Fresno County, California Genealogy
Guide to Fresno County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Fresno County, California | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
 Location of California in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | April 19, 1856 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Fresno |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Fresno County Courthouse 2221 Kern St Fresno, CA 93721 Phone 559.488.3003 Fresno 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 Emigration and immigration
- 5.10 Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups
- 5.11 Gazetteers
- 5.12 Genealogy
- 5.13 Heraldry
- 5.14 History
- 5.15 Land and Property
- 5.16 Maps
- 5.17 Migration
- 5.18 Military History and Records
- 5.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 5.20 Newspapers
- 5.21 Obituaries
- 5.22 Periodicals
- 5.23 Probate Records
- 5.24 Repositories
- 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]
Fresno County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1855 | 1855 | 1855 | 1856 | 1856 | 1880 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk has birth, marriage, and death records from 1855[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Fresno County was created 19 April 1856 from Merced and Mariposa counties. Parts were taken for Kings 22 March 1893, Madera 11 March 1893 and Mono 24 April 1861. Named for Fresno Creek. Fresno in Spanish means "ash tree", because of abundance of mountain ash in the area.
Parent County[edit | edit source]
19 April 1856: Fresno County was created from Mariposa, Merced and Tulare Counties.
County seat: Fresno [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County Seat is Fresno and was founded February 18, 1856. It 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]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
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 | ||
| Native American communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Index to Fresno County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
- Index to Fresno County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Fresno County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site may have additional information on Fresno County cemeteries.
- Interment.net California cemetery records by County.
United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969
Vol. 24 page 6 - Tollhouse Cemetery and sexton's records
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 4,605 | — |
| 1870 | 6,336 | 37.6% |
| 1880 | 9,478 | 49.6% |
| 1890 | 32,026 | 237.9% |
| 1900 | 37,862 | 18.2% |
| 1910 | 75,657 | 99.8% |
| 1920 | 128,779 | 70.2% |
| 1930 | 144,379 | 12.1% |
| 1940 | 178,565 | 23.7% |
| 1950 | 276,515 | 54.9% |
| 1960 | 365,945 | 32.3% |
| 1970 | 413,053 | 12.9% |
| 1980 | 514,621 | 24.6% |
| 1990 | 667,490 | 29.7% |
| 2000 | 799,407 | 19.8% |
| 2010 | 930,450 | 16.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Fresno 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- 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]
Emigration and immigration[edit | edit source]
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]
Heraldry[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Fresno 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.
- Index to Fresno County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Fresno County Historical Information (CAGenWeb Project)
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.
- Index to Federal Land Patents, Fresno County, California (USGenWeb Archives)
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1935 - California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
- Fresno County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Fresno County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1914-1918 - California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1831-1985 - California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 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 Fresno County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Fresno 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]
- Fresno County Obituary Index (Genealogy Trails)
- Fresno County Obituaries Index (USGenWeb Archives)
- Fresno County: Reedley Cemetery Obituaries (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 - Fresno - 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]
The following public libraries in Fresno County have collections of particular interest to genealogists:
- Fresno County Public Library
2420 Mariposa Street
Fresno, California 93721
Telephone: (559) 600-7323
The California History and Genealogy Room offers books, microfilms and other resources for local and state history as well as a variety of records helpful for identifying your ancestors and their lives–vital records, military, ethnic, census, Great Registers (voting records), prison records, and more.
- Fresno City and County Historical Society Archives has Central Valley early farmers index, biographies, manuscripts, photos, oral histories, newspaper clippings, and school yearbooks.
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 Libraries
- Introduction to Family History Centers
- Auberry California Family History Center (Pranther)
- Caruthers California Family History Center
- Fresno California East Family History Center (Clovis)
- Fresno California Family History Center
- Fresno California North Family History Center (Clovis)
- Fresno California West Family History Center
- Reedley California Family History Center
- Selma California Family History Center
- Sequoia California Family History Center (Dunlap)
Societies[edit | edit source]
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
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
- 1905 - 1995 - California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- Fresno County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails
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
- Fresno County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
- The Fresno County Recorder Public Marriage Records Search. These are recent marriages.
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]
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Fresno City And County Historical Society
P.O. Box 2029
Fresno 93718
Fresno County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1429
Fresno 93716-1429
Website
Fresno City County Historical Society
7160 West Kearney Boulevard
Fresno, CA 93706
Phone: 559-441-0862
Website
American Historical Society of Germans from Russia
3233 N. West Avenue
Fresno, CA 93705-3402
California Mennonite Society
4824 E. Butler
Fresno, CA 93727
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Fresno County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Fresno County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- Fresno County, California Genealogy Trails
- Fresno County, CA Genealogy (LDS Genealogy]
- FamilySearch Catalog
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Fresno 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), Fresno 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).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Fresno County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_County,_California 4/11/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Fresno County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_County,_California, accessed 13 September 2019.
