Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy
Guide to Santa Barbara County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Santa Barbara County, California | |||||||
Map | |||||||
![]() Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |||||||
![]() Location of California in the U.S. | |||||||
Facts | |||||||
Founded | February 18, 1850 | ||||||
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County Seat | Santa Barbara | ||||||
Courthouse | |||||||
Address | Hall of Records 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | ||||||
Website: www.countyofsb.org | |||||||
Named for: Saint Barbara | |||||||
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Santa Barbara County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1854 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
1101 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone 805.568.2550
Superior Court has divorce, probate, court and naturalization records
Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records from 1850[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Santa Barbara area Native Americans were first contacted by several early explorers in the 1500s and 1600s but the first moves toward settlement by Europeans were Spanish in 1769. The Santa Barbara mission was founded in 1786 by Franciscan padres who were also the first record keepers.
Parent County[edit | edit source]
18 February 1850: Santa Barbara was created as an original county when California first became a state. [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named from Mission Santa Barbara was founded on December 4, 1786 in what is now Santa Barbara. The county derives its name from the mission. The county seat Santa Barbara and the county was created 1856. The County is located in the west central area of the state.[4]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
1 January 1873: Ventura County was set off.
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]
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The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have websites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names. Information about the cemeteries can be found in these pages if known.
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 | ||
Native American communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Santa Barbara County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Santa Barbara County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Santa Barbara County, California Biographies and Histories (CAGenWeb)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1850 | 1,185 | — |
1860 | 3,543 | 199.0% |
1870 | 7,784 | 119.7% |
1880 | 9,513 | 22.2% |
1890 | 15,754 | 65.6% |
1900 | 18,934 | 20.2% |
1910 | 27,738 | 46.5% |
1920 | 41,097 | 48.2% |
1930 | 65,167 | 58.6% |
1940 | 70,555 | 8.3% |
1950 | 98,220 | 39.2% |
1960 | 168,962 | 72.0% |
1970 | 264,324 | 56.4% |
1980 | 298,694 | 13.0% |
1990 | 369,608 | 23.7% |
2000 | 399,347 | 8.0% |
2010 | 423,895 | 6.1% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For tips on accessing Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
- 1850 - Federal Census, Santa Barbara, California (CAGenWeb Project)
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
- Santa Barbara County Churches & Synagogues (CAGenWeb Project)
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Santa Maria
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]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society has free online databases and indexes to search at sbgen.org and maintains the Sahyun library open for research at 316 Castillo St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Online subscriptions to Ancestry.com, Fold3, and GenealogyBank.com available to members only, or $5 per day. WiFi available.
Many local records have been preserved by society volunteers, check the database
Hours are: Tues., Thurs., Fri. - 10-4, Sun. 1-4.
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Santa Barbara 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.
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
- 1844-1917 Deeds, 1844-1917(*); Santa Barbara County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1861-1923 Homesteads, 1861-1923(*); Santa Barbara County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- Index to Federal Land Records, Santa Barbara County (USGenWeb Archives)
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]
- Santa Barbara County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy:
- - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
- - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company C
- Index to Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts, Santa Barbara County (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
World War II[edit | edit source]
- Index to Santa Barbara County Army Enlistees, World War II (USGenWeb Archives)
- World War II Draft Registration Cards, Santa Barbara County (CAGenWeb Project)
- WWII Honor List of Dead and Missing, Santa Barbara County (Genealogy Trails)
- Alphabetical Listing of Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II (CAGenWeb Project)
- Detailed Records of Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II (CAGenWeb Project)
Vietnam War[edit | edit source]
- Vietnam War Casualties Listed on the Virtual Wall - listed by city. (CAGenWeb Project)
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 ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Santa Barbara 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]
- Santa Barbara County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Santa Barbara 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 - Santa Barbara - 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]
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
- Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
- Southern California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
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
Santa Barbara Mission archives contain early births, baptisms, marriages and deaths.
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($)
- 1905 - Birth Index, Santa Barbara County (Genealogy Trails)
- Early Santa Barbara County Birth Notices (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($)
- 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Early Santa Barbara 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($)
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- http://www.slocgs.org/gr.reg/
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
- Santa Barbara County Death Index by year (CAGenWeb Project)
- Index to Pre-1905 Deaths, Santa Barbara County (CAGenWeb Project)
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
316 Castillo Street
P.O. Box 1303
Goleta 93116-1303
Website
Santa Maria Valley Genealogical Society
PO Box 1215
Santa Maria, CA 93456
Website
Vandenburg Genealogical Society
PO Box 81
Lompoc, CA 93438-0081
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Santa Barbara County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Santa Barbara County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy Trails
- Santa Barbara County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Santa Barbara 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), Santa Barbara County, California. Page 87At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ WorldCat 50140092 ▲ FHL CollectionHandybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002)
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/sbarbara/ 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Santa Barbara County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara_County,_California, accessed 23 September 2019.