Riverside County, California Genealogy
Guide to Riverside County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Riverside County, California | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
![]() Location of California in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | March 11, 1893 |
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County Seat | Riverside |
Courthouse | |
Address | Riverside County Courthouse 4080 Lemon St 1 st Floor PO Box 12004 Riverside, CA 92502 Phone: 909.486.7000 |
County Information[edit | edit source]
Riverside County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1893 | 1893 | 1893 | 1893 | 1893 | 1893 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records from 1893[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent Counties[edit | edit source]
11 March 1893: Riverside County was created from San Bernardino and San Diego Counties. County seat: Riverside [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named from the City of Riverside, christened when the upper canal of the Santa Ana River reached it in 1871. The county seat Riverside and the county was created 1893.[4] The County is located in the southeast area of the state. [5]
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.
Records Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
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:[6]
Cities | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Native American communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
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Ghost towns | ||
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Unincorporated Locations[edit | edit source]
Aguanga | Alberhill | Anza | Belltown | Bermuda Dunes | Cabazon | Cherry Valley | Chiriaco Summit | Coronita | Crestmore Heights | Desert Beach | Desert Center | Desert Edge | Desert Palms | East Blythe | Eagle Mountain | Eagle Valley | East Hemet | El Cerrito | El Sobrante | French Valley | Garnet | Good Hope | Green Acres | Highgrove | Home Gardens | Homeland | Idyllwild | Indio Hills | Lake Mathews | Lake Riverside | Lake Tamarisk | Lakeland Village | Lakeview | Lost Lake | March ARB | Mead Valley | Meadowbrook | Mecca | Mesa Verde | Mountain Center | North Shore | Nuevo | Oasis | Pine Cove | Pinyon Pines | Rancho Capistrano | Ripley | Romoland | Sage | Sky Valley | Temescal Valley | Thermal | Thousand Palms | Valle Vista | Vista Santa Rosa | Warm Springs | Whitewater | Winchester | Woodcrest |
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Riverside County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Riverside County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1900 | 17,897 | — |
1910 | 34,696 | 93.9% |
1920 | 50,297 | 45.0% |
1930 | 81,024 | 61.1% |
1940 | 105,524 | 30.2% |
1950 | 170,046 | 61.1% |
1960 | 306,191 | 80.1% |
1970 | 459,074 | 49.9% |
1980 | 663,166 | 44.5% |
1990 | 1,170,413 | 76.5% |
2000 | 1,545,387 | 32.0% |
2010 | 2,189,641 | 41.7% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For tips on accessing Riverside 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
- Arlington
- Blythe
- Elsinore
- Hemet
- Indio
- Palm Springs
- Riverside
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]
Germans[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries, and Museums
Biographies
Church Records
Cemetery Records
Court Records
Histories
Immigration/emigration/migration
Maps
Newspapers
Societies
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 Riverside 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.
- Riverside County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
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.
- Riverside County Index to Federal Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Riverside County Geographic Information Services (select "Map My County" for current land records)
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
- Index to Riverside County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
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]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 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
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Riverside County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Riverside 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).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Riverside County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Riverside 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 - Riverside - 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]
Corona Public Library
650 S. Main Street
Corona, California 98992-3417
951-736-2386
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Riverside Hall of Justice
4100 Main Street, Riverside, Ca. 92501
Riverside Historic Courthouse
4050 Main Street, Riverside, Ca. 92501
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
- Anza California Family History Center
- Blythe California Family History Center
- Corona California Family History Center
- Fontana California Family History Center
- Hemet California Family History Center
- Jurupa California Family History Center
- Lake Elsinore California Family History Center
- Manifee California Family History Center
- Moreno Valley California Family History Center
- Murrieta California Family History Center
- Palm Desert California Family History Center
- Redlands California Family History Center
- Rialto California Family History Center
- Riverside California Family History Center
- Santa Margarita California Family History Center
- Yucca Valley California Family History Center
Societies[edit | edit source]
Corona Genealogical Society
Meets in the Corona Public Library
Hemet-San Jacinto Genealogical Society, Inc
P. O. Box 2516
Hemet, California 92546-2516
951-765-2372
Genealogical Society of Riverside
P. O. Box 2557
Riverside, CA 92516-2557
email: gsor@gsor.org
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
- 1905 - 1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
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($)
- 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Riverside County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
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
- 1940 - 1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Riverside Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2557
Riverside 92516
Website
Corona Genealogical Society
650 S. Main Street
Corona, CA 92882-3417
Website
Desert Hot Springs Historical Society
PO Box 1267
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Website
Genealogical Society of Riverside
PO Box 2557
Riverside, CA 92156-2557
Website
Hemet-San Jacinto Genealogical Society
PO Box 2516
Hemet, CA 92343
Website
Lake Elsinore Genealogical Society
PO Box 807
Lake Elsinore, CA 92330
Website
Palm Springs Genealogical Society
PO Box 2093
Palm Springs, CA 92263
Website
Palm Springs Historical Society
PO Box 1498
Palm Springs, CA 92263
Website
Pioneer Historical Society of Riverside
PO Box 246
Riverside, CA 92502
Facebook
Society Middletown First Settlers Descendants(1650-1700)
81641 Ave. 48, Space 89
Indio, CA 92201-6723
Webaite
Temecula Valley Genealogical Society
27475 Ynez Road, Ste. 291
Temecula,CA 92591
Website
Temecula Valley Historical Society
PO Box 157
Temecula, CA 92593
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Riverside County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Riverside County, California Genealogy Trails
- Riverside County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Riverside 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), Riverside County, California. Page 86 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Riverside County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/riverside/ 05/05/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Riverside County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_County,_California 05/05/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Riverside County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_County,_California, accessed 19 September 2019.