Amador County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Amador County was named for José María Amador, a soldier, rancher, and miner, born in San Francisco in 1794, the son of Sergeant Pedro Amador, a Spanish soldier who settled in California in 1771. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Amador County Courthouse 500 Argonaut Lane Jackson, CA 95642 Phone: 209-257-2600 Amador County Courthouse

Clerk of the Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records.

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

 * History of Amador County, California : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. By Jesse D. Mason. Oakland, California : Thompson & West, 1881. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Index to Amador County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Amador County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Amador County Pioneer Stories (CAGenWeb Project)

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Ione

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

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1854-1886 (*); Amador County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1854-1904 (*); Elsie E. Dixon at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1854-1910 (*); Amador County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1860-1936 (*); United States General Land Office at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1878-1935 (*); California, Superior Court, Amador County at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1890-1935 (*); California, Superior Court, Amador County at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Index to Amador County Land Records - Genealogy Trails

Local Histories

 * Condensed History of Amador County : being abridged from Mason's History of Amador County originally published in 1881. By Fred S. Cook. Volcano, California : California Traveler, [19--?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * History of Amador County, California : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. By Jesse D. Mason. Oakland, California : Thompson & West, 1881. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Amador County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Amador County History (Genealogy Trails)
 * California Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1850-1925 Maps of California (1850-1925)
 * Maps-Historical-State of California, the California government's site. Links to American Memory (Library of Congress), California Missions, and the State Library
 * Historical Maps of California
 * California Maps - HSU Library
 * Perry-Castaneda Map Collection for California
 * David Rumsey Collection for Amador, California
 * For topographical maps of California mountains, rivers, etc., try the sites listed at USGS Topographic Maps of California.
 * For current maps, search Google Maps or MapQuest or other map services online.
 * 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

Early migration routes to and from Amador County for emigrant settlers included:
 * California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
 * Carson (River) Trail 1848 (aka Mormon Emigrant Trail) crossed the Forty Mile Desert past the west side of the Carson Sink to pick up the Carson River near Fallon, Nevada up to Hope Valley and Red Lake. The Devil's Ladder then climbed 700 feet (210 m) in half a mile so ropes, chains, and pulleys were required to lift the wagons. Carson Pass was followed by the relatively easy West Pass (Kirkwood, California) and then on to Pollock Pines, Placerville, and Sutter's Fort, California
 * Grizzly Flat Road 1852 an extension of Carson Trail down the middle fork of the Consumnes River to Grizzly Flat and Placerville, California
 * Volcano Road 1852 from Coral Flat (Pioneer) on the Carson Trail to Volcano, California

Military Records

 * Amador County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Amador County Military Data (Genealogy Trails)

 Civil War
 * 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company C
 * 7th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company C

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1831-1985 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 Amador County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Amador County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

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

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1873-1979 Amador County Birth Records 1873-1979 at FamilySearch
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1905-1910 Amador County Births, 1905-1910 (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Amador County Birth Notices by year. (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

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1905 Amador County, California Deaths for 1905 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1940-1997 California Death Records at Ancestry.com

Divorce

 * 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Archives

 * Amador County Archives 12200-A Airport Rd. Jackson, CA 95642 Phone: 209-223-6389 Email: [mailto:archivesdept@amadorgov.org archivesdept@amadorgov.org] Website Appointments Recommended

FamilySearch Centers

 * El Dorado California FamilySearch Center
 * Elk Grove California FamilySearch Center
 * Jackson California FamilySearch Center
 * Lodi California FamilySearch Center
 * Murphys California FamilySearch Center
 * Sacramento California FamilySearch Center

Libraries
California State Library Genealogy Hub

Societies

 * Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society 322 Via Verde Sutter Creek, CA 95685 Website
 * Amador County Historical Society P.O. Box 761 225 Church Street Jackson, CA 95642 Phone: 209-257-1485 Website

Websites

 * GenWeb and CA GenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Amador County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Amador 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

 * Amador Research Guide at California State Library