Del Norte County, California Genealogy
Guide to Del Norte County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Del Norte County, California | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
 Location of California in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | March 2, 1857 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Crescent City |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Del Norte County Courthouse] 981 H St; Crescent City, CA 95531; Phone 707.464.7204 Del Norte County Website |
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 Military History and Records
- 5.16 Migration
- 5.17 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 5.18 Newspapers
- 5.19 Obituaries
- 5.20 Periodicals
- 5.21 Probate Records
- 5.22 Repositories
- 5.23 Societies
- 5.24 Taxation
- 5.25 Vital Records
- 5.26 Voting Registers
- 6 Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
- 7 Websites
- 8 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Del Norte County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | 1848 | 1853 | 1848 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1848;
County recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1873,
land records from 1853, leases and agreements 1857-1954[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Del Norte County (pronounced del-nort) sits in the far north west corner of California on the Pacific coast. Exploration by Europeans began with American explorer Jedediah Smith and it was organized into a county in 1857. Forests cover much of this rural territory.
Parent County[edit | edit source]
2 March 1857: Del Norte County was created from former Klamath County.
County seat: Crescent City [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for signifying "the north" and the county derived its name from its geographical position in the extreme northwest corner of the state. The County Seat is Crescent City and was founded 1857. It is located in the North West 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]
18 January 1948: Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. Some early records were destroyed.
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 | ||
| v> | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Native American communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site may have additional information on Del Norte County cemeteries.
- Interment.net California cemetery records by County.
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 1,993 | — |
| 1870 | 2,022 | 1.5% |
| 1880 | 2,584 | 27.8% |
| 1890 | 2,592 | 0.3% |
| 1900 | 2,408 | −7.1% |
| 1910 | 2,417 | 0.4% |
| 1920 | 2,759 | 14.1% |
| 1930 | 4,739 | 71.8% |
| 1940 | 4,745 | 0.1% |
| 1950 | 8,078 | 70.2% |
| 1960 | 17,771 | 120.0% |
| 1970 | 14,580 | −18.0% |
| 1980 | 18,217 | 24.9% |
| 1990 | 23,460 | 28.8% |
| 2000 | 27,507 | 17.3% |
| 2010 | 28,610 | 4.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Del Norte County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
- 1860 - Del Norte County Census Data (Genealogy Trails)
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- How to Use this Collection
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1881 - Del Norte County Directory (CAGenWeb Project)
- 1910 - Index to Great Register, Del Norte County, California (CAGenWeb Project)
- 1933 - California Civilian Conservation Corps Members, 1933, Del Norte County (CAGenWeb Project)
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Del Norte 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.
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
- 1883 - List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883, Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)
World War I[edit | edit source]
- Information from Civilian Draft Registration Cards, Del Norte County (CAGenWeb Project)
- 1914-1918 - California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — index and images
World War II[edit | edit source]
- 1942 - Army Enlistees, Surnames A-L (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1942 - United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
- World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel, Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1935 - California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1852-1989 - California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Del Norte County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Del Norte 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]
- Index to Del Norte County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
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 - Del Norte - Probate records.
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- How to Use this Collection
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
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
Societies[edit | edit source]
Del Norte County Historical Society and Museum:
Phone number:
(707) 464-3922.
Email:
manager@delnortehistory.org
Address:
Del Norte County Historical Society
577 H Street
Crescent City, CA 95331
The Battery Point Lighthouse Museum:
This is a lighthouse that houses a museum. The Lighthouse is located at the foot of A Street.
Phone number:
(707) 464-3922.
Mailing address:
Battery Point Lighthouse Museum
P.O. Box 535
Crescent City, CA 95331.
NorCal Genealogy Group
An e-mail list of genealogists researching northern California ancestors. Submit queries, answers, articles, and other genealogical information via E-Mail. This is a helpful, no-fee group. NORCAL Genealogy Index
To subscribe, send an email to: NORCAL-L-request@rootsweb.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and body text
If you have any problems subscribing (but ONLY if you have problems), contact: Yvonne Bowers at ybowers@comcast.net
California Historical Society
Phone:
(415)357-1848 voice
(415)357-1850 fax
Email:
info@calhist.org
Address:
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
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
- 1890 - 1940's - Miscellaneous Marriage, Birth, and Death Records from the Del Norte Record (CAGenWeb Project)
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 1994 - California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
- 1812 - 1988 - California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- 1860 - 1884 - Del Norte County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)
- 1905 - 1910 - Birth Records for Del Norte County (Genealogy Trails)
- 1905 - 1995 - California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1850 - 1945 - California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- 1850 - 1952 - California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
- 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 - California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 - California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1776 - 2000 - California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — index, some images- How to Use this Collection
- 1800 - 1994 - California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
- 1905 - 1939 - California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- 1940 - 1997 - California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Del Norte County Historical Society
577 “H” Street
Crescent City, CA 95531
Phone:707-464-3922
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Del Norte County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Del Norte County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Del Norte County, California Genealogy Trails
- Del Norte County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- Del Norte County Research, California State Genealogical Association
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Del Norte 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), Del Norte County, California. Page 84 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Del Norte County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/delnorte/#.XD930FxKiUk 5/01/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Del Norte County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Norte_County,_California, accessed 12 September 2019.
