Sonoma County, California Genealogy

Guide to Sonoma County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. California Online Genealogy Records

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1850

Parent County
18 February 1850: Sonoma County was created as an original county. County seat: Santa Rosa

Description
The county seat Santa Rosa and the county was created 1850. The County is located in the west 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
1906: Courthouse was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Minor record Loss.

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

 * Lake
 * Marin
 * Mendocino
 * Napa

Biography

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

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Sonoma  County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net California cemetery records by County.


 * 1850 - 1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Census

 * 1850 - Sonoma County Federal Census, 20 October 1850 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1860 - Laporte ,Township #1, Sonoma California Census (Genealogy Trails)

Church History and Records

 * 1864-1985 - at FamilySearch — index

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Santa Rosa
 * FamilySearch Places

History

 * Index to Sonoma County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Land and Property

 * Sonoma County Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma County Recorder's Website - deeds are indexed back through 1964 with originals available for purchase online

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration

 * 1929-1954 - at FamilySearch — index

Military History and Records

 * 1846 - 1900 - Index to Militia Lists of Sonoma County, California, 1846-1900 (CAGenWeb Project)

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D


 * Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts, Sonoma County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I

 * 1914-1918 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1831-1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1852-1989 - at FamilySearch — index and 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

 * Index to Sonoma County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Sonoma County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Santa Rosa area as well as those of celebrities and VIP's.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and 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
Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Cloverdale California Family History Center
 * Santa Rosa California Family History Center
 * Sonoma California Family History Center

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; Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Sonoma County Early Birth Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1844 - 1860 - Sonoma County, California Marriages (Genealogy Trails)
 * 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
 * Sonoma County Early Marriage Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

Divorce

 * 1966 - 1984 - at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1776 - 2000 - at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - 1939 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1940 - 1997 - at FamilySearch — index; Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Sonoma County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Santa Rosa area as well as those of celebrities and VIP's.

Voting Registers

 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Sonoma County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2273 Santa Rosa 95405 Website

Sonoma County Historical Society P.O. Box 1373 Santa Rosa 95402 Website

Sonoma Valley Historical Society P.O. Box 861 Sonoma 95476 Website

Sonoma County History And Genealogy Library 211 E Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Website


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

Websites

 * Sonoma County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Sonoma County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Sonoma County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Sonoma County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)