Imperial County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Imperial County took its name from Imperial Valley, which was named for the Imperial Land Company, a subsidiary of the California Development Company; at the turn of the 20th century the company had reclaimed the southern portion of the Colorado desert for agriculture. It is located in the southeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Imperial County Courthouse 939 W. Main St. El Centro, CA 92243 Phone: 760-482-2200 Imperial County Courthouse

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1907. County Recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1907

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

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

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

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1907-1956 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1851-1907 (*); Imperial County, California Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Index to Federal Land Patents - Imperial County (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * The First Thirty Years, 1901-1931 : being an account of the principal events in the history of Imperial Valley. By Otis B. Tout. San Diego, California : Tout, [19--?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The History of Imperial County, California. Edited by F. C. Farr. Berkeley, California : Elms and Franks, 1918. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * San Diego and Imperial Counties, California. 2 volumes. By Samuel F. Black. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co., 1974. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vols. 1 & 2 - HathiTrust.
 * County History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Imperial County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * California Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

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

 World War II
 * Index to World War II Army Enlistees, Imperial County, California (USGenWeb Archives)
 * WW II Honor List of Dead and Missing, Imperial County, California (Genealogy Trails)

 Korean War
 * Korean War Casualties, Imperial County, California (Genealogy Trails)

 Vietnam War
 * Vietnam War Casualties, Imperial County, California (Genealogy Trails)

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 Imperial County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Obituary Index, Imperial County, California (Genealogy Trails)

Voting Records

 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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

Birth

 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1905-1910 Imperial County Birth Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Imperial County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Imperial County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 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

 * El Centro California FamilySearch Center
 * San Diego California FamilySearch Center
 * Escondido Public Library - Pioneer Room - an affiliate library

Museums
Pioneers' Park Museum 373 East Aten Road Imperial, CA 92251 Website

Websites

 * Imperial County CAGenWeb and CA GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Imperial County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Imperial County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)


 * – 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

 * Imperial Research Guide at California State Library