Sierra County, California Genealogy
Guide to Sierra 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
Sierra County was created 16 Apr 1852[1] and was named for the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Its county seat is Downieville. It is located in the northeastern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Sierra County Courthouse
100 Courthouse Square
Downieville, CA 95936
Phone: 530-289-3698
Sierra County Website
County Recorder has birth records from 1857, marriage and land records from 1852 and death records from 1862.
Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records and naturalization records from 1852[3]
Sierra 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 |
| 1857 | 1852 | 1862 | 1852 | 1852 | 1852 | 1850 |
Record Loss
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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 | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Sierra County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Sierra 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 | 11,387 | — |
| 1870 | 5,619 | −50.7% |
| 1880 | 6,623 | 17.9% |
| 1890 | 5,051 | −23.7% |
| 1900 | 4,017 | −20.5% |
| 1910 | 4,098 | 2.0% |
| 1920 | 1,783 | −56.5% |
| 1930 | 2,422 | 35.8% |
| 1940 | 3,025 | 24.9% |
| 1950 | 2,410 | −20.3% |
| 1960 | 2,247 | −6.8% |
| 1970 | 2,365 | 5.3% |
| 1980 | 3,073 | 29.9% |
| 1990 | 3,318 | 8.0% |
| 2000 | 3,555 | 7.1% |
| 2010 | 3,240 | −8.9% |
| 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
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
No Funeral Homes were found in this county.
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, Sierra 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 Sierra County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
- Sierra County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Sierra County History Records (Genealogy Trails)
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 Sierra County for emigrant settlers included:[8][9]
- 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.
- Henness Pass Road 1850 branched off the Truckee Trail at Verdi, Nevada headed for Camptonville and steamboat service at Marysville, California. In 1860 it became a major route to the Comstock Lode silver mines in Nevada.
- 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
- 1883 Sierra County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War
- 1886 Civil War Veterans, South Mountain Post No. 117, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)
Regiments. Civil War service men in Sierra 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:
- - 8th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company I
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
- 1917-1918 Information from Draft Registration Cards, World War I, Sierra County, California (USGenWeb Archives)
World War II
- World War II Army Enlistees, Sierra County (USGenWeb Archives)
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
- California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a collection of digitized Reno, Nevada newspapers going back to 1870 that may include residents from Sierra County. This database is sometimes free at libraries.
Obituaries
- Sierra County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Sierra County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 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($)
- Early Sierra County Births (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
- Early Sierra County Marriages (USGenWeb Archives)
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 Sierra 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
- Portola California FamilySearch Center
- Reno Nevada FamilySearch Center
- Doris Foley Library for Historical Research Nevada County Library - an affiliate library
- Truckee Meadows Community College - Elizabeth Sturm Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Sierra County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Sierra County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Sierra County Historical Society
P.O. Box 260
100 Kentucky Mine Road
Sierra City, CA 96125
Phone: 530-862-1310
Website
Facebook
Sierra Madre Historical Society
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 202
Sierra Madre, CA 91025-0202
Phone: (626) 321-7735
Email: Info.at.SMHPS@gmail.com
Website
Websites
- Sierra County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- Sierra County, California Genealogy Trails
- Sierra 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
- Sierra Research Guide at California State Library
References
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sierra County, California," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sierra_County,_California&oldid=1215740388 (accessed April 5, 2024).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Sierra 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), Sierra 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#SIERRA
- ↑ 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, "Sierra County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_County,_California#Communities, accessed 24 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).