Amador County, California Genealogy
Guide to Amador County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Amador County, California | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
 Location of California in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | May 11, 1854 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Jackson |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Amador County Courthouse 500 Argonaut Lane Jackson, CA 95642 Phone: 209-223-6468 |
County Information[edit | edit source]
Amador County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1872 | 1854 | 1872 | 1854 | 1854 | 1854 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Clerk of the Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records.[2]
County Archives has naturalization records.
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
11 May 1854: Amador County was created from Calaveras and El Dorado Counties.
County seat: Jackson [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for José María Amador, a soldier, rancher, and miner, born in San Francisco in 1794, the son of Sergeant Pedro Amador (a Spanish soldier who settled in California in 1771). The county seat Jackson and the county was created May 11, 1854. The County is located in the east central corner of the state. [4]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
1862 There was a courthouse fire in 1862 destroying some records.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Native American communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Index to Amador County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Amador County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Amador County Pioneer Stories (CAGenWeb Project)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 10,930 | — |
| 1870 | 9,582 | −12.3% |
| 1880 | 11,384 | 18.8% |
| 1890 | 10,320 | −9.3% |
| 1900 | 11,116 | 7.7% |
| 1910 | 9,086 | −18.3% |
| 1920 | 7,793 | −14.2% |
| 1930 | 8,494 | 9.0% |
| 1940 | 8,973 | 5.6% |
| 1950 | 9,151 | 2.0% |
| 1960 | 9,990 | 9.2% |
| 1970 | 11,821 | 18.3% |
| 1980 | 19,314 | 63.4% |
| 1990 | 30,039 | 55.5% |
| 2000 | 35,100 | 16.8% |
| 2010 | 38,091 | 8.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Amador County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
Church History and Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about California denominations, view the California Church Records wiki page.
- 1864-1985 California, Church 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
- Ione
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Amador County, California Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section California Local Histories.
- Amador County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Amador County History (Genealogy Trails)
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See California Land and Property for additional information about early California land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1854-1886 Deeds(*); Amador County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1854-1904 The Shenandoah Valley Area of Amador County, California 1854-1904(*); Elsie E. Dixon at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1854-1910 Deeds, 1886-1901; Index to Deeds, 1854-1910(*); Amador County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1860-1936 Homesteads, 1860-1936; Index, 1860-1935 of Amador County, California(*); United States General Land Office at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1878-1935 Decrees of Distribution and Final Settlement of Estates, 1902-1923; Index, 1878-1935(*); California, Superior Court, Amador County at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1890-1935 Lis Pendens, 1854-1890; Index 1890-1935(*); California, Superior Court, Amador County at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- Index to Amador County Land Records - Genealogy Trails
Maps[edit | edit source]
For historical maps, search the following free sites: • Maps of California (1850-1925)
for more resources
• Maps-Historical-State of California, the California government's site. Links to American Memory (Library of Congress), California Missions, and the State Library
• Historical Maps of California
• California Maps - HSU Library, also lists and links to gazetteers
• David Rumsey Collection for Amador, California
• Perry-Castaneda Map Collection for California
For topographical maps of California mountains, rivers, etc., try the sites listed at USGS Topographic Maps of California.
For current maps, search Google Maps or MapQuest or other map services online.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Early migration routes to and from Amador County, California Genealogy for emigrant settlers included:[6][7]
- California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
- Carson (River) Trail 1848 (aka Mormon Emigrant Trail) crossed the Forty Mile Desert past the west side of the Carson Sink to pick up the Carson River near Fallon, Nevada up to Hope Valley and Red Lake. The Devil's Ladder then climbed 700 feet (210 m) in half a mile so ropes, chains, and pulleys were required to lift the wagons. Carson Pass was followed by the relatively easy West Pass (Kirkwood, California) and then on to Pollock Pines, Placerville, and Sutter's Fort, California
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- Grizzly Flat Road 1852 an extension of Carson Trail down the middle fork of the Consumnes River to Grizzly Flat and Placerville, California
- Volcano Road 1852 from Coral Flat (Pioneer) on the Carson Trail to Volcano, California
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
- Amador County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Amador County Military Data (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- - 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company C
- - 7th Regiment, California Infantry (Union) , Company C
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1914-1918 California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Amador County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Amador County, California Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. Do NOT use the word County. (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Index to Amador County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Amador County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The county clerk is usually the custodian of probate records. The records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
You can obtain copies of the original probate records (such as wills and estate files) by writing to the county clerk at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for California - Amador - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1833 – 1991 California Probate Estate Files 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
California State Library Genealogy Hub
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Societies[edit | edit source]
Taxation[edit | edit source]
California tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page California Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the CDC Where to Write website for information on acquiring copies of these records. The State office has records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder. See also How to order California Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1812 - 1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1873 - 1979 Amador County Birth Records 1873-1979 at FamilySearch
- 1905 - 1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1905 - 1910 - Amador County Births, 1905-1910 (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Amador County Birth Notices by year. (Genealogy Trails)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1850 - 1945 California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1850 - 1952 California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1776 - 2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1800 - 1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1905 - 1939 California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905 Amador County, California Deaths for 1905 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1940 - 1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1940 - 1997 - California Death Records at Ancestry.com
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Amador County Historical Society
P.O. Box 761
Jackson 95642
Website
Amador County Genealogical Society
322 Via Verde
Sutter Creek 95685
Website
Amador County Historical Society
148 Main Street, Suite A
Jackson, CA 95642
Phone:209-257-1485
Website
Facebook
Amador County Archives
12200-A Airport Rd.
Jackson, CA 95642
Email:[1]
Phone: 209-223-6389
Appointments Recommended
Website
List of California Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Amador County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Amador County, California Genealogy Trails
- Amador County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
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- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Amador County, California. Page 84-88 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 81-83.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Amador County, California. Page 84 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Amador County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amador_County,_California 04/28/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Amador County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amador_County,_California, accessed 11 September 2019.
- ↑ National Park Service, "California Trail" (map) in California National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisit/upload/CALImap1-web.pdf (accessed 5 August 2011).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "California Trail" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Trail (accessed 5 August 2012).
