California

Welcome to California, The Golden State

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When the United States acquired California in 1848, it agreed to recognize earlier claims. A commission was established in 1852 to process the claims. The National Archives has these commission records, including petitions and translations of Spanish documents. These are indexed in J.N. Bowman, Index to the Spanish-Mexican Private Land Grant Records and Cases of California, 1958, Reprint (Berkeley, California: Bancroft Library, University of California, 1970; Family History Library film 833343).

Did You Know?

There are statewide California birth, marriage and death indexes online for free? Find links at California Vital Records.

Counties

Extinct or Renamed Counties:
Branciforte | Klamath

Research Tools

• The California State Genealogical Alliance's Online Research Guide is a collaborative effort between the Alliance and it's member societies to provide information and links to resources for the entire state.
• Find which county a town is in, what town a cemetery is in, even where a postoffice or building is by using the United States Geographical Survey's Geographical Names Information System.
• David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures. There is also a map of Southern California.
• The California GenWeb Project has a wealth of information and is a part of the larger USGenWeb Project. The USGenWeb Project provides internet information on every county in every state in the United States.

Things You Can Do

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