San Luis Obispo County, California Genealogy
Guide to San Luis Obispo County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
San Luis Obispo County, California | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
![]() Location of California in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | February 18, 1850 |
---|---|
County Seat | San Lupis Obispo |
Courthouse | |
Address | San Luis Obispo County Courthouse 1144 Monterey St Suite C San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 Phone 805.781.5080 San Luis Obispo 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 History
- 5.14 Land and Property
- 5.15 Maps
- 5.16 Migration
- 5.17 Military History and Records
- 5.18 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 5.19 Newspapers
- 5.20 Obituaries
- 5.21 Periodicals
- 5.22 Probate Records
- 5.23 Repositories
- 5.24 Societies
- 5.25 Taxation
- 5.26 Vital Records
- 5.27 Voting Registers
- 6 Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
County Information[edit | edit source]
San Luis Obispo County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1873 | 1850 | 1850 | 1854 | 1842 | 1854 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
San Luis Obispo County Courthouse
1144 Monterey St Suite C
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Phone 805.781.5080
County Clerk Recorder has birth records from 1873,
marriage and death records from 1850 and land records from 1842
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
18 February 1850: San Luis Obispo was created as an original county. County seat: San Luis Obispo [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named from Saint Louis of Toulouse. The county seat San Luis Obispo and the county was created 1850.[4] The County is located in the southwest 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 | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- San Luis Obispo County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to San Luis Obispo County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- San Luis Obispo County Biography Links
- Drury Woodson James (Genealogy Trails)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web sites may have additional information on San Luis Obispo 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. | %± |
1850 | 336 | — |
1860 | 1,782 | 430.4% |
1870 | 4,772 | 167.8% |
1880 | 9,142 | 91.6% |
1890 | 16,072 | 75.8% |
1900 | 16,637 | 3.5% |
1910 | 19,383 | 16.5% |
1920 | 21,893 | 12.9% |
1930 | 29,613 | 35.3% |
1940 | 33,246 | 12.3% |
1950 | 51,417 | 54.7% |
1960 | 81,044 | 57.6% |
1970 | 105,690 | 30.4% |
1980 | 155,435 | 47.1% |
1990 | 217,162 | 39.7% |
2000 | 246,681 | 13.6% |
2010 | 269,637 | 9.3% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For tips on accessing San Luis Obispo County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
- 1850, 1860 - San Luis Obispo 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
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]
- 1907-1956 - California, passenger and crew lists at various ports, 1907-1956 at FamilySearch — index and images
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 San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo County History Records (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.
- Index to San Luis Obispo County Land Records (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]
- 1929-1954 - California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
- San Luis Obispo County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo County, California Genealogy:
- - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
- Civil War Veterans Roster, Fred. Steele Post No. 70, 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 San Luis Obispo County World War II Army Enlistments (USGenWeb Archives)
- San Luis Obispo County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (USGenWeb Archives)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as San Luis Obispo County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a San Luis Obispo 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]
- San Luis Obispo County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to San Luis Obispo County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Indexes to San Luis Obispo County Obituaries
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 - San Luis Obiso - 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]
San Luis Obispo Genealogical Library
San Luis Obispo Public Library
995 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, California
Librarian - Mary Hansen
Arroyo Grande Genealogical Library
Arroyo Grande Public Library
South County Refional Center
800 W. Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, California
Librarian - Carolyn Baker
County Courthouse
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
- Atascadero California Family History Center
- San Luis Obispo California Family History Center
- Santa Margarita California Family History Center
Societies[edit | edit source]
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
meets at:
Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall
520 Dana Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
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.
- Links to San Luis Obispo County Vital Records Information (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
- San Luis Obispo 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
- 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
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]
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
San Luis Obispo County Historical Society
696 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo 93401
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
No Mailing Address was found
Websites[edit | edit source]
- San Luis Obispo County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- San Luis Obispo County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- San Luis Obispo County, California Genealogy Trails
- San Luis Obispo County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), San Luis Obispo 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), San Luis County, California. Page 87 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, “San Luis Obispo County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/sanluiso/ 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "San Luis Obispo County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis_Obispo_County,_California 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "San Luis Obispo County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis_Obispo_County,_California#Communities, accessed 23 September 2019.