Inyo County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Inyo County was named from the Native American word for the mountains in the area. The meaning of the word inyo is "dwelling place of the great spirit." The county is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Inyo County Courthouse 168 N Edwards St. Independence, CA 93526 Phone: 760-872-3038 Inyo County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1904, marriage and land records from 1866 and mining records from 1872

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

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

Census Records

 * 1870 Inyo County Census Files (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1880 Inyo County 1880 Mortality Schedule (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
 * Churches in Inyo County, California (Genealogy Trails)
 * Bishop

 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 Inyo County Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * The Story of Inyo. By Willie A. Chalfant. Chicago, Illinois : W.A. Chalfant, 1922. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * 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

 * 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Military Records

 * 1883 Inyo 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

 World War II
 * Inyo County WWII Army Enlistments, Surnames A-G (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Inyo County WWII Army Enlistments, Surnames H-M (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Inyo County WWII Army Enlistments, Surnames N-V (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Inyo County WWII Army Enlistments, Surnames W-Z (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Honor List of Dead and Missing WWII, Inyo County, California (Genealogy Trails)

Newspapers

 * California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)


 * 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

 * Inyo County Vital Records and Obituaries (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Inyo County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Voting Records

 * 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 ($)
 * 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

 * Inyo County Vital Records and Obituaries (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($)
 * 1905-1810 Inyo County Birth Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Inyo 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
 * Inyo 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
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Beatty Nevada FamilySearch Center
 * Bishop California FamilySearch Center
 * Tulare Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Inyo County Libraries (Genealogy Trails)Website

Museums
Bishop Museum &amp; Historical Society P.O. Box 363 Bishop, CA 93514, Phone: 760-873-5950 Website Friends of the Eastern California Museum P.O. Box 206 155 Grant Street Independence, CA 93526 Phone: 760-878-364 or 760-878-0259-8 Website

Societies
Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert P.O. Box 2001 230 W Ridgecrest Blvd. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 Phone: 760-675-8465 Website Searles Valley Historical Society P.O. Box 630 Trona, CA 93592 Website

Websites

 * Inyo County CAGenWeb and CA GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Linkpendium
 * Inyo County Genealogy Trails
 * Inyo 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

 * Inyo Research Guide at California State Library