Santa Cruz County, California Genealogy
Guide to Santa Cruz 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
Santa Cruz County was created 18 Feb 1850[1] and was named for Mission Santa Cruz and the city of Santa Cruz, both named after the Exaltation of the Cross. Its county seat is Santa Cruz. It is located in the west-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Santa Cruz County
1 2nd St
Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: 831-786-7200
Santa Cruz Website
County Recorder has marriage and land records from 1850, birth and death records from 1905, and military records from 1930.
Clerk of Superior Cout has divorce, probate and court records.[3]
Santa Cruz 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 |
| 1905 | 1850 | 1905 | 1850 | 1847 | 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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
The first European settlements in Santa Cruz County began with the founding of a Franciscan mission in 1791 near the San Lorenzo River in what is now the city of Santa Cruz. In 1797, a proprietary Spanish colony was founded near the mission church and named Branciforte. When California became part of the United States in 1850, Branciforte County was one of the original counties but the name was quickly changed to Santa Cruz County on 19 April 1850.
Geographically, the coastline gives way to coastal mountains which often come right down to the sea. Two significant rivers played a role in settlement, the San Lorenzo (Santa Cruz city) and the Pajaro River (Watsonville). California highway route 1 passes through the county along the coast and route 17 provides a connection over the coastal mountains to the San Jose/Silicon Valley area. A railroad also came to the area in the late 1800s providing a shipping outlet for agricultural products of the coastal farmlands.
Earthquakes have affected the area destroying much of the mission church in 1857 and another doing major damage to the city of Santa Cruz in 1989 but they did not cause any significant loss of records.
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Index to Santa Cruz County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Santa Cruz 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. | %± |
| 1850 | 643 | — |
| 1860 | 4,944 | 668.9% |
| 1870 | 8,743 | 76.8% |
| 1880 | 12,802 | 46.4% |
| 1890 | 19,270 | 50.5% |
| 1900 | 21,512 | 11.6% |
| 1910 | 26,140 | 21.5% |
| 1920 | 26,269 | 0.5% |
| 1930 | 37,433 | 42.5% |
| 1940 | 45,057 | 20.4% |
| 1950 | 66,534 | 47.7% |
| 1960 | 84,219 | 26.6% |
| 1970 | 123,790 | 47.0% |
| 1980 | 188,141 | 52.0% |
| 1990 | 229,734 | 22.1% |
| 2000 | 255,602 | 11.3% |
| 2010 | 262,382 | 2.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1850 Federal Census, Santa Cruz County, California (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
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Directories
- 1937 Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, City Directory, 1937 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1939 Santa Cruz, California, City Directory, 1939 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1940 Santa Cruz, California, City Directory, 1940 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1946 Watsonville, California, City Directory, 1946 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1959 Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, City Directory, 1959 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1960 Santa Cruz, California, City Directory, 1960 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 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
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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
- Index to Federal Land Records, Santa Cruz County, California (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 Santa Cruz County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
- Santa Cruz County History (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
Online Records
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
- 1883 Santa Cruz County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War
- 1886 Index to Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts, Santa Cruz County, California] (USGenWeb Archives)
Regiments. Civil War service men in Santa Cruz 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 Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
- - 7th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company K
- - 8th 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
World War II
- Index to World War II Army Enlistees, Santa Cruz County, California (USGenWeb Archives)
- Santa Cruz County, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization 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 ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
- California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Mountain Echo (Boulder Creek 1896-1916)
- Register Pajaronian (Watsonville, 1868-present)
- Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz 1866-present 2011)
- Santa Cruz Surfer (Santa Cruz 1889-1919)
Obituaries
- Index to Santa Cruz County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Santa Cruz County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Santa Cruz County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Pajaro, Royal Oaks, Bonny Doon, Aptos and Freedom areas.
Other Records
Voting Records
- 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 ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
California tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see California Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. The state has records since July 1905, although county records may start earlier. See California Vital Records for more information.
Birth
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1812-1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905-1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Public Health Department Birth Certificates
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($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
Death
- 1776-2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1905-1939 California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1940-1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Public Health Department Death Certificates
Divorce
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Santa Cruz 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
- Monterey California FamilySearch Center
- San Jose California FamilySearch Center
- Santa Cruz California FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Santa Cruz County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Santa Cruz Public Library Downtown
224 Church Street
P.O. Box 72
Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0072
Phone: 831-427-7707, ext. 5794
Website
Museums
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831-429-1964
Email: Contact form
Website
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Santa Cruz County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County
P.O. Box 72
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Phone: 861-427-7707, ext 5794
Email: staff@scgensoc.org
Facebook
Website
Santa Cruz Jewish Genealogical Society
7960 B Soquel Dr., Ste 370
Aptos, CA 95003
Email: info@scjgs.org
Website
Websites
- Santa Cruz County CAGenWeb
- Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County
- www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22649 Santa Cruz Mission State Historical Park
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- Santa Cruz County, California Genealogy Trails
- Santa Cruz 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
- Santa Cruz Research Guide at California State Library
References
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Santa Cruz County, California" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_County,_California 05/08/2017..
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Shasta County, California. Page 87At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Santa Cruz 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, "Santa Cruz County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_County,_California, accessed 23 September 2019.