Sacramento County, California Genealogy

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Sacramento County

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

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Sacramento County, California
Map
Map of California highlighting Sacramento County
Location in the state of California
Map of the U.S. highlighting California
Location of California in the U.S.
Facts
Founded February 18, 1850
County Seat Sacramento
Courthouse
CaliforniaSacramentoCourthouse.jpg
Address Sacramento County Courthouse
600 8th Street
PO Box 839
Sacramento, CA 95812-0893
Phone: 916.874.6334

Sacramento County Website


County Information

Sacramento County, California Record Dates

Beginning Dates for Major County Records[1]
Birth Marriage Death Census Land Probate
1858 1850 1858 1850 1848 1880

County Courthouse

County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1880
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records[2]

Historical Facts

Parent County

18 February 1850: Sacramento County was created as an original county. County seat: Sacramento [3]

Description

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

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

1854: Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

Places/Localities

Populated Places

Populated places in Sacramento County include:

  • Arcade
  • Carmichael
  • Citrus Heights
  • Courtland
  • Elk Grove
  • Elverta
  • Fair Oaks
  • Florin
  • Folsom
  • Freeport
  • Galt
  • Rio Linda
  • Sacramento
  • Sheldon
  • Sloughhouse
  • Walnut Grove

Neighboring Counties

Resources

Bible Records

Biography

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Sacramento, California online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See California Cemeteries for more information

The following web sites may have additional information on Sacramento County cemeteries.

Census

For tips on accessing Sacramento County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.

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.

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.

LDS Ward and Branch Records

  • Arcade
  • Carmichael
  • Homestead
  • Sacramento

Court Records

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

Directories

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups

Germans

Gazetteers

Genealogy

History

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.

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.

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.

Maps

Sutter CountyPlacer CountyEl Dorado CountyAmador CountySan Joaquin CountyContra Costa CountySolano CountyYolo CountyCA SACRAMENTO.PNG
About this image
Click a neighboring county
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

Early migration routes to and from Sacramento County, California Genealogy for emigrant settlers included:[5][6]

Military History and Records

The California State Military Museum has a great deal of historical information and links to other military websites.

Civil War

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
World War II
Vietnam War
Afghanistan War
Iraq War

Naturalization and Citizenship

  • 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

Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Sacramento County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:

The California Digital Newspaper Collection has newspapers from 1848 through 1922. You can search by keyword, including names, and/or by date.

Obituaries

Periodicals

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 - 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

Railroads

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

Archives, Libraries and Museums

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

County Offices Directory

County Clerk/Recorder 600 8th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-874-6334

Family History Centers

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. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.

Societies

  • 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

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.

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

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

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

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
Death

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

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

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

References

  1. ↑ Alice Eichholz, Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, Revised ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992), 62-75. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 1992
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sacramento County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_County,_California 05/05/2017.
  5. ↑ 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).
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "California Trail" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Trail (accessed 5 August 2012).
  7. ↑ 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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