-532-7015 Butte County Website

County Recorder has marriage records from 1851, birth and death records from 1859 and land records. County Clerk has divorce, probate, probate and court record from 1850. Meriam Library, California State University Chico, has divorce, probate and court records 1850-1879 and natural records 1850-1960

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:

 Indian Reservations or Rancherias 

The Berry Creek Indian Rancheria is located in this county.

Biographies

 * Butte County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Butte County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Butte County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)

Census Records

 * 1860 Butte County Mortality Schedule, 1860 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1880 Butte County Mortality Schedule, 1880 (Genealogy Trails)

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
 * Chico
 * Gridley
 * Liberty (Gridley)
 * Oroville

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

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Indian Reservations or Rancherias The Berry Creek Indian Rancheria is located in this county.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1851-1910 (*); Butte County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1852-1896 (*); Butte County, County Assessor at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1910 (*); Butte County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1860-1916 (*); Butte County County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1860-1927 (*); Butte County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1864-1920 (*); Butte County, Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Index to General Land Office Records at USGenWeb Archives

Local Histories

 * Butte County History Records (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
Early migration routes to and from Butte County for emigrant settlers included:
 * 1844-1869 California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
 * 1850 Beckwourth Trail 1850 left the Truckee Trail near present-day Sparks, Nevada going to Oroville and Marysville, California
 * 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Military Records

 * 1856-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1886; 1895-1919 Butte County. County Clerk. Military rolls, 1886, 1895-1919
 * Butte County Military Records (Genealogy Trails)

 Civil War Civil War service men in Butte 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:
 * Butte County. Board of Supervisors. Record of burial of ex-Union soldiers, sailors, marines and widows, 1886-1898
 * Butte County Civil War Veterans (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1st Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), Company A
 * 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company A

World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * See also Military Rolls above, 1886, 1896-1919

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 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

Obituaries

 * 1866-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1883-1899 Butte County Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1883-1899 at FamilySearch (microfilm)
 * 1902-1967 Paradise, California Obituary File Index, 1902-1967 at FamilySearch (microfilm)
 * 1963-1900 Butte County Obituary Index, 1963-1990 at FamilySearch
 * The Paradise Genealogical Society has a large collection of obituaries and death notices from local Butte County newspapers.
 * Butte County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Butte County Obituary Index (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 Butte Great Registers from 1867-1898.

The Butte county records for 1872 are available on the RootsWeb site, by clicking here.
 * 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 ($)
 * 1850-1902 Butte County California list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills - free
 * 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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

Tax Records

 * 1857 Butte County 1857 Tax List (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($)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1851-1860 Butte County Marriages, 1851-1860 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Butte County Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Butte 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 Butte County Deaths (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 Miscellaneous Births and Deaths, Butte County (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Butte County, California, Miscellaneous Deaths from Historical Newspapers (CAGenWeb Project)

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Corning California FamilySearch Center
 * Chico California FamilySearch Center
 * Gridley California FamilySearch Center
 * Oroville California FamilySearch Center
 * Paradise California FamilySearch Center
 * Quincy California FamilySearch Center
 * California FamilySearch Center/ Sacramento California Family Search Library
 * California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Societies

 * Paradise Genealogical Society 5587 Scottwood Road Paradise, CA 95967-0460 Phone: 530-877-2330 Website
 * Butte County Historical Society P.O. Box 2195 Oroville, CA 95965 Phone: 530-533-9418 or 530-533-5316 Email:[mailto:ButteHistory@sbcglobal.net mail] Website
 * Paradise Genealogical Society INC 5587 Scottwood Rd Paradise, CA 95969 Phone: 530-877-2330 Website

Websites

 * Butte County CA GenWeb and CA GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Butte County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Butte 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

 * Butte Research Guide at California State Library