Merced County, California Genealogy
Guide to Merced 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
Merced County was created 19 Apr 1855[1] and was named for the Merced River, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy). The river was named in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride.[2] Its county seat is Merced. It is located in the central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Merced County Courthouse
2260 N Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-725-4100
Merced County Website
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1855.
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and burial Records [4]
Merced 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 |
| 1873 | 1855 | 1889 | 1855 | 1856 | 1855 | 1850 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
|
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:[8]
| Cities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. New Haven, Connecticut : Research Publications, 1968. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
- Biographies of Merced County, California (CAGenWeb Project)
- Index to Merced County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
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 | 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". | ||
- 1870 Merced County Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
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
- Merced
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
Funeral Homes
1877-1896 Merced County, California funeral book, 1877-1896(*); 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
- 1856-1885 Deeds(*); Merced County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1856-1921 Index to Deeds, 1856-1921(*); Merced County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- California Land Patents Database, Merced County (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 Merced County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
- Merced 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
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
- Merced County History & Military Information - Scroll down to pertinent links. (CAGenWeb Project)
Civil War
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Merced County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship
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
- Merced County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Merced County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
Other Records
Voting Records
- Merced County Great Register of Voters, 1868-1898 (Genealogy Trails)
- 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 ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
California tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see California Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. The state has records since July 1905, although county records may start earlier. See California Vital Records for more information.
- Merced County Vital Records (CAGenWeb Project)
Birth
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1812-1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905-1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Merced County Birth Notices, 1870-1884 (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($)
- 1960-1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
- Merced County Marriage Notices, 1868-1962 (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
- 1905-1939 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 Merced 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
- Los Banos California FamilySearch Center
- Merced California FamilySearch Center
- Modesto California FamilySearch Center
- Turlock California FamilySearch Center
- Madera County Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Merced County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Merced County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
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
- Merced County CAGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Linkpendium
- Merced County, California Genealogy Trails
- Merced 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
- Merced 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, “Merced County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/merced/#.WQtqxzEzqM8 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Merced County, California" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced_County,_California 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Merced County, California. Page 85 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Merced 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.
- ↑ https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#MERCED
- ↑ 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, "Merced County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced_County,_California, accessed 17 September 2019.