Contra Costa County, California Genealogy
Guide to Contra Costa 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
Contra Costa County was created 18 Feb 1850[1] and means "opposite coast" in the Spanish language; it is located opposite San Francisco, in an easterly direction, on the San Francisco Bay.[2] Its county seat is Martinez. It is located in the west-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Contra Costa County
725 Court Sreet
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 925-608-1000
Contra Costa County Website
County Recorder has birth and death records.
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records. [4]
Contra Costa 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 |
| 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1850 |
Record Loss
|
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 | ||
|
||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Historic communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- History of Contra Costa County, California ... and Biographical Sketches of Early and Prominent Settlers. By J. P. Munro-Fraser. [San Francisco, California] : W.A. Slocum, 1882. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- History of Contra Costa County, California : with Biographical Sketches. Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Company, 1926. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Contra Costa County Biographies at USGenWeb Archives
- Contra Costa County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
For online censuses (state and federal) and for more information, see California Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 5,328 | — |
| 1870 | 8,461 | 58.8% |
| 1880 | 12,525 | 48.0% |
| 1890 | 13,515 | 7.9% |
| 1900 | 18,046 | 33.5% |
| 1910 | 31,674 | 75.5% |
| 1920 | 53,889 | 70.1% |
| 1930 | 78,608 | 45.9% |
| 1940 | 100,450 | 27.8% |
| 1950 | 298,984 | 197.6% |
| 1960 | 409,030 | 36.8% |
| 1970 | 558,389 | 36.5% |
| 1980 | 656,380 | 17.5% |
| 1990 | 803,732 | 22.4% |
| 2000 | 948,816 | 18.1% |
| 2010 | 1,049,025 | 10.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
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
- A short history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the San Francisco Bay Area
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Directories
- Oakland (California) city directories
- Pittsburg - Antioch (Contra Costa County, Calif.) city directory : including West Pittsburg and Shore Acres, also a buyers' guide and a complete classified business directory
- Richmond (California) city directories
- 1914-1915 Richmond, California, City Directory, 1914 - 1915 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 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
Funeral Homes
- 1962-2018 California, Walnut Creek, Oak Hills Park Chapel, Funeral Records, 1962-2018 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
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
- 1850-1871 Mechanics Liens, 1850-1871(*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1850-1917 Brands and Marks, 1850-1917(*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1851-1888 Estray Records, 1851-1888(*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1851-1916 Wives Property Book, 1851-1916(*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1852-1865 School Land Warrants, 1852-1865(*); Contra Costa County, County Clerk at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1852-1925 Contra Costa County Land Claims, 1852-1925(*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1876-1877 Squirrel Inspection District Liens, 1876-1877(*); Contra Costa County, County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1894 Alameda and Contra Costa County, California Land Ownership Map, 1894
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Contra Costa County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
- Antioch Centennial Almanac. By Fred S. Cook. Volcano, California : California Traveler, 1972. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- The History of Contra Costa County, California. Edited by F. J. Hulaniski. Berkeley, California : Elms Publishing Co., 1917. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- History of Contra Costa County, California ... and Biographical Sketches of Early and Prominent Settlers. By J. P. Munro-Fraser. [San Francisco, California] : W.A. Slocum, 1882. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- History of Contra Costa County, California : with Biographical Sketches. Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Company, 1926. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- History of the San Francisco Bay region. By Bailey Millard. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co., 1974. FS Library film 1000123 - images.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Alameda and Contra Costa County, California land ownership map, 1894
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
Civil War
- Contra Costa County, Gen. Canby Post No. 77, G. A. R. 1886, Civil War - Rosters (USGenWeb Archives)
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
World War II
- Alphabetical Index to Contra Costa County Enlistments (USGenWeb Archives)
- World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnell from Contra Costa County, California, 1946 (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization and Citizenship Indexes and Records
- 1852-1989 California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1860-1899 Death notices 1860-1899, Contra Costa County, California
- 1864-1899 Vital records from the Contra Costa Gazette, 1864-1899
- 1870-1877 Vital records from the Antioch Ledger : 2 Apr 1870-17, Mar 1877
- 1993 Index to 1993 vital statistics, Contra Costa Times, Concord Transcript and Antioch Daily Ledger/Post Dispatch
- 1994 Index to 1994 vital statistics, Contra Costa Times, Concord Transcript, and Antioch Daily Ledger/Post Dispatch
- 1995 1995 vital statistics, Contra Costa Times, Concord Transcript, Antioch Daily Ledger, and West County Times
- 1995 Index to 1995 vital statistics, Contra Costa Times, Concord Transcript, Antioch Daily Ledger and West County Times
- 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 ($)
- Vital statistics taken from The Independent, Contra Costa County's complete home newspaper
Obituaries
- Contra Costa County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Contra Costa County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
Other Records
Public Records
Voting Records
- Great registers, 1867-1898
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Periodicals
- Diablo quarterly - Contra Costa County Genealogical Society
Probate Records
Probate records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. They may give the decedent's date of death, names and residences of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, and others. For online records and more information, see California Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 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.
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
- 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($)
- Contra Costa County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)
Marriage
- 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 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($)
- 1851-1941 Index to marriages (men), 1851-1941 (surnames A-M) at FamilySearch
- 1960-1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
- Contra Costa County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
Death
- 1776-2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1873-1921 Death records, 1873-1921
- 1880 Persons who died during the year ending May 31, 1880, in the County of Costa, State of California (Genealogy Trails)
- 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($)
Divorce
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Contra Costa 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
- Concord California FamilySearch Center
- Danville California FamilySearch Center
- Oakland California FamilySearch Library
- California Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Contra Costa County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Contra Costa County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Contra Costa County Genealogical Society
Concord/Walnut Creek FamilySearch Center
3700 Concord Blvd
Concord, CA 94519-1808
Phone:925-686-1766
Website
Contra Costa County Historical Society
610 Main Street
Martinez, California 94553
Phone: 925-229-1042
Website
Facebook
East Contra Costa Historical Society
Physical Address:
3890 Sellers Avenue
Brentwood, CA 94513
Mailing Address:
East Contra Costa Historical Society
P.O. Box 202
Brentwood, CA 94513
Phone:925-634-8651
Email: ecchs@eastcontracostahistory.org
Website
Facebook
El Cerito Historical Society
PO Box 304
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Phone:510-526-7507
Website
Facebook
Lafayette Historical Society
Lafayette Library Learning Center
3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard
Lafayette, CA 94549
Phone: 925-283-1848
Website
Facebook
Martinez Historical Society
P.O. Box 14
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 925-228-8160
Website
Facebook
Moraga Historical Society
Post Office Box 103
1500 St. Mary's Rd.
Moraga, CA 94556-2099;
Phone: ( 925 ) 377-8734
Website
Point Richmond History Association
139 1/2 Washington Avenue
Point Richmond, CA
Phone: 510-234-5334 or 510-235-1336
website
Facebook
Richmond Museum of History
P.O. Box 1267
400 Nevin Avenue
Richmond, California 94802
Phone: (510) 235-7387
website
San Ramon Valley Genealogy Society
P.O. Box 305
Diablo, CA 94528-0305
serves local genealogy enthusiasts. Monthly meetings are held at the Danville FamilySearch Center in Alamo, California on the 3rd Tuesday at 10am.
Website
Facebook
Walnut Creek Historical Society
2660 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek, California
Phone: (925) 935-7871
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Contra Costa County CAGenWeb and CA GenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Contra Costa County, California Genealogy Trails
- Contra Costa 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
- Contra Costa Research Guide at California State Library
References
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Contra Costa County, Florida Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/costa/#.WQORYzEzqM8 04/28/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Contra Costa County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_Costa_County,_California 04/28/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Contra Costa 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), Contra Costa 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.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Colusa County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_Costa_County,_California#Communities, accessed 1 March 2021.