Del Norte County, California Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named for signifying "the north" and the county derived its name from its geographical position in the extreme north west corner of the state. Exploration by Europeans began with American explorer Jedediah Smith, and it was organized into a county in 1857. Forests cover much of this rural territory. It is located in the North West area of the state.

County Courthouse
Del Norte County Courthouse 450 H Street Crescent City, CA 95531 Phone 707-464-8115 Del Norte County Website County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1848. County recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1873, land records from 1853, leases and agreements 1857-1954.

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:

Census Records

 * 1860 Del Norte County Census Data (Genealogy Trails)

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

Directories

 * 1881 Del Norte County Directory (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1910 Index to Great Register, Del Norte County, California (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1933 California Civilian Conservation Corps Members, 1933, Del Norte County (CAGenWeb Project)

Local Histories

 * 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

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

 World War I
 * Information from Civilian Draft Registration Cards, Del Norte County (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 World War II
 * 1942 Army Enlistees, Surnames A-L (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel, Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & 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 Del Norte County Obituaries (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

Birth

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1860-1884 Del Norte County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1890-1940's Miscellaneous Marriage, Birth, and Death Records from the Del Norte Record (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1905-1910 Birth Records for Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1890-1940's Miscellaneous Marriage, Birth, and Death Records from the Del Norte Record (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1890-1940's Miscellaneous Marriage, Birth, and Death Records from the Del Norte Record (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 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

 * Brookings Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Cave Junction Oregon FamilySearch Center
 * Crescent City California FamilySearch Center
 * Etna California FamilySearch Center
 * Mount Shasta California FamilySearch Center
 * Yreka California FamilySearch Center
 * Genealogical Society of Siskiyou County - an affiliate library

Museums
Del Norte County Historical Society and Museum: Phone number: 707-464-3922 Email: manager@delnortehistory.org Website

Societies
California Historical Society 678 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: 415-357-1848 Email:info@calhist.org Website

Del Norte County Historical Society 577 “H” Street Crescent City, CA 95531 Phone:707-464-3922 Website

NorCal Genealogy Group Website An e-mail list of genealogists researching northern California ancestors. Submit queries, answers, articles, and other genealogical information via E-Mail. This is a helpful, no-fee group. NORCAL Genealogy Index To subscribe, send an email to: NORCAL-L-request@rootsweb.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and body text If you have any problems subscribing (but ONLY if you have problems), contact: Yvonne Bowers at ybowers@comcast.net

Websites

 * Del Norte County CAGenWeb and CA GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Del Norte County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Del Norte 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

 * Del Norte Research Guide at California State Library