Sacramento County, California Genealogy
Guide to Sacramento County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Sacramento County, California | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of California | |
![]() Location of California in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | February 18, 1850 |
---|---|
County Seat | Sacramento |
Courthouse | |
Address | Sacramento County Courthouse 600 8th Street PO Box 839 Sacramento, CA 95812-0893 Phone: 916.874.6334 |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 Historical Facts
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 5.1 Bible Records
- 5.2 Biography
- 5.3 Cemeteries
- 5.4 Census
- 5.5 Church History and Records
- 5.6 Court Records
- 5.7 Crime and Criminals
- 5.8 Directories
- 5.9 Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups
- 5.10 Gazetteers
- 5.11 Genealogy
- 5.12 History
- 5.13 Land and Property
- 5.14 Maps
- 5.15 Migration
- 5.16 Military History and Records
- 5.17 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 5.18 Newspapers
- 5.19 Obituaries
- 5.20 Periodicals
- 5.21 Probate Records
- 5.22 Railroads
- 5.23 Repositories
- 5.24 Family History Centers
- 5.25 Societies
- 5.26 Taxation
- 5.27 Vital Records
- 5.28 Voting Registers
- 6 Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
- 7 Websites
- 8 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Sacramento County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1858 | 1850 | 1850 | 1880 | 1848 | 1880 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1880
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
18 February 1850: Sacramento County was created as an original county. County seat: Sacramento [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named after the Sacramento River, which forms its western border. The river was named by Spanish cavalry officer Gabriel Moraga for the Santisimo Sacramento (Most Holy Sacrament), referring to the Catholic Eucharist. The county seat Sacramento and the county was created February 18, 1850. The County is located in the central area 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.
Records Loss[edit | edit source]
1854: Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.
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 | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Surname Index to Sacramento County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web sites may have additional information on Sacramento County cemeteries.
- Interment.net California cemetery records by County.
- 1850-1960 - California Cemetery Transcriptions, 1850-1960 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1900-1959 - California, Sacramento Cemetery Records, 1900-1959 at FamilySearch — index
Census[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Sacramento 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 — index
Sacramento Metro Churches lists churches in various metro areas in the county with links to the websites of the churches.
Sacramento County Churches Alphabetical Index lists the names of churches. After you click on a name, on the next screen, you need to click on the name again in 'Search for' in the right column. The address, phone number and a map appear.
Church records are usually found in the towns rather than on the county level. Search the FamilySearch Catalog in FamilySearch.org Place Search for the appropriate town in Sacramento County.
Church histories may be on the county level. In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Church history. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Arcade
- Carmichael
- Homestead
- Sacramento
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Sacamento County Court Directory gives addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and links to the courts websites and online resources..
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Court records and Court records - Indexes. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
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]
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Sacramento 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.
Google Books has some books about the history and people in Sacramento County, California. Try various search terms, including the names of people. Books designated with "Full view" can be read online.
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento County, California, look at the list of records for History and History - Indexes. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
- 1891 - Sacramento County 1891 (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.
For information about deeds and other land records in Sacramento County, see the Service Directory.
For deeds, 1965 to the present, see County Register.
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento County, California, look at the list of records for Land and property and Land and property - Indexes and Land and property - Maps. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
- Index to Federal Land Office Records, Sacramento County (USGenWeb Archives)
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
For historical maps of Sacramento County,search the following free sites: • Maps of California (1850-1925)
• Maps-Historical-Sate of California, the Carlifornia 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 Sacramento, 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.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Early migration routes to and from Sacramento County, California Genealogy for emigrant settlers included:[6][7]
- California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
- Truckee (River) Trail 1844 crossed the Forty Mile Desert to the Truckee River to follow it west past Reno, Nevada to Donner Pass to Emigrant Gap to Sutter's Fort (Sacramento, California). The exact route varied over the years, the most used being the Nevada City Road and Auburn Emigrant Road combination.
- Roller Pass 1846 alternate to the Truckee Trail two miles south of Donner Pass through Emigrant Gap to Placerville, California
- Nevada City Road 1850 branched off the Truckee Trail through Emigrant Gap to Nevada City, California the most important mining area 1850-1851
- Auburn Emigrant Road 1850 believed to be from Nevada City to Auburn to Sacramento, California
- Henness Pass Road 1850 branched off the Truckee Trail at Verdi, Nevada headed for Camptonville and steamboat service at Marysville, California. In 1860 it became a major route to the Comstock Lode silver mines in Nevada.
- Beckwourth Trail 1850 left the Truckee Trail near present-day Sparks, Nevada going to Oroville and Marysville, California
- Applegate Trail 1846 (avoided the Forty Mile Desert) by leaving the Humboldt River in Nevada early at present-day Rye Reservoir, Nevada and passing through the Black Rock Desert to Fandango Pass past Goose Lake on to the Lost River and eventually the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
- The Lassen Cutoff 1848 was established by gold rushers from Oregon going to California. It branched off the Applegate Trail at Davis Creek, went through Devil's Garden to the Pit River passing east of Mt. Lassen, and turning west to Lassen Rancho, California, and from there to Sacramento. In some years as much as 1/3 of emigrants mistakenly took the Applegate Trail-Lassen Cutoff, a much longer and more difficult trail than the Truckee or Carson routes.
- Nobles Road 1851 from the Applegate Trail at Rabbithole Springs in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada to Shasta City, 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
- Johnson's Cutoff 1850-1851 (aka Placerville Route, Lake Tahoe Route and Day's Route) from Carson City, Nevada past the south end of Lake Tahoe going south and then west to Placerville, California and Sacramento
- Daggett Pass 1850 (aka Georgetown Pack Trail) Carson Valley, Nevada to Johnson's Cutoff near South Lake Tahoe, California
- Big Tree Road (Ebbetts Pass) 1851 from western Nevada to Markleeville, Murphys, Sonora, and Stockton, California
- 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
- Sonora Road 1852-1854 from the Carson Trail south to the Walker River along the base of the Sierra Nevada until it ascends to Sonora Pass and then down to Strawberry and Sonora, California
- Luther Pass Trail 1854 connected the Carson Trail and Johnson's Cutoff and allowed travelers to avoid Lake Tahoe. It became one of the routes to the Comstock Lode in Nevada
- Central Pacific Railroad since 1869 from Sacramento, California to Ogden, Utah and Omaha, Nebraska[8]
'Online Records
- 1929-1954 - California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
The California State Military Museum has a great deal of historical information and links to other military websites.
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Ancestry.com has Records of California men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867
Regiments. Service men in Sacramento 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 Sacramento County, California Genealogy:
- - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
- - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company B
- - 1st Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), Company F
- - 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company E
- - 2nd Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), Company F
- - 5th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company E
- - 6th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D
- - 7th Regiment, California Infantry (Union) , Company I
- - 8th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company B
- - 8th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company K
- 1883 - Sacramento County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1886 - Index to Rosters of Sacramento County G.A.R. Posts (USGenWeb Archives)
World War II[edit | edit source]
- Index to Sacrament County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
Vietnam War[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento County Vietnam War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
Afghanistan War[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento County Casualties of the War in Afghanistan (Genealogy Trails)
Iraq War[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento County Casualties of the War in Iraq (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1831-1985 - California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — index and images
- The California State Archives has records of Sacramento County for the years 1850 to 1903.
- The Family History Library also has Declarations of Intention for the years 1859 to 1906 in Sacramento County.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Sacramento County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Sacramento 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 Place-name Search).
The California Digital Newspaper Collection has newspapers from 1848 through 1922. You can search by keyword, including names, and/or by date.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento County Obituary Collection (Genealogy Trails)
- Surname Index to Sacramento County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Obituaries for Sacramento County (CAGenWeb Project)
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 - Sacramento - Probate records.
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Probate records. Films can be sent to family history centers.
Online Probate 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 — images
Railroads[edit | edit source]
In 1864, the First Transcontinental Railroad started from Sacramento California.
American Memory has an online map showing the railroads and each railroad station and post office.
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center
551 Sequoia Pacific Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (916) 264-7072
Researchers must have an appointment to use the records. More old records from the City and County of Sacramento are located here than probably at any other facility.
This library is established to furnish California databases for genealogical research
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Sacramento County Courthouse Directory
County Clerk/Recorder 600 8th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-874-6334
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Societies[edit | edit source]
- California Genealogical Society and Library web site has the CGSL catalog, discusses many useful California records, and has a list of links to other California websites.
- Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society
Their library is located in the:
California State Archives Building.
1020 O Street,-4th floor,
Sacramento, CA.
Hours: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday.
- Genealogical Association of Sacramento
They have a genealogy collection at the Sacramento Central Library, 828 "I" Street (9th & I)- 4th Floor, Sacramento, CA
Phone: 916-264-2920
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10-8, Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5pm
- Genealogical & Historical Council of Sacramento Valley
The web site for this organization has a list with links for over 30 genealogical and historical organizations in the Sacramento Valley area.
- Sacramento County Historical Society publishes online their "Golden Notes" articles about the history and life of early Sacramento.
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.
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Taxation. Films can be sent to family history centers.
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
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Vital records and Vital records - Indexes. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 1994 - California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1812 - 1988 - California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — index
- 1905 - 1995 - California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — index
- Sacramento County Birth Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)
The Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder has birth and death certificates for the county of Sacramento. These can be ordered in person, by mail, by fax, by email and online. For more information, see the Sacramento County Recorder.
County Clerk/Recorder, 600 8th Street Sacramento, CA 95814; phone: 916-874-6334
Sacramento County can only issue:
At Ancestry is the California Birth Index, 1905-1995 ($)
The FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Vital records and Vital records - Indexes. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1850 - 1945 - California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — index
- 1850 - 1952 - California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 - California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Early Sacramento County Marriages by Brides' and Grooms' Names (CAGenWeb Project)
The Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder has marriage certificates for the county of Sacramento. These can be ordered in person, by mail, by fax, by email and online. For more information, see the Sacramento County web site.
County Clerk/Recorder, 600 8th Street Sacramento, CA 95814; phone: 916-874-6334
Sacramento County can only issue:
- Copies of marriage certificates for licenses issued in Sacramento County since 1905.
The FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Vital records and Vital records - Indexes. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 - California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 1994 - California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1905 - 1939 - California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — index
- 1940 - 1997 - California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — index
- Sacramento County Death Records (Genealogy Trails)
The Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder has death certificates for the county of Sacramento. These can be ordered in person, by mail, by fax, by email and online. For more information, see the Sacramento County Recorder.
County Clerk/Recorder, 600 8th Street Sacramento, CA 95814; phone: 916-874-6334
Sacramento County can only issue: Certificates for deaths which occurred in Sacramento County since 1850. Certificates for deaths prior to 1850 are not available.
The FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Sacramento, California, look at the list of records for Vital records and Vital records - Indexes. Films can be sent to family history centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
California county clerks were to keep voting registers every other year from 1866 and well into the 20th century. These large books, called Great Registers, listed the men who registered to vote in that county. Besides name and age, the record may show place of birth, address, occupation, naturalization date and sometimes even a physical description.
These records are at the California State Library (1866-1944), and microfilmed copies are available through Family History Centers (1866-1910). Ancestry ($) has a searchable database of Sacramento Great Registers from 1867-1898.
Extracts from the Sacramento records for 1866-1871 are available on the RootsWeb site, by clicking here.
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Sacramento County Historical Society
P.O. Box 1175
Sacramento 95806
Sacramento Genealogical Association
P.O. Box 28297
Sacramento 95828
Sacramento German Genealogy Society
P.O. Box 660061
Sacramento 95866
Sacramento River Delta Historical Society
The Jean Harvie Community Center
14273 River Road
P.O. Box 293
Walnut Grove, CA 95690
Website
Sacramento Genealogical Society – Root Cellar
P.O. Box 265
Citrus Heights, CA 95611-0265
Website
Sacramento Historical Society
Belle Cooledge Library
5600 South Land Park Drive
P.O. Box 160065
Sacramento, CA, 95816-0065
Phone:916-443-6265
Website
G.A.S. Genealogical Society of Sacramento
P.O. Box 292145
Sacramento, CA 95829-2145
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Sacramento County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Community on Google+
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Sacramento County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Online California Death Records and Indexes links to California sites and Sacramento County sites
- Sacramento County, California Genealogy Trails
- Sacramento County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Sacramento 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), Sacramento 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).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sacramento County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_County,_California 05/05/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sacramento County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_County,_California#Communities, accessed 20 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).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "First Transcontinental Railroad" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Railroad (accessed 5 August 2011).
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