Butte County, California Genealogy
Guide to Butte County, California ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Butte County was created 10 Jan 1851[2] and was named for the Sutter Buttes in neighboring Sutter County; butte means "small knoll" or "small hill" in French. Its county seat is Oroville. It is located in the north-central area of the state[3]
County Courthouse
Butte County Courthouse
One Court Street
Oroville, CA 95965
Phone: 530-532-7015
Butte County Website
County Recorder has marriage records from 1851, birth and death records from 1859 and land records.
County Clerk has divorce, probate, probate and court record from 1850.
Meriam Library, California State University Chico, has divorce, probate and court records 1850-1879 and natural records 1850-1960.[4]
Butte County, California Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1859 | 1851 | 1859 | 1850 | 1846 | 1850 | 1850 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
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 | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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Indian Reservations or Rancherias
The Berry Creek Indian Rancheria is located in this county.
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- History of Butte County, California : with biographical sketches... . By George C. Mansfield. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co., 1974. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust.
- Butte County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
- Butte County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Butte County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
For online censuses (state and federal) and for more information, see California Census. For tips on accessing Butte County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 3,574 | — |
| 1860 | 12,106 | 238.7% |
| 1870 | 11,403 | −5.8% |
| 1880 | 18,721 | 64.2% |
| 1890 | 17,939 | −4.2% |
| 1900 | 17,117 | −4.6% |
| 1910 | 27,301 | 59.5% |
| 1920 | 30,030 | 10.0% |
| 1930 | 34,093 | 13.5% |
| 1940 | 42,840 | 25.7% |
| 1950 | 64,930 | 51.6% |
| 1960 | 82,030 | 26.3% |
| 1970 | 101,969 | 24.3% |
| 1980 | 143,851 | 41.1% |
| 1990 | 182,120 | 26.6% |
| 2000 | 203,171 | 11.6% |
| 2010 | 220,000 | 8.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1860 Butte County Mortality Schedule, 1860 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1880 Butte County Mortality Schedule, 1880 (Genealogy Trails)
Church Records
Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. Usually listed on the town level, they may contain ages, dates (baptism, christening, birth, marriage, death), maiden names, and more. See also California Church Records.
- 1864-1985 California, Church Records, 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Chico
- Gridley
- Liberty (Gridley)
- Oroville
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Indian Reservations or Rancherias
The Berry Creek Indian Rancheria is located in this county.
Funeral Homes
1960-1980 Mortuary memorial cards, ca. 1960-1980(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records provide exact location of land, often reveal family relationships, and give names of witnesses and neighbors. They include deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents. See California Land and Property for online resources, including early land grants.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1851-1910 Separate Property of Married Women, 1851-1910(*); Butte County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1852-1896 County Assessor's Records, General Index, 1882-1900; Assessment Rolls, 1852-1896(*); Butte County, County Assessor at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1856-1910 Deed Records(*); Butte County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1860-1916 Patents, 1846-1916, Index 1860-1916(*); Butte County County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1860-1927 Index to Homesteads, 1860-1927(*); Butte County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1864-1920 Declarations and Abandonments of Homesteads, 1864-1920(*); Butte County, Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- Index to General Land Office Records at USGenWeb Archives
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Butte County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
- History of Butte County, California : with biographical sketches... . By George C. Mansfield. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co., 1974. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust.
- Butte County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Early migration routes to and from Butte County for emigrant settlers included:[8][9]
- 1844-1869 California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
- 1850 Beckwourth Trail 1850 left the Truckee Trail near present-day Sparks, Nevada going to Oroville and Marysville, California
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
- 1856-1965 California, Military Discharge Records, 1856-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1886; 1895-1919 Butte County. County Clerk. Military rolls, 1886, 1895-1919
- Butte County Military Records (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War
- Butte County. Board of Supervisors. Record of burial of ex-Union soldiers, sailors, marines and widows, 1886-1898
- Butte County Civil War Veterans (USGenWeb Archives)
Civil War service men in Butte County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:
- 1st Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), Company A
- 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company A
World War I
- 1914-1918 California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- See also Military Rolls above, 1886, 1896-1919
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
- California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
- 1866-1992 California, Napa and Butte Counties, Obituaries, 1866-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1883-1899 Butte County Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1883-1899 at FamilySearch (microfilm)
- 1902-1967 Paradise, California Obituary File Index, 1902-1967 at FamilySearch (microfilm)
- 1963-1900 Butte County Obituary Index, 1963-1990 at FamilySearch
- The Paradise Genealogical Society has a large collection of obituaries and death notices from local Butte County newspapers.
- Butte County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Butte County Obituary Index (Genealogy Trails)
Other Records
Voting Records
California county clerks were to keep voting registers every other year from 1866 and well into the 20th century. These large books, called Great Registers, listed the men who registered to vote in that county. Besides name and age, the record may show place of birth, address, occupation, naturalization date and sometimes even a physical description.
These records are at the California State Library (1866-1944), and microfilmed copies are available through FamilySearch Centers (1866-1910). Ancestry ($) has a searchable database of Butte Great Registers from 1867-1898.
The Butte county records for 1872 are available on the RootsWeb site, by clicking here.
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. They may give the decedent's date of death, names and residences of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, and others. For online records and more information, see California Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1850-1902 Butte County California list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills - free
- 1833-1991 California Probate Estate Files, 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
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 California Taxation.
- 1857 Butte County 1857 Tax List (CAGenWeb Project)
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. The state has records since July 1905, although county records may start earlier. See California Vital Records for more information.
Birth
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1812-1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905-1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
Marriage
- 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1850-1945 California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1850-1952 California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1851-1860 Butte County Marriages, 1851-1860 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1960-1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Butte County Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
- Butte County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
Death
- 1776-2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1905 Butte County Deaths (Genealogy Trails)
- 1905 Miscellaneous Births and Deaths, Butte County (CAGenWeb Project)
- 1905-1939 California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1940-1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Butte County, California, Miscellaneous Deaths from Historical Newspapers (CAGenWeb Project)
Divorce
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Butte County. For state-wide facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Aba Nigeria Ogbor Hill FamilySearch Center
- Chico California FamilySearch Center
- Gridley California FamilySearch Center
- Oroville California FamilySearch Center
- Paradise California FamilySearch Center
- California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
- Sutter County Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Butte County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Paradise Depot Museum
5570 Black Olive Dr
Paradise, CA 95969
Phone: 530-413-9129
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Butte County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Paradise Genealogical Society
5587 Scottwood Road
Paradise, CA 95967-0460
Phone: 530-877-2330
Website
Butte County Historical Society
P.O. Box 2195
Oroville, CA 95965
Phone: 530-533-9418 or 530-533-5316
Email: ButteHistory@sbcglobal.net
Website
Websites
- Butte County CAGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Butte County, California Genealogy Trails
- Butte County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
- Butte Research Guide at California State Library
References
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Butte County, California" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte_County,_California 04/28/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Amador County, California. Page 84 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Butte County, California. Page 84-88 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library 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.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Butte County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte_County,_California, accessed 11 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).