Placer County, California Genealogy
Guide to Placer 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
Placer County was created 25 Apr 1851[1] and was named for the numerous places where the method of extracting gold from the earth, called placer mining, was practiced.[2] Its county seat is Auburn. It is located in the northeastern area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Placer County Courthouse
10820 Justice Center Drive
Roseville, CA 95678
Phone: 916-408-6000
Placer County Website
County Clerk Recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1873 and land records from 1850.
County Clerk has probate records from 1850 and court records from 1851[4]
Placer 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 | 1873 | 1873 | 1880 | 1850 | 1851 | 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:[8]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| American Indian Communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Historic communities | ||
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| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Placer 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 | 13,270 | — |
| 1870 | 11,357 | −14.4% |
| 1880 | 14,232 | 25.3% |
| 1890 | 15,101 | 6.1% |
| 1900 | 15,786 | 4.5% |
| 1910 | 18,237 | 15.5% |
| 1920 | 18,584 | 1.9% |
| 1930 | 24,468 | 31.7% |
| 1940 | 28,108 | 14.9% |
| 1950 | 41,649 | 48.2% |
| 1960 | 56,998 | 36.9% |
| 1970 | 24,468 | −57.1% |
| 1980 | 117,247 | 379.2% |
| 1990 | 172,796 | 47.4% |
| 2000 | 248,399 | 43.8% |
| 2010 | 348,432 | 40.3% |
| 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
- Churches in Placer County lists churches by denomination and gives name, address, phone number, and links to web site if available.
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Auburn
- Roseville
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
The Placer County Archives and Research Center has the following records:
- Court Case Files 1851-1925
- Assessment Rolls and Maps 1851-1961
- Record of Wills 1874-1963
- Board of Supervisor's Minutes 1852-1980
- Naturalization Papers 1852-1939
- Deed Books 1851-1960
- Great Register of Voters 1867-1974
- Department of Education Records 1895-1997
- Mining Records 1856-1947
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Placer, California, look at the list of records for Naturalization and citizenship and Naturalization and citizenship - Indexes. Films can be sent to FamilySearch centers.
Directories
- 1861 Placer County Business Directory, 1861 (USGenWeb Archives)
- 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
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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.
County Clerk - Recorder keeps the land records.Land records are scanned and indexed in a grantor/grantee index. The index is cross-referenced by document type, document number and the names of the parties. The index & images of the original documents are available to the public for research or to have copies made.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1851-1908 Deed Records, 1851-1908(*); Placer County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- Index to Placer County Federal Land Grants (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 Placer County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
Google Books has some books about the history and people in Placer County, California. Try various search terms, including the names of people. Books designated with "Full view" can be read online.
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Placer County, California, look at the list of records for History. Films can be sent to FamilySearch centers. Public libraries may have copies of the books or can obtain them through Interlibrary Loan.
- Index to Placer County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
For historical maps, search the following free sites:
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- Maps-Historical-Sate of California, the California government's site.Links to American Memory (Library of Congress), California Missions, and the State Library
- Historical Maps of California
- California Maps - HSU Library, also lists and links to gazetteers
- Perry-Castaneda Map Collection for California
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Early migration routes to and from Placer County for emigrant settlers included:[9][10]
- California Trail 1844 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
- Truckee (River) Trail 1844 crossed the Forty Mile Desert to the Truckee River to follow it west past Reno, Nevada to Donner Pass to Emigrant Gap to Sutter's Fort (Sacramento, California). The exact route varied over the years, the most used being the Nevada City Road and Auburn Emigrant Road combination.
- Roller Pass 1846 alternate to the Truckee Trail two miles south of Donner Pass through Emigrant Gap to Placerville, California
- Nevada City Road 1850 branched off the Truckee Trail through Emigrant Gap to Nevada City, California the most important mining area 1850-1851
- Auburn Emigrant Road 1850 believed to be from Nevada City to Auburn to Sacramento, California
- Central Pacific Railroad 13 May 1865 reached Auburn, Placer County, California from Sacramento being built toward Utah.
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
- California State Military Museum has a great deal of historical information and links to other military websites.
- Index to Placer County Military Records (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War
Ancestry.com $ has Records of California men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867
Civil War service men in Placer 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:
- - 4th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D
- - 4th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company E
- - 7th Regiment, California Infantry (Union) , Company D
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
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 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 ($)
- The California Digital Newspaper Collection has newspapers from 1848 through 1922. You can search by keyword, including names, and/or by date.
- California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a collection of digitized Reno, Nevada newspapers going back to 1870 that may include residents from Placer County. This database is sometimes free at libraries.
- Placer Herald of Auburn | Death notice index covers 1852-1885
Obituaries
- Placer County Obituary Index (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Placer County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
Other Records
Voting Records
- Placer County Great Register of Voters (Genealogy Trails)
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index($)
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. They may give the decedent's date of death, names and residences of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, and others. For online records and more information, see California Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- In the FamilySearch Catalog for Placer County, California, there is a lists of resources FamilySearch Library.
- The Placer County Archives and Research Center has probate records from 1851-1960.
- 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.
In the FamilySearch Catalog Place Search on FamilySearch, for Placer County, California, look at the list of records for Vital records. Films can be sent to FamilySearch centers.
The Placer County Clerk-Recorder's Office has birth, death and marriage records for Placer County. This office has birth and death records, 1873 to the present and marriage records 1852 to the present.
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($)
- 1905-1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 ($) (Ancestry.com)
- Transcriptions from the California Birth Index by year (Genealogy Trails)
- Placer County Birth Notices by year (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($)
- 1851-1860, 1877 Index to Placer County Marriages in the California Marriage Index (Genealogy Trails)
- 1960-1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
- Index to Placer County Marriage Notices by year (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($)
- Online California Death Records & Indexes links to California sites
Divorce
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Placer County. For state-wide facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Placer County Archives and Research Center
11526 C Ave,
Auburn, CA 95603
archives@placer.ca.gov
Phone: 530-889-7789
Fax: 530-889-7708
Website
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
- Auburn California FamilySearch Center
- El Dorado California FamilySearch Center
- Elk Grove California FamilySearch Center
- Sacramento California FamilySearch Library
- Doris Foley Library for Historical Research Nevada County Library - an affiliate library
- Sutter County Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Placer County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Placer County Library
350 Nevada Street
Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: 530-886-4550
Email: library@placerlibrary.org
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Placer County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Placer County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 7385
Auburn, CA 95604-7385
Website
Clayton Historical Society
PO BOx 94
Clayton, CA 94517-0094
Website
Colfax Area Historical Society
PO Box 185
Colfax, CA 95713
Website
North Lake Tahoe Historical Society
130 West Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City, CA 95730
Website
Roseville Genealogical Society
557 Lincoln Street
Roseville, CA 95678-1459
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Placer County CAGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Linkpendium
- Placer County, California Genealogy Trails
- Placer 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
- Placer 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, “Placer County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/placer/ 05/05/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Placer County, California" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placer_County,_California 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Placer County, California. Page 86 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Placer 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).
- ↑ 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, "Placer County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placer_County,_California, accessed 19 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).