Fresno County, California Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth, marriage, and death records from 1855

Historical Facts
Fresno County was created 19 April 1856 from Merced and Mariposa counties. Parts were taken for Kings 22 March 1893, Madera 11 March 1893 and Mono 24 April 1861. Named for Fresno Creek. Fresno in Spanish means "ash tree", because of abundance of mountain ash in the area.

Parent County
19 April 1856: Fresno County was created from Mariposa, Merced and Tulare Counties. County seat: Fresno

Description
The County Seat is Fresno and was founded February 18, 1856. It is located in the Central area of the state.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating California county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation California County Boundary Maps" (1850-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Records Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Inyo
 * Kings
 * Madera
 * Merced
 * Mono
 * Monterey
 * San Benito
 * Tulare

Biography

 * Index to Fresno County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Fresno County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Cemeteries
The following web site may have additional information on Fresno County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net California cemetery records by County.

Church History and Records

 * 1864-1985 - at FamilySearch — index

History

 * Index to Fresno County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County Historical Information (CAGenWeb Project)

Land and Property

 * Index to Federal Land Patents, Fresno County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)

Migration

 * 1906-1935 - at FamilySearch — index

Military History and Records

 * Fresno County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1831-1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Obituaries

 * Fresno County Obituary Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Fresno County Obituaries Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County: Reedley Cemetery Obituaries (CAGenWeb Project)

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1833 – 1991 at FamilySearch — images

Archives, Libraries and Museums
The following public libraries in Fresno County have collections of particular interest to genealogists:


 * Fresno County Public Library 2420 Mariposa Street Fresno, California 93721 Telephone: (559) 600-7323 The California History and Genealogy Room offers books, microfilms and other resources for local and state history as well as a variety of records helpful for identifying your ancestors and their lives–vital records, military, ethnic, census, Great Registers (voting records), prison records, and more.


 * Fresno City and County Historical Society Archives has Central Valley early farmers index, biographies, manuscripts, photos, oral histories, newspaper clippings, and school yearbooks.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Auberry California Family History Center (Pranther)
 * Caruthers California Family History Center
 * Fresno California East Family History Center (Clovis)
 * Fresno California Family History Center
 * Fresno California North Family History Center (Clovis)
 * Fresno California West Family History Center
 * Reedley California Family History Center
 * Selma California Family History Center
 * Sequoia California Family History Center (Dunlap)

Societies

 * Fresno County Genealogical Society

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records

Birth

 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1812 - 1988 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1905 - 1995 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Fresno County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1850 - 1945 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1850 - 1952 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Fresno County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * The Fresno County Recorder Public Marriage Records Search. These are recent marriages.

Divorce

 * 1966 - 1984 - at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - 1939 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1940 - 1997 - at FamilySearch — index

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Fresno City And County Historical Society P.O. Box 2029 Fresno 93718

Fresno County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1429 Fresno 93716-1429 Website

Fresno City County Historical Society 7160 West Kearney Boulevard Fresno, CA 93706 Phone: 559-441-0862 Website

American Historical Society of Germans from Russia 3233 N. West Avenue Fresno, CA 93705-3402

California Mennonite Society 4824 E. Butler Fresno, CA 93727


 * List of California Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Websites

 * Fresno County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Fresno County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Fresno County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Fresno County, CA Genealogy (LDS Genealogy]
 * FamilySearch Catalog