Merced County, California Genealogy
Guide to Merced County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Merced County, California | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of California | |
 Location of California in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | April 19, 1855 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Merced |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Merced County Courthouse 2222 M Street Merced, CA 95340 Phone: 209.385.7627 |
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 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]
Merced County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1873 | 1855 | 1889 | 1855 | 1856 | 1855 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1855
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and burial Records [2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
19 April 1855: Merced County was created from Mariposa County. County seat: Merced [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named from the Merced River, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy); named in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride. The county seat Merced and the county was created 1855.[4] The County is located in the central area of the state.[5]
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Biographies of Merced County, California (CAGenWeb Project)
- Index to Merced County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site may have additional information on Merced County cemeteries.
- Interment.net California cemetery records by County.
- 1850 - 1960 - California Cemetery Transcriptions, 1850-1960 at FamilySearch — index and images
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 1,141 | — |
| 1870 | 2,807 | 146.0% |
| 1880 | 5,656 | 101.5% |
| 1890 | 8,085 | 42.9% |
| 1900 | 9,215 | 14.0% |
| 1910 | 15,148 | 64.4% |
| 1920 | 24,579 | 62.3% |
| 1930 | 36,748 | 49.5% |
| 1940 | 46,988 | 27.9% |
| 1950 | 69,780 | 48.5% |
| 1960 | 90,446 | 29.6% |
| 1970 | 104,629 | 15.7% |
| 1980 | 134,560 | 28.6% |
| 1990 | 178,403 | 32.6% |
| 2000 | 210,554 | 18.0% |
| 2010 | 255,793 | 21.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Merced County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
- 1870 - Merced County Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
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
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Merced
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
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]
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Merced 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.
- Merced County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
- California Land Patents Database, Merced County (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
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
- Merced County History & Military Information - Scroll down to pertinent links. (CAGenWeb Project)
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- 1883 - Merced County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1886 - Merced County Veterans, Hancock Post No. 104, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)
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
World War II[edit | edit source]
- Index to Merced County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
- Merced County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Korean War[edit | edit source]
- Merced County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Merced County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Merced 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).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Obituaries at MercedGenealogy.com (CAGenWeb Project)
- Merced County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Merced 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 - Merced - 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
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 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
- Introduction to Family History Centers
- Los Banos California Family History Center
- Merced California Family History Center
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
- Merced County Vital Records (CAGenWeb Project)
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
- Merced County Birth Notices, 1870-1884 (Genealogy Trails)
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
- Merced County Marriage Notices, 1868-1962 (Genealogy Trails)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 - California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1776 - 2000 - California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — index, some images
- 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
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- Merced County Great Register of Voters, 1868-1898 (Genealogy Trails)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Merced County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 3061
Merced, CA 95344
Website
Merced County Historical Society
Courthouse Museum
21st & N Streets
Merced, CA 95340
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Merced County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Merced County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Merced County, California Genealogy Trails
- Merced County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Merced 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), Merced County, California. Page 85 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, “Merced County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/merced/#.WQtqxzEzqM8 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Merced County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced_County,_California 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Merced County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced_County,_California, accessed 17 September 2019.
