San Joaquin County, California Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named from the San Joaquin River. The county seat Stockton and the county were created 1850. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
San Joaquin County Courthouse 180 E Weber Stockton, CA 95202 Phone: 209-992-5555 San Joaquin County Website County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1851. County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land 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

 * San Joaquin County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to San Joaquin County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * History and Biographies, San Joaquin County (CAGenWeb Project)

Church Records
Church records are usually found in the towns rather than on the county level. 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
 * Stockton
 * Tracy
 * Manteca

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

Court Records
San Joaquin County Court Directory gives addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and links to the courts websites and online resources..

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 Ethnic Groups
 * Cambodian The city of Stockton has the fifth largest population of Cambodians in the United States and the second largest in California. The Stockton Cambodian Oral History Project works to preserve the legacy of this important community.
 * Chinese Chinese immigrants began arriving in San Joaquin County during the mid-1800s as part of the California Gold Rush. The city of Stockton soon had the third largest Chinese-American population in the U.S., and was once known as “Sam Fow” (third city, in Cantonese). The Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton (CCSS) has both a website and a Facebook page. The city of Stockton has an annual Chinese New Year Celebration.
 * Filipino From the 1920s to the 1960s, Stockton's Little Manila neighborhood was home to the largest Filipino community outside of the Philippines. Downtown Stockton is home to the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) - Stockton Chapter. The Little Manila Foundation works to preserve the history and remaining structures tied to this historic neighborhood.
 * German
 * Hmong The Hmong come from the mountainous regions of southern China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong refugees began immigrating to the United States in large numbers after the fall of Saigon. The city of Stockton — home to the sixth largest Hmong population in the United States — holds an annual Hmong New Year Celebration, and it is home to the Hmong American Association of San Joaquin, Inc.
 * Italian Italian immigrants have a long history in San Joaquin County. The California Italian American Project has a page about the history of Italians in the city of Stockton. The Pacific Italian Alliance was founded in Stockton in 1991.
 * Japanese The Japanese American Citizens League, Stockton Chapter has a Facebook page.
 * Vietnamese

 Religious Groups
 * Buddhist (Japanese) The Stockton Buddhist Church is a member of Buddhist Churches of America (BSA) based in San Francisco, CA. Website
 * Buddhist (Cambodian) Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple in Stockton was established in 1982 by refugees escaping war-torn Southeast Asian countries. Website
 * Catholic The Diocese of Stockton was formed in 1962 from territory taken from the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Diocese of Sacramento. Website
 * Sikh The Stockton Sikh Temple (Gurdwara Sahib Stockton), founded in 1912, is the oldest existing Sikh temple in the United States. Website Facebook page

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1849-1919 (*); San Joaquin County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1850-1913 (*); San Joaquin County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1855-1921 (*); San Joaquin County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1858-1874 (*); San Joaquin County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1860-1921 (*); San Joaquin County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1860-1928 (*); San Joaquin County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images

Local Histories
Google Books has some books about the history and people in San Joaquin County, California. Try various search terms, including the names of people. Books designated with "Full view" can be read online. The San Joaquin Genealogical Society maintains an extensive bibliography of publications about San Joaquin County history and genealogy.
 * Index to San Joaquin County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * San Joaquin County History Records (CAGenWeb Project)
 * California Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers
For historical maps, search the following free sites:
 * Maps of California (1850-1925)
 * Maps-Historical-Sate of California, the California government's site.Links to American Memory (Library of Congress), California Missions, and the State Library
 * Historical Maps of California
 * California Maps - HSU Library, also lists and links to gazetteers
 * Perry-Castaneda Map Collection
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from San Joaquin County for emigrant settlers included:
 * 1844-1869 California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
 * 1848 Carson (River) Trail 1848 (aka Mormon Emigrant Trail) crossed the Forty Mile Desert past the west side of the Carson Sink to pick up the Carson River near Fallon, Nevada up to Hope Valley and Red Lake. The Devil's Ladder then climbed 700 feet (210 m) in half a mile so ropes, chains, and pulleys were required to lift the wagons. Carson Pass was followed by the relatively easy West Pass (Kirkwood, California) and then on to Pollock Pines, Placerville, and Sutter's Fort, California
 * 1851 Big Tree Road (Ebbetts Pass) 1851 from western Nevada to Markleeville, Murphys, and Stockton, California


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

Military Records
The California State Military Museum has a great deal of historical information and links to other military websites. Ancestry.com has Records of California men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867 ($)

 Civil War Civil War service men in San Joaquin County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:
 * - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
 * - 3rd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company A
 * - 3rd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company B
 * - 3rd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D
 * - 3rd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company I
 * - 3rd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company K


 * 1883 San Joaquin County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1886 Civil War Veterans, Rawlins Post No. 23, G. A. R. 1886 Roster (USGenWeb Archives)

 World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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

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
 * One of the members at the Lodi California FamilySearch Center has compiled an index of Lodi-area obituaries from the 1880s to the 2000s. The Lodi Public Library holds a copy of his work as well. An index exists for The Record (Stockton) if you ask the reference librarian at the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library. Neither index is available online at this time, and the papers themselves must be accessed via microfilm.
 * There may be some information relevant to the county in the California Digital Newspaper Collection, which has newspapers from 1848 through 1922. You can search by keyword, including names, and/or by date.
 * California, San Joaquin County Public Library Obituary Index File - FamilySearch Historical Records

Obituaries

 * Index to San Joaquin County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Surname Index to San Joaquin County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Obituary Links (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

School Records

 * Index to San Joaquin County School Records (USGenWeb Archives)

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($)
 * 1905 San Joaquin County Births (Genealogy Trails)
 * Early San Joaquin Birth Notices by year (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
 * San Joaquin Marriage Notices by year (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($)
 * Selected San Joaquin County Deaths (USGenWeb Archives)

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Antioch California FamilySearch Center
 * Concord California FamilySearch Center
 * Danville California FamilySearch Center
 * Livermore California FamilySearch Center
 * Lodi California FamilySearch Center
 * Manteca California FamilySearch Center
 * Modesto California North FamilySearch Center
 * Stockton California FamilySearch Center
 * Tracy California FamilySearch Center
 * Turlock California FamilySearch Center
 * Visalia California FamilySearch Center
 * California FamilySearch Center Oakland California FamilySearch Center
 * California Genealogical Society Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Stockton-San Joaquin County Library Website

Museums
San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum Website

Societies
San Joaquin County Historical Society 11793 N. Micke Grove Road, Box 21 Lodi, CA 95241 Website San Joaquin Genealogical Society Website Tracy Area Genealogical Society 1141 Adam Street Tracy, CA 95376-3506 Website

Websites

 * San Joaquin County CA GenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * San Joaquin County, California Genealogy Trails
 * San Joaquin County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * San Joaquin Genealogical Society
 * – 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.