California, Pre-Statehood Census Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States California

What Is in the Collection?
This collection includes census records for California from 1796-1798 for the following missions and presidios:

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Census records usually include the following information:
 * The names, ages and relations of all household members
 * The date of the event
 * The residence at the time of the event

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:


 * Name of the person
 * The birth date or age at the time of the event
 * The name of a family member

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the /waypoints Browse Page. br>
 * 1) Select Locality
 * 2) Select Year Range

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

For more tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

How Do I Search the Collection?
When searching, it is helpful to know at least some of the following:
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Residence
 * Age or birth date
 * An estimated event year
 * Names of family members

What Do I Do Next?
If these are indexes, the original records may contain additional information than was not indexed, or the information might have been indexed incorrectly. You may want to search for the original record at the California Census Finder.

I Found Who I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * In case you need to find this record again later, copy the citation below in the Citing This Collection section.
 * Use the ages listed to determine approximate birth dates and find the family in additional censuses such as [California Census Finder].
 * Use the ages or estimated birth dates to find county or California Vital Records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find [California Probate Records].
 * Use the information found in the record to find [California Land Records and Deeds].
 * Search for death or burial information in BillionGraves Index.
 * If applicable, search for immigration and naturalization records as well.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the infobox above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used. Collection Citation:

Record Citation Image Citation

Top of Page