Fresno County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Fresno County was named for Fresno Creek. Fresno in Spanish means "ash tree", reflecting the abundance of mountain ash in the area. The County Seat is Fresno and the county was founded February 18, 1856. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Fresno County Courthouse 1100 Van Ness Ave Fresno, CA 93724 Phone: 559-457-2000 Fresno County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, and death records from 1855

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 Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California. Compiled by Myron Angle. Chicago, Illinois : Lewis Pub. Co., [1892?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
 * Index to Fresno County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Fresno County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County Obituaries (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
 * 1839-1920 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1855-1920 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1905 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1919 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1919 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1920 (*); Fresno County Tax Collector at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1975 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1857-1860 (*); Fresno County Treasurer at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1857-1920 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1866-1920 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1866-1920 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1869-1916 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1872-1880 (*); Fresno County Auditor at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1872-1920 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1879-1880 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1880-1919 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1886-1912 (*); Fresno County Board of Supervisors at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1889-1925 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1891-1916 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1893-1977 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1897-1930 (*); Fresno County Treasurer at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1920-1928 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1922-1967 (*); Fresno County Tax Collector at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1923-1928 (*); Fresno County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Index to Federal Land Patents, Fresno County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California. Compiled by Myron Angle. Chicago, Illinois : Lewis Pub. Co., [1892?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
 * History of Fresno County, California : with biographical sketches. 2 volumes. By Paul E. Vandor. Los Angeles, California : Historic Record, 1919. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Index to Fresno County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County Historical Information (CAGenWeb Project)

Maps and Gazetteers

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


 * Maps of California (1850-1925)

Migration

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

Military Records

 * Fresno County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno 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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
 * California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

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

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

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($)
 * Fresno 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($)
 * Fresno County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * The Fresno County Recorder Public Marriage Records Search. These are recent marriages.

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

 * Auberry California FamilySearch Center
 * Caruthers California FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno California East FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno California FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno California North FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno California West FamilySearch Center
 * Madera California FamilySearch Center
 * Selma California FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno County Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Madera County Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Fresno County Public Library 2420 Mariposa Street Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: 559-600-7323

Societies
American Historical Society of Germans from Russia 3233 N. West Avenue Fresno, CA 93705-3402 Website California Mennonite Historical Society 4824 E. Butler Fresno, CA 93727 Website Fresno County Historical Society 7160 West Kearney Boulevard Fresno, CA 93706 Phone: 559-441-0862 Website The Society Archives has Central Valley early farmers index, biographies, manuscripts, photos, oral histories, newspaper clippings, and school yearbooks. Fresno County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1429 Fresno, CA 93716-1429 Website

Websites

 * Fresno County CAGenWeb and CA GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Fresno County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Fresno County, CA Genealogy (LDS Genealogy]


 * – 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

 * Fresno Research Guide at California State Library