Santa Barbara County, California Genealogy

United States

California

Santa Barbara County

Guide to Santa Barbara County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

California Online Genealogy 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
County Seat	Santa Barbara
Courthouse
Address	Hall of Records 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website: www.countyofsb.org
Named for: Saint Barbara
Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society and its members who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

County Information

Santa Barbara County, California Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Major Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1850	1850	1850	1850	1850	1854	1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1905. General compliance by 1920.

County Courthouse

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

Historical Facts

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

18 February 1850: Santa Barbara was created as an original county when California first became a state.

Description

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.

Boundary Changes

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

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places/Localities

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

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:

Cities
Buellton Carpinteria Goleta	Guadalupe Lompoc Santa Barbara	Santa Maria Solvang
Unincorporated communities
Gaviota Hollister Ranch	Hope Ranch Painted Cave	Surf Ventucopa
Native American communities
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians
Census-designated places
Ballard Casmalia Cuyama Garey Isla Vista Los Alamos	Los Olivos Mission Canyon Mission Hills Montecito New Cuyama Orcutt	Santa Ynez Sisquoc Summerland Toro Canyon Vanderberg Air Force Base Vanderberg Village

Resources

Biography

• 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

Cemeteries of Santa Barbara, California online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find A Grave BillionGraves USGW Tombstone Transcription Project Interment.net
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Catalog WorldCat.org
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find A Grave BillionGraves FamilySearch Places
See California Cemeteries for more information

Census

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

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

• FamilySearch Places
  

Gazetteers

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

Genealogy

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

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

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

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of California (1850-1925)
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

• 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Military History and Records

• Santa Barbara County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)

Civil War

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

• 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

• 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

• Vietnam War Casualties Listed on the Virtual Wall - listed by city. (CAGenWeb Project)

Naturalization and Citizenship

• 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

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

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

• Santa Barbara County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
• Index to Santa Barbara County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records

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

Family History Centers

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

• Lompoc California Family History Center
• Ojai California Family History Center
• Oxnard California Family History Center
• San Luis Obispo California Family History Center
• Santa Barbara California Family History Center
• Santa Maria California Family History Center
• Solvang California Family History Center

• Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
• Southern California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Societies

• Santa Barbara Genealogical Society
• Santa Barbara Chapter; Sons of the American Revolution

Taxation

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

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

• 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

• 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

• 1966 - 1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Death

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• List of California Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Websites

• 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)

Due to contractual agreements, some images and/or databases on FamilySearch.org may only be viewed at a Family History Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a family history center.