Stanislaus County, California Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk Recorder has marriage records from 1870 birth and death records from 1900 Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1854 County Recorder has land records from 1854

Description
The county was named for the Stanislaus River. The county seat Modesto and the county was created 1854. The County is located in the 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
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities
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

 * Alameda
 * Calaveras
 * Mariposa
 * Merced
 * San Joaquin
 * Santa Clara
 * Tuolumne

Biography

 * Stanislaus County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Stanislaus County Biographies (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
 * Modesto
 * Oakdale
 * Turlock
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1941 Modesto and Turlock, Stanislaus County, California, City Directory, 1941 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1942 Modesto and Turlock, Stanislaus County, California, City Directory, 1942 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1958 Modesto, Stanislaus County, California, City Directory, 1958 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Gazetteers

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

Land and Property
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1854-1904 (*); Stanislaus County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images

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

 * Stanislaus County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)

Civil War

 * Civil War Veterans, Grant Post No. 9, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I

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

World War II

 * Index to Stanislaus County, World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Stanislaus 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

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

 * Newspapers.net
 * Rootsweb.com
 * Stanislaus County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Stanislaus County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Stanislaus County Contributed Obituaries (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Stanislaus County, California Old Obituaries Page (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

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Stanislaus County Library Address: 1500 I St Modesto, CA 95354 Telephone: (209) 558-7800 The library's catalog is online. It has many items genealogy related items. The library subscribes to a number of online databases, some of which would be useful to genealogists. The Special Collections room at the Modesto Library includes works on genealogy, sections on California and local history, and older high school yearbooks. This area also includes non-current editions of local telephone and city directories. None of these items may be checked out. Volunteers from the Stanislaus Genealogical Society often staff this room and answer genealogical queries.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Livermore California Family History Center
 * Manteca California Family History Center
 * Merced California Family History Center
 * Modesto California Family History Center
 * Modesto California North Family History Center
 * Stockton California Family History Center
 * Tracy California Family History Center
 * Turlock California Family History Center

Societies
Genealogical Society of Stanislaus County, CA., Inc. Address: P. O. Box A Modesto, CA 95352-3660 Telephone: (209) 529-6467 Email: gssc@worldnet.att.net The Stanislaus Genealogical Society works closely with the Stanislaus County Library's Special Collections Room, adding to its holdings, volunteering there, and answering queries.

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($)
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Early Stanislaus County Marriages (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($)'

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
McHenry Museum and Historical Society 1402 I Street Modesto, CA 95354 Phone: 209.577.5235 Website

Genealogical Society of Stanislaus County P.O. Box 1352 Modesto, CA 95352-1352 Website

Patterson Township Historical Society PO Box 15 Patterson, CA 95363 Website


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

Websites

 * Stanislaus County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Sonoma County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Stanislaus County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Stanislaus County CA Genealogy (at LDS Genealogy]