Tuolumne County, California Genealogy
Guide to Tuolumne County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Tuolumne 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 | Sonora |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Tuolumne County Courthouse 2 S Green Street Sonora, CA 95370-4679 Phone: 209.533.5570 Tuolumne County Website |
County Information[edit | edit source]
Tuolumne County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Marriage | Court | Land | Probate | Census | ||
| 1858 | 1850 | 1859 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk Recorder has birth records from 1858
marriage records from 1850, death records from 1859
burial records from 1916 divorce, probate, court and land from 1850 and
old newspapers 1862-1948[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
18 February 1850: Tuolumne County was created as an original county. County seat: Sonora [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named Tuolumne is of Native American origin and has been given different meanings, such as Many Stone Houses, The Land of Mountain Lions and, Straight Up Steep, the latter an interpretation of William Fuller, a native Chief. Mariano Vallejo, in his report to the first California State Legislature, said that the word is "a corruption of the Indian word talmalamne which signifies 'cluster of stone wigwams.'" The name may mean "people who dwell in stone houses," i.e., in caves.. Tularemia is named after Tulare County. [4]The county seat Sonora and the county was created 1850.[5] The County is located in the central area of the state.[6]
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:[7]
| 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 Tuolumne County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Tuolumne County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Tuolumne County Published Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web sites may have additional information on Tuolumne 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 | 8,351 | — |
| 1860 | 16,229 | 94.3% |
| 1870 | 8,150 | −49.8% |
| 1880 | 7,848 | −3.7% |
| 1890 | 6,082 | −22.5% |
| 1900 | 11,166 | 83.6% |
| 1910 | 9,979 | −10.6% |
| 1920 | 7,768 | −22.2% |
| 1930 | 9,271 | 19.3% |
| 1940 | 10,887 | 17.4% |
| 1950 | 12,584 | 15.6% |
| 1960 | 14,404 | 14.5% |
| 1970 | 22,169 | 53.9% |
| 1980 | 33,928 | 53.0% |
| 1990 | 48,456 | 42.8% |
| 2000 | 54,501 | 12.5% |
| 2010 | 55,365 | 1.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Tuolumne 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
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 Tuolumne 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.
- Index to Tuolumne County Federal 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]
Early migration routes to and from Tuolumne County, California Genealogy for emigrant settlers included:[8][9]
- California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
|
- Carson (River) Trail 1848 (aka Mormon Emigrant Trail) crossed the Forty Mile Desert past the west side of the Carson Sink to pick up the Carson River near Fallon, Nevada up to Hope Valley and Red Lake. The Devil's Ladder then climbed 700 feet (210 m) in half a mile so ropes, chains, and pulleys were required to lift the wagons. Carson Pass was followed by the relatively easy West Pass (Kirkwood, California) and then on to Pollock Pines, Placerville, and Sutter's Fort, California
- Big Tree Road (Ebbetts Pass) 1851 from western Nevada to Markleeville, Murphys, Sonora, and Stockton, California
- Sonora Road 1852-1854 from the Carson Trail south to the Walker River along the base of the Sierra Nevada until it ascends to Sonora Pass and then down to Strawberry and Sonora, California
Online Records
- 1929-1954 - California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
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 Tuolumne County World War II Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
- Tuolumne County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Tuolumne County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Tuolumne County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
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 - Tuolumne - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and 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]
The official records of Tuolumne County, one of California's 27 original counties, are located in the Carlo M. De Ferrari Archive. The building was designed in 1997 by Cooper Kessel, an East Sonora architect and built by Barham Industrial Constructors, Inc. in 1999. It was dedicated for public use on December 21, 1999, and officially opened on June 8, 2001
Address: 490 Greenley Rd., Sonora, Ca 95370
Phone: 209 536-1163
Email Contacts: cdyer@co.tuolumne.ca.us or www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov
Hours: By appointment, Monday through Friday
The archive was named in honor of Carlo M. De Ferrari, a third generation Tuolumne County native son and "Official Historian of Tuolumne County," a title bestowed in 1972 by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors in reocognition of his extensive knowledge of local history and his dedication to its preservation.
The county archivist oversees general administration of the archive. All records accepted for preservation in the archive must have a historical connection to official county governmental business.
Over 250,000 records from this collection have been entered into the Archive's database for the public to access and query. The public can access the collection via the Tuolumne County's website at the following portal.
Carlo M. De Ferrari Archive (Tuolumne County Archive)
To begin searching the archives, click the Online Index button.
The User Id for the public is Research; no Password is needed.
Click the Enter button, then click Archives from the drop down list.
Press Go.
Tuolumne County Library Website
The current listing of books is available via the internet on the Tuolumne County Library web page. The books are available for researchers at the archive as reference material.
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- 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
- Introduction to Family History Centers
- Groveland California Family History Center
- Sonora California Family History Center
Societies[edit | edit source]
The Tuolumne County Historical Society, established in 1956, is home to the Tuolumne County Museum, Tuolumne County Historical Society and the Tuolumne County Genealogical Society.
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
- 1812 - 1988 - California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — index
- 1905 - 1995 - California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — index
- Early Tuolumne County Birth Notices by year (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
- Early Tuolumne County Marriage Notices by year (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]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Tuolumne County Genealogical Society
158 West Bradford
Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Phone:209-532-1317
Website
Tuolumne County Historical Society
P.O. Box 695
Sonora 95370
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Tuolumne County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Tuolumne County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Tuolumne County, California Genealogy Trails
- Tuolumne County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tuolumne 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), Tuolumne County, California. Page 88At 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, "Tuolumne County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuolumne_County,_California 05/09/2017.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Tuolumne County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/tuol/#.WRH66eUrKM8 05/09/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Tuolumne County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuolumne_County,_California 05/09/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Tuolumne County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuolumne_County,_California, accessed 27 September 2019.
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "California Trail" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Trail (accessed 5 August 2012).
