Del Norte County, California Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1848; County recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1873, land records from 1853, leases and agreements 1857-1954

Historical Facts
Del Norte County (pronounced del-nort) sits in the far north west corner of California on the Pacific coast. Exploration by Europeans began with American explorer Jedediah Smith and it was organized into a county in 1857. Forests cover much of this rural territory.

Parent County
2 March 1857: Del Norte County was created from former Klamath County. County seat: Crescent City

Description
The county was named for signifying "the north" and the county derived its name from its geographical position in the extreme northwest corner of the state. The County Seat is Crescent City and was founded 1857. It is located in the North West 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
18 January 1948: Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. Some early records were destroyed.

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

 * Curry County, Oregon
 * Humboldt
 * Josephine County, Oregon
 * Siskiyou

Census

 * 1860 Del Norte County Census Data (Genealogy Trails)

Church History and Records

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

List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1881 Del Norte County Directory at CAGenWeb Project

Gazetteers

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

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military History and Records

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

World War I

 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II

 * 1942 Army Enlistees, Surnames A-L (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel, Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)

Migration

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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 Del Norte County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

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 — How to Use this Collection; images

County Courthouse
www.co.del-norte.ca.us/

FamilySearch Centers

 * Brookings Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Cave Junction Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Crescent City California FamilySearch Center
 * Etna California FamilySearch Center
 * Mount Shasta California FamilySearch Center
 * Yreka California FamilySearch Center


 * Genealogical Society of Siskiyou County - an affiliate library

Societies
Del Norte County Historical Society and Museum: Phone number: (707) 464-3922. Email: manager@delnortehistory.org Address: Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA 95331

The Battery Point Lighthouse Museum: This is a lighthouse that houses a museum. The Lighthouse is located at the foot of A Street. Phone number: (707) 464-3922. Mailing address: Battery Point Lighthouse Museum P.O. Box 535 Crescent City, CA 95331.

NorCal Genealogy Group An e-mail list of genealogists researching northern California ancestors. Submit queries, answers, articles, and other genealogical information via E-Mail. This is a helpful, no-fee group. NORCAL Genealogy Index To subscribe, send an email to: NORCAL-L-request@rootsweb.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and body text If you have any problems subscribing (but ONLY if you have problems), contact: Yvonne Bowers at ybowers@comcast.net

California Historical Society Phone: (415)357-1848 voice (415)357-1850 fax Email: info@calhist.org Address: 678 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records

Birth

 * 1800 - 1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1812 - 1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1860 - 1884 Del Norte County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - 1910 Birth Records for Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - 1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1850 - 1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1850 - 1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Divorce

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

Death

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

Voting Registers

 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Del Norte County Historical Society 577 “H” Street Crescent City, CA 95531 Phone:707-464-3922 Website Facebook


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

Websites

 * Del Norte County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Del Norte County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Del Norte County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Del Norte County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Del Norte County Research, California State Genealogical Association