Stanislaus County, California Genealogy
Guide to Stanislaus 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[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Stanislaus County was created 5 Apr 1854[1] and was named for the Estanislao River, which in turn was named in honor of Estanislao, a mission-educated renegade Native American chief who led a band of Native Americans in a series of battles against Mexican troops until finally being defeated by General Mariano Vallejo in 1826. Its county seat is Modesto. It is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Stanislaus County Courthouse
800 11th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-530-3100
Stanislaus County Website
County Clerk Recorder has marriage records from 1870 birth and death records from 1900.
Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1854.
County Recorder has land records from 1854.[3]
Stanislaus County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 |
| 1900 | 1870 | 1900 | 1854 | 1854 | 1854 | 1850 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- 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.
- Stanislaus County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Stanislaus County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For online censuses (state and federal) and for more information, see California Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 2,245 | — |
| 1870 | 6,499 | 189.5% |
| 1880 | 8,751 | 34.7% |
| 1890 | 10,040 | 14.7% |
| 1900 | 9,550 | −4.9% |
| 1910 | 22,522 | 135.8% |
| 1920 | 43,557 | 93.4% |
| 1930 | 56,641 | 30.0% |
| 1940 | 74,866 | 32.2% |
| 1950 | 127,231 | 69.9% |
| 1960 | 157,294 | 23.6% |
| 1970 | 194,506 | 23.7% |
| 1980 | 265,900 | 36.7% |
| 1990 | 370,522 | 39.3% |
| 2000 | 446,997 | 20.6% |
| 2010 | 514,453 | 15.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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
- Modesto
- Oakdale
- Turlock
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1941 Modesto and Turlock, Stanislaus County, California, City Directory, 1941 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1942 Modesto and Turlock, Stanislaus County, California, City Directory, 1942 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1958 Modesto, Stanislaus County, California, City Directory, 1958 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[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
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Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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
- 1854-1904 Records of Deeds, 1854-1902, with Indexes to Grantors and Grantees, 1854-1898, and Homesteads, 1860-1904(*); Stanislaus County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Stanislaus County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Stanislaus County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War
- Civil War Veterans, Grant Post No. 9, 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 Stanislaus County, World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
- Stanislaus County, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Newspapers.net
- Rootsweb.com
- Stanislaus County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Stanislaus County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Stanislaus County Contributed Obituaries (CAGenWeb Project)
- Stanislaus County, California Old Obituaries Page (CAGenWeb Project)
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. They may give the decedent's date of death, names and residences of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, and others. For online records and more information, see California Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 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 Stanislaus County Marriages (Genealogy Trails)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Stanislaus County. For state-wide facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
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
- Modesto California FamilySearch Center
- Modesto California North FamilySearch Center
- Stockton California FamilySearch Center
- Turlock California FamilySearch Center
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Stanislaus County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Stanislaus County Library
1500 I St
Modesto, CA 95354
Website
The library's catalog is online. The library subscribes to a number of online databases. The Special Collections room at the Modesto Library includes works on genealogy.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Stanislaus County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
McHenry Museum and Historical Society
1402 I Street
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-577-5235
Website
Genealogical Society of Stanislaus County
P.O. Box 1352
Modesto, CA 95352-1352
Website
Patterson Township Historical Society
PO Box 15
Patterson, CA 95363
Phone: (209) 480-2088
Email: pths.org@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- 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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Stanislaus County, California," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stanislaus_County,_California&oldid=1215740844 (accessed April 7, 2024).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Stanislaus 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), Stanislaus 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Stanislaus County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislaus_County,_California#Communities, accessed 25 September 2019.