Humboldt County, California Genealogy

Guide to Humboldt 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 Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1853 County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and burial and land records 

Parent Counties
12 May 1853: Humboldt County was created from Trinity County and part of the former Klamath County. County seat: Eureka

Description
The county was named from Humboldt Bay. The County Seat is Eureka and was founded 1853. It is located in the North West 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
1924--Humboldt County Courthouse damaged by fire. County records were not destroyed.

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:

Indian Reservations or Rancherias
The Big Lagoon Indian Rancheria is located in this county.

Neighboring Counties

 * Del Norte
 * Mendocino
 * Siskiyou
 * Trinity

Biography

 * Index to Humboldt County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Humbolt County Biography Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Humboldt County Biography Links (CAGenWeb Project)

Census

 * Humboldt County Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)

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
 * Hydesville
 * FamilySearch Places

Gazetteers

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

History

 * Humboldt County History (Genealogy Trails)

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

Civil War

 * - 1st Battalion Mountaineers, California Infantry (Union), Company A
 * - 1st Battalion Mountaineers, California Infantry (Union), Company B
 * - 1st Battalion Mountaineers, California Infantry (Union), Company C


 * Humboldt County Civil War Veterans, Anderson Post No. 21, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Humboldt County Civil War Veterans, Col. Whipple Post No. 49, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I

 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II

 * Humboldt County CA Archives Military Records.....Index to Army Enlistees by Name - Scroll down to WWII. (USGenWeb Archives)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 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

 * Humboldt County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Humboldt County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1854 - 1899 - Humboldt County Obituaries compiled by Humboldt County Genealogical Society (CAGenWeb Project)

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

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Eureka California 1st Ward Family History Center
 * Fortuna California Family History Center
 * McKinleyville California Family History Center
 * Miranda California Family History Center

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($)

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 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($)
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)

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($)

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
Humbolt County Historical Society 703 8th St Eureka, California 95501 Phone:(707) 445-4342 E-Mail:[mailto:hchs@humboldthistory.org] Website

Redwood Genealogical Society PO Box 645 Fortuna, CA 95540 Website


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

Websites

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