Mariposa County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Mariposa County takes its name from Mariposa Creek, which was named by Spanish explorers in 1806, when they discovered great clusters of butterflies ("mariposas" in Spanish) in the foothills of the Sierras. The county seat Mariposa and the county was created 1850. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Mariposa County Courthouse 4982 10th Street Maripose, CA 95338 Phone: 209-966-2332 Mariposa County Website

County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records. County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and burial records.

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:

Biographies

 * A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. New Haven, Connecticut : Research Publications, 1968. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Mariposa County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Mariposa County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * 1850 Federal Census of Mariposa County (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1850 Mortality Schedule, Mariposa County (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1930 1930 United States Census, Hornitos Towns, Mariposa Co., California (Genealogy Trails)

Church Records

 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Index to Federal Land Patents, Mariposa 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

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

World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Mariposa County, World War I Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)

 World War II
 * Mariposa County, World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Mariposa County, World War II Honor Roll (USGenWeb Archives)

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

 * Mariposa County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Mariposa County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Voting Records

 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index($)
 * 1892 Great Register for Mariposa County, California, Year 1892 (Genealogy Trails)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 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

Vital Records

 * Index to Mariposa Vital Records and Vital Records Resources (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($)
 * Mariposa 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
 * Mariposa 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
 * 1919-1921 Notices of vital events (births, marriages, and deaths), 1919-1921, abstracted from the Mariposa Gazette by William Disbro.
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Mariposa County Death Records (Genealogy Trails)

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Madera California FamilySearch Center
 * Mariposa California FamilySearch Center
 * Merced California FamilySearch Center
 * Modesto California FamilySearch Center
 * Oakhurst California FamilySearch Center
 * Madera County Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Mariposa Museum and History Center 5119 Jessie Street Mariposa, CA 95338 Phone: 209-966-2924 Website Northern Mariposa County History Center 10301 Highway 49 Coulterville, CA 95311 Phone: 209-878-3015 Website

Websites

 * Mariposa County CAGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Linkpendium
 * Mariposa County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Mariposa 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.