Madera County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Madera County takes its name from the town of Madera, named when the California Lumber Company built a log flume to carry lumber to the railroad there in 1876. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Madera County Courthouse 200 South G Street Madera, CA 93637 Phone: 559-416-5599 Madera County Website

County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, divorce, probate court and land records from 1893 and some voting 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

 * Index to Madera County Biographies - Scroll down to "Biographies" (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Madera County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * Madera County Census Records - Scroll down to "Census Records."

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
 * Madera County Index to Federal Land Patents (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * Madera County History (CAGenWeb Project)

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

 * Madera County War Memorial (CAGenWeb Project)

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

 World War II
 * Madera County Surname Index to World War II Army Inductees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Madera County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * Madera County Naturalizations - Declarations of Intent (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Madera County Naturalizations - Petitions for Citizenship (CAGenWeb Project)

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

 * Index to Madera County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Madera County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Voting Records

 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index($)
 * 1871, 1872, 1880, 1894, 1900, 1898, 1920 Great Registers of Voters for Madera County - Scroll down to "Great Registers of Voters." (CAGenWeb Project)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and 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

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Birth

 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1878-1905 Madera County Births (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1905-1915 Madera County Births (CAGenWeb Project)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1855-1897 [https://cagenweb.org/madera/FresnoMarriages1855.htm Fresno County Index to Marriage Licenses, Vol. 1, 1855-1897
 * 1893-1905 Madera Marriages (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1850 1850 Mariposa County, California Mortality Schedule (Includes Madera County) (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1892-1905 Madera County, CA Record of Deaths (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1912-1913 Jay Chapel Funerals - Small Cemeteries (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 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

 * Fresno California East FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno California FamilySearch Center
 * Fresno California West FamilySearch Center
 * Madera California FamilySearch Center
 * Oakhurst California FamilySearch Center
 * Madera County Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Madera County Library 121 N. G Street Madera, CA 93637 Phone: 559-675-7871 Website Multiple branches

Societies
Madera County Historical Society P.O. Box 478 210 West Yosemite Avenue Madera, CA Phone: 559-673-0291 Madera Genealogical Society P.O. Box 495 Madera, CA 93639 Phone: 559-673-0291 Website Coarsegold Historical Society P.O. Box 117 Coarsegold, CA 93614 Phone: 559-642-4448

Websites

 * Madera County CAGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Madera County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Madera County, CA 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

 * Madera Research Guide at California State Library