Merced County, California Genealogy

Guide to Merced County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. California Online Genealogy Records

County Courthouse
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1855 County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and burial Records

Parent County
19 April 1855: Merced County was created from Mariposa County. County seat: Merced

Description
The county was named from the Merced River, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy); named in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride. The county seat Merced and the county was created 1855. The County 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

 * Fresno
 * Madera
 * Mariposa
 * San Benito
 * Santa Clara
 * Stanislaus
 * Tuolumne

Biography

 * Biographies of Merced County, California (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Merced County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census

 * 1870 Merced County Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Church History and Records

 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

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

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Merced
 * FamilySearch Places

Gazetteers

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

History

 * Merced County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Land and Property
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1856-1885 (*); Merced County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1921 (*); Merced County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * California Land Patents Database, Merced County (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

 * Merced County History & Military Information - Scroll down to pertinent links. (CAGenWeb Project)

Civil War

 * 1883 Merced County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1886 Merced County Veterans, Hancock Post No. 104, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I

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

World War II

 * Index to Merced County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Merced County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)

Korean War

 * Merced County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)

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

 * Merced County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index to Merced County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

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

Family History Centers

 * Los Banos California Family History Center
 * Madera California Family History Center
 * Mariposa California Family History Center
 * Merced California Family History Center
 * Modesto California Family History Center
 * Oakhurst California Family History Center
 * Turlock California Family History Center


 * Madera County Library - an affiliate library

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records
 * Merced County Vital Records (CAGenWeb Project)

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($)


 * Merced County Birth Notices, 1870-1884 (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($)
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Merced County Marriage Notices, 1868-1962 (Genealogy Trails)

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

 * Merced County Great Register of Voters, 1868-1898 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 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
Merced County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 3061 Merced, CA 95344 Website

Merced County Historical Society Courthouse Museum 21st &amp; N Streets Merced, CA 95340 Website


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

Websites

 * Merced County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Merced County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Merced County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Merced County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)