California, United States Genealogy

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


 * This article is about the U.S. state. For other uses, see California (disambiguation).

California Information
California became the thirty-first state admitted to the Union in September 9, 1850. California was created from part of unorganized territory called Mexican Cession (Mexico ceded the land to the U. S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago in 1848) and is located in the southwest region of the United States. Sacramento is the capital and there are 58 counties in California.

Getting Started
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Getting Started with California Research
Links to articles on getting started with California research.


 * Guided Research
 * Step-by-Step California Research, 1905-Present
 * Step-by-Step California Research, 1850-1905
 * California Descendancy Research
 * How Find Birth Records
 * How to Find Marriage Records
 * How to Find Death Records
 * Research Strategies


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California Research Tools
Links to articles and websites that assist in California research.


 * Boundary Changes for California Counties
 * California Archives and Libraries
 * CAGenWeb
 * Geographical Names Information System - U.S. gazetteer of places, cemeteries and post offices in California.
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California Clickable Map
Many genealogy records are kept on the county level in the United States. Click on a county below to go to the county Wiki article listing more information.

Counties
 Alameda Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa Contra Costa Del Norte</li> El Dorado</li> Fresno</li> Glenn</li> Humboldt</li> Imperial</li> Inyo</li> Kern</li> Kings</li> Lake</li> Lassen</li> Los Angeles</li> Madera</li> Marin</li> Mariposa</li> Mendocino</li> Merced</li> <li>Modoc</li> <li>Mono</li> <li>Monterey</li> <li>Napa</li> <li>Nevada</li> <li>Orange</li> <li>Placer</li> <li>Plumas</li> <li>Riverside</li> <li>Sacramento</li> <li>San Benito</li> <li>San Bernardino</li> <li>San Diego</li> <li>San Francisco</li> <li>San Joaquin</li> <li>San Luis Obispo</li> <li>San Mateo</li> <li>Santa Barbara</li> <li>Santa Clara</li> <li>Santa Cruz</li> <li>Shasta</li> <li>Sierra</li> <li>Siskiyou</li> <li>Solano</li> <li>Sonoma</li> <li>Stanislaus</li> <li>Sutter</li> <li>Tehama</li> <li>Trinity</li> <li>Tulare</li> <li>Tuolumne</li> <li>Ventura</li> <li>Yolo</li> <li>Yuba</li> </ul> Extinct and former counties that might have records for your California ancestors: Branciforte CA· Klamath CA· Lake NV· Pautah CA· Roop NV· Nataqua Territory

California Migration Routes
<ul class="column-spacing-halfscreen" style="padding-right:5px;"> <li>Applegate Trail</li> <li>Butterfield Overland Mail</li> <li>California Trail</li> <li>Camino Real de California</li> <li>Central Overland Trail</li> <li>Mormon Trail to Southern California</li> <li>Old Spanish Trail</li> <li>Atlantic and Pacific Railroad</li> <li>Central Pacific Railroad</li> <li>Santa Fe Railway</li> <li>Southern Pacific Railroad</li> <li>Texas and Pacific Railway</li> <li>Union Pacific Railroad</li> <li>Ship Passenger Arrivals</li> </ul>

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.


 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records - databases and record images on FamilySearch
 * FamilySearch Center locator map

Additional Resources

 * Sheila Benedict, Research in California Arlington, Virginia : National Genealogical Society, c2015 FS Library 979.4 D27b
 * California Research Outline – Original FamilySearch Library research outline; contains many out of date links
 * The California nuggetOakland, California : California Genealogical Society, 2009- FS Library 979.4 C45cn
 * The searcher (Southern California Genealogical Society) Long Beach, California : Southern California Genealogical Society, 1964- FS Library 979.49 B2s
 * Cyndi's List - California genealogy sites on the internet
 * California Genealogy Trails - Collection of transcribed data for the state of California
 * Access Genealogy – Genealogy guide for California
 * Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - Guide to Ancestry and Family Tree Records for California
 * Every Name Index