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. California Online Genealogy 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

Description
The County Seat is Fresno and was founded February 18, 1856. It is located in the Central 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
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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

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

Biography

 * Index to Fresno County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Fresno County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * FamilySearch Places

Gazetteers

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

History

 * Index to Fresno County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County Historical Information (CAGenWeb Project)

Land and Property

 * Index to Federal Land Patents, Fresno County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps

 * 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

Military History and Records

 * Fresno County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)

World War I

 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and 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

 * Fresno County Obituary Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Fresno County Obituaries Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Fresno County: Reedley Cemetery Obituaries (CAGenWeb Project)

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

Birth

 * 1800 - 1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1812 - 1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905 - 1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Fresno 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
 * 1850 - 1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Fresno County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * The Fresno County Recorder Public Marriage Records Search. These are recent marriages.

Divorce

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

Death

 * 1776 - 2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1800 - 1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 - 1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1940 - 1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Voting Registers

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

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Fresno County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1429 Fresno 93716-1429 Website

Fresno 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 Website

California Mennonite Historical Society 4824 E. Butler Fresno, CA 93727 Website


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

Websites

 * Fresno County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Fresno County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Fresno County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Fresno County, CA Genealogy (LDS Genealogy]
 * FamilySearch Catalog