Fresno County, California Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth, marriage, and death records from 1855

Historical Facts
Fresno County was created 19 April 1856 from Merced and Mariposa counties. Parts were taken for Kings 22 March 1893, Madera 11 March 1893 and Mono 24 April 1861. Named for Fresno Creek. Fresno in Spanish means "ash tree", because of abundance of mountain ash in the area.

Parent County
19 April 1856: Fresno County was created from Mariposa, Merced and Tulare Counties. County seat: Fresno

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.

Populated Places

 * Cities: Clovis | Coalinga | Firebaugh | Fowler | Fresno | Huron | Kerman | Kingsburg | Mendota | Orange Cove | Parlier | Reedley | San Joaquin | Sanger | Selma |


 * Unincorporated Communities: Auberry | Big Creek | Biola | Calwa | Cantua Creek | Caruthers | Centerville | DelRey | Dunlap | Easton | Friant | Highway City | Lanare | Laton | Mercey Hot Springs | Minkler | Pinedale | Prather | Raisin City | Riverdale | Rolinda | Shaver Lake | Squaw Valley | Tarpey Village | Tollhouse | Tranquillity

Neighboring Counties

 * Inyo
 * Kings
 * Madera
 * Merced
 * Mono
 * Monterey
 * San Benito
 * Tulare

Cemeteries

 * 1850 - 1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)



Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1833 – 1991 at FamilySearch — images

Archives, Libraries and Museums
The following public libraries in Fresno County have collections of particular interest to genealogists:


 * Fresno County Public Library 2420 Mariposa Street Fresno, California 93721 Telephone: (559) 600-7323 The California History and Genealogy Room offers books, microfilms and other resources for local and state history as well as a variety of records helpful for identifying your ancestors and their lives–vital records, military, ethnic, census, Great Registers (voting records), prison records, and more.


 * Fresno City and County Historical Society Archives has Central Valley early farmers index, biographies, manuscripts, photos, oral histories, newspaper clippings, and school yearbooks.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Auberry California Family History Center (Pranther)
 * Caruthers California Family History Center
 * Fresno California East Family History Center (Clovis)
 * Fresno California Family History Center
 * Fresno California North Family History Center (Clovis)
 * Fresno California West Family History Center
 * Reedley California Family History Center
 * Selma California Family History Center
 * Sequoia California Family History Center (Dunlap)

Societies

 * Fresno County Genealogical Society

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1850 - 1952 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * The Fresno County Recorder Public Marriage Records Search. These are recent marriages.

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Fresno City And County Historical Society P.O. Box 2029 Fresno 93718

Fresno County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1429 Fresno 93716-1429 Website

Fresno City County Historical Society 7160 West Kearney Boulevard Fresno, CA 93706 Phone: 559-441-0862 Website

American Historical Society of Germans from Russia 3233 N. West Avenue Fresno, CA 93705-3402

California Mennonite Society 4824 E. Butler Fresno, CA 93727


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

Web Sites

 * Fresno County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Fresno County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Archives backup site