Contra Costa County, California Genealogy

Guide to Contra Costa County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. California Online Genealogy Records

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth and death records; County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records

Historical Facts
Contra Costa County began in 1850 as one of the original counties in the new state of California. Located in the East Bay area, San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay partially surround the land area of the county and have contributed to the economy since the gold rush.

Parent County
18 February 1850: Contra Costa County was created as an original county. County seat: Martinez

Description
The county was named Contra Costa which means in the Spanish language opposite coast, on account of it's location opposite of San Francisco, in an easterly direction, on the San Francisco Bay. The county seat Martinez and the county was created 1850. The County is located in the west central corner of the state.

Boundary Changes
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.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Alameda
 * Sacramento
 * San Joaquin
 * Solano

Biography

 * Index to Contra Costa County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Contra Costa County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * FamilySearch Places

Gazetteers

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

Genealogy
A wiki article describing an online collecion is found at: California, Genealogical Collections at the California Genealogical Society (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Land and Property &amp; Maps

 * 1850-1871 (*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1850-1917 (*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1851-1888 (*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1851-1916 (*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1852-1865 (*); Contra Costa County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1852-1925 (*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1876-1877 (*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1894

Maps

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

Migration

 * 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Civil War

 * Contra Costa County, Gen. Canby Post No. 77, G. A. R. 1886, Civil War - Rosters (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I

 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II

 * Alphabetical Index to Contra Costa County Enlistments (USGenWeb Archives)
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnell from Contra Costa County, California, 1946 (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers and Indexes

 * 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

Obituaries

 * Contra Costa County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Contra Costa County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Contra Costa County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Contra Costa County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1833 – 1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection images

Family History Centers

 * Antioch California Family History Center
 * Concord California Family History Center
 * Danville California Family History Center
 * Sacramento California Family Search Library


 * California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Societies
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society serves local genealogy enthusiasts. Monthly meetings are held at the Danville Family History Center in Alamo, California on the 3rd Tuesday at 10am.

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records



Birth

 * 1812 - 1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905 - 1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Contra Costa County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800 - 2007 California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1850 - 1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1850 - 1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1851 - 1941 Index to marriages (men), 1851-1941 (surnames A-M)}} at FamilySearch
 * 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
 * 1960 - 1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Contra Costa County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Divorce

 * 1966 - 1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection ; index

Death

 * 1776 - 2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1873 - 1921 -
 * 1880 - Persons who died during the year ending May 31, 1880, in the County of Costa, State of California (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1905 - 1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1940 - 1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)


 * Contra Costa County maintains records of death certificates from 1905 to present. You can obtain an informational copy for a fee by mailing the county clerk's website with your payment. As with other counties, you only need to get the form notarized if you want a certified copy.

Voting Registers

 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
Contra Costa County Genealogical Society Concord/Walnut Creek Family History Center 3700 Concord Blvd Concord, CA 94519-1808 Phone:925-686-1766 Website

Contra Costa County Historical Society 610 Main Street Martinez, California 94553 Phone: 925-229-1042 Website

El Cerito Historical Society PO Box 304 El Cerrito, CA 94530 Phone:510-526-7507 Website

Lafayette Historical Society Lafayette Library Learning Center 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard Lafayette, CA 94549 Phone: 925-283-1848 Website

Martinez Historical Society P.O. Box 14 Martinez, CA 94553 Phone: 925-228-8160 E-mail:[mailto:webmaster@martinezhistory.org] Website

Moraga Historical Society Post Office Box 103 1500 St. Mary's Rd. Moraga, CA 94556-2099; Phone: ( 925 ) 377-8734 Website

Point Richmond History Association 139 1/2 Washington Avenue Point Richmond, CA Phone: 510-234-5334 or 510-235-1336 website

Richmond Museum of History P.O. Box 1267 400 Nevin Avenue Richmond, California 94802 Phone: (510) 235-7387 website

San Ramon Valley Genealogy Society P.O. Box 305 Diablo, CA 94528-0305 Website

Walnut Creek Historical Society 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek, California Phone: (925) 935-7871 Website

List of California Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Antioch California Family History Center
 * Concord California Family History Center
 * Danville California Family History Center

Websites

 * Contra Costa County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Contra Costa County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Catalog
 * Contra Costa County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Contra Costa County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Contra Costa County Research, California State Genealogical Association