Butte County, California Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Recorder has marriage records from 1851, born and death records from 1859 and land records; County Clerk has divorce, probate, probate and court record from 1850; Meriam Library, California State University Chico, has divorce, probate and court records 1850-1879 and natural records 1850-1960  1850--Butte County was created 18 February 1850 as an original county. County seat: Oroville

Description
Butte County was created February 18, 1850 with the original county seat being Hamilton City. In 1853, the county seat was changed to Bidwill Bar, and in 1856 to Oroville. Butte County is located in the north central corner 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:

Indian Reservations or Rancherias
The Berry Creek Indian Rancheria is located in this county.

Neighboring Counties

 * Colusa
 * Glenn
 * Plumas
 * Sutter
 * Tehama
 * Yuba

Biographies

 * Butte County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Butte County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Butte County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)

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


 * Interment.net California cemetery records by County.

Church History and Records

 * 1864-1985 - at FamilySearch — index

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Chico
 * Gridley
 * Liberty (Gridley)
 * Oroville

History

 * Butte County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Land and Property

 * Index to General Land Office Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for emigrant settlers included:


 * California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
 * Beckwourth Trail 1850 left the Truckee Trail near present-day Sparks, Nevada going to Oroville and Marysville, California


 * 1906-1935 - at FamilySearch — index

Military History and Records

 * Butte County Military Records (Genealogy Trails)

Civil War

 * Butte County Civil War Veterans (USGenWeb Archives)
 * - 1st Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), Company A
 * - 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company A

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1831-1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Obituaries

 * 1866-1992 - at FamilySearch— index and images
 * 1883 - 1899 - Butte County Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1883-1899 at FamilySearch (microfilm)
 * 1902 - 1967 - Paradise, California Obituary File Index, 1902-1967 at FamilySearch (microfilm)
 * 1963 - 1900 - Butte County Obituary Index, 1963-1990 at FamilySearch
 * The Paradise Genealogical Society has a large collection of obituaries and death notices from local Butte County newspapers.
 * Newspapers.net
 * Butte County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Butte County Obituary Index (Genealogy Trails)

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1782 - 1999 - California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1850 - 1902 - Butte County California list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills - free
 * 1833 - 1991 - at FamilySearch — images

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Gridley California Family History Center
 * Oroville California Family History Center

Societies
Paradise Genealogical Society Library Address: Paradise Genealogical Society 5587 Scottwood Road PO Box 460 Paradise, California 95967-0460 Phone: 530-877-2330

Taxation

 * 1857 - Butte County 1857 Tax List (CAGenWeb Project)

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records

Birth

 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1812 - 1988 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 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
 * 1851 - 1860 - Butte County Marriages, 1851-1860 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Butte County Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Butte County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Divorce

 * 1966 - 1984 - at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1800 - 1994 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1860 - Butte County Mortality Schedule, 1860 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1880 - Butte County Mortality Schedule, 1880 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - Butte County Deaths (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - Miscellaneous Births and Deaths, Butte County (CAGenWeb Project)
 * 1905 - 1939 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1940 - 1997 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Butte County, California, Miscellaneous Deaths from Historical Newspapers (CAGenWeb Project)

Voting Registers
California county clerks were to keep voting registers every other year from 1866 and well into the 20th century. These large books, called Great Registers, listed the men who registered to vote in that county. Besides name and age, the record may show place of birth, address, occupation, naturalization date and sometimes even a physical description.

These records are at the California State Library (1866-1944), and microfilmed copies are available through Family History Centers (1866-1910). Ancestry ($) has a searchable database of Butte Great Registers from 1867-1898.

The Butte county records for 1872 are available on the RootsWeb site, by clicking here.

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Butte County Historical Society P.O. Box 2195 Oroville, CA 95965 Phone: 530-533-9418 or 530-533-5316 Email:[mailto:ButteHistory@sbcglobal.net] Website

Paradise Genealogical Society INC P O Box 460 5587 Scottwood Rd Paradise, CA 95969 Phone:(530) 877-2330 Website


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

Websites

 * Butte County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Butte County, CAGenWeb Project
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Butte County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Butte County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Butte County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)