Del Norte County, California Genealogy

Guide to Del Norte 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 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

Historical Facts
Del Norte County (pronounced del-nort) sits in the far north west corner of California on the Pacific coast. 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.

Parent County
2 March 1857: Del Norte County was created from former Klamath County. County seat: Crescent City

Description
The county was named for signifying "the north" and the county derived its name from its geographical position in the extreme northwest corner of the state. The County Seat is Crescent City and was founded 1857. It is located in the North West 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
18 January 1948: Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. Some early records were destroyed.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Curry County, Oregon
 * Humboldt
 * Josephine County, Oregon
 * Siskiyou

Cemeteries
The following web site may have additional information on Del Norte County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net California cemetery records by County.

Census

 * 1860 - Del Norte County Census Data (Genealogy Trails)

Church History and Records

 * 1864-1985 - at FamilySearch — index

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)

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)

Military History and 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)

World War II

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

Migration

 * 1906-1935 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1852-1989 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Obituaries

 * Index to Del Norte County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

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

County Courthouse
www.co.del-norte.ca.us/

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Crescent City California Family History Center

Societies
Del Norte County Historical Society and Museum: Phone number: (707) 464-3922. Email: manager@delnortehistory.org Address: Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA 95331

The Battery Point Lighthouse Museum: This is a lighthouse that houses a museum. The Lighthouse is located at the foot of A Street. Phone number: (707) 464-3922. Mailing address: Battery Point Lighthouse Museum P.O. Box 535 Crescent City, CA 95331.

NorCal Genealogy Group 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

California Historical Society Phone: (415)357-1848 voice (415)357-1850 fax Email: info@calhist.org Address: 678 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records
 * 1890 - 1940's - Miscellaneous Marriage, Birth, and Death Records from the Del Norte Record (CAGenWeb Project)

Birth

 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1812 - 1988 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1860 - 1884 - Del Norte County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - 1910 - Birth Records for Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - 1995 - at FamilySearch — index

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1850 - 1945 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1850 - 1952 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce

 * 1966 - 1984 - at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - 1939 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1940 - 1997 - at FamilySearch — index

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


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

Websites

 * Del Norte County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Del Norte County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Del Norte County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Del Norte County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Del Norte County Research, California State Genealogical Association