Sonoma County, California Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1850

Parent County
18 February 1850: Sonoma County was created as an original county. County seat: Santa Rosa

Description
The county seat Santa Rosa and the county was created 1850. The County is located in the west central 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
1906: Courthouse was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Minor record Loss.

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

 * Lake
 * Marin
 * Mendocino
 * Napa

Biography

 * Index to Sonoma County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Sonoma County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census

 * 1850 Sonoma County Federal Census, 20 October 1850 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1860 Laporte ,Township #1, Sonoma California Census (Genealogy Trails)

Church History and Records

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

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Santa Rosa
 * FamilySearch Places

History

 * Index to Sonoma County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Land and Property
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1812-1903 (*); United States. General Land Office. Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1847-1901 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1906 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1857-1917 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1858-1883 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Sonoma County Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma County Recorder's Website - deeds are indexed back through 1964 with originals available for purchase online

Maps

 * 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

Military History and Records

 * 1846 - 1900 Index to Militia Lists of Sonoma County, California, 1846-1900 (CAGenWeb Project)

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D


 * Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts, Sonoma County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I

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

World War II

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1831-1985 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 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 Sonoma County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Sonoma County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Santa Rosa area as well as those of celebrities and VIP's.

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

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library

Family History Centers

 * Cloverdale California Family History Center
 * Concord California Family History Center
 * Fairfield California Family History Center
 * Highlands California Family History Center
 * Napa California Family History Center
 * San Rafael California Family History Center
 * Santa Rosa California Family History Center
 * Sonoma California Family History Center
 * Vacaville California Family History Center
 * Vallejo California Family History Center


 * Napa Valley Genealogical & Biographical Society - an affiliate library

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
 * 1905 - 1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Sonoma County Early Birth Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1844 - 1860 Sonoma County, California Marriages (Genealogy Trails)
 * 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($)
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Sonoma County Early Marriage Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

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($)


 * Sonoma County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Santa Rosa area as well as those of celebrities and VIP's.

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
Sonoma County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2273 Santa Rosa 95405 Website

Sonoma County Historical Society P.O. Box 1373 Santa Rosa 95402 Website

Sonoma Valley Historical Society P.O. Box 861 Sonoma 95476 Website

Sonoma County History And Genealogy Library 211 E Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Website


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

Websites

 * Sonoma County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Sonoma County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Sonoma County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Sonoma County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)