Tulare County, California Genealogy
Guide to Tulare 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
Tulare County was created 20 Apr 1852[1] and was named for Tulare Lake, which is named for the tule rush that lined its shores. Its county seat is Visalia. It is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Tulare County Courthouse
221 S. Mooney Blvd
Visalia, CA 93291
Phone: 559-730-5000
Tulare County Website
County Recorder has birth and marriage records from 1852, death records from 1873, mil rec from 1919.
Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate, court and naturalization records.
County Assessor has land records.[3]
Tulare 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 |
| 1852 | 1852 | 1873 | 1854 | 1854 | 1854 | 1850 |
Record Loss
|
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 | ||
| American Indian Communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California. Compiled by Myron Angle. Chicago, Illinois : Lewis Pub. Co., [1892?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
- History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California : with Biographical Sketches. By Eugene L. Menefee and Fred A. Dodge. Los Angeles, California : Historical Record Co., 1913. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
- Tulare County Biographical Index (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Tulare County Biographies (USGenWeb Archvies)
- Index to Biographical Resources, Tulare County (CAGenWeb Project)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- 1575-1990 California, Tulare County, Visalia Cemetery Records, 1875-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Census Records
For online censuses (state and federal) and for more information, see California Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 4,638 | — |
| 1870 | 4,533 | −2.3% |
| 1880 | 11,281 | 148.9% |
| 1890 | 24,574 | 117.8% |
| 1900 | 18,375 | −25.2% |
| 1910 | 35,440 | 92.9% |
| 1920 | 59,031 | 66.6% |
| 1930 | 77,442 | 31.2% |
| 1940 | 107,152 | 38.4% |
| 1950 | 149,264 | 39.3% |
| 1960 | 168,403 | 12.8% |
| 1970 | 188,322 | 11.8% |
| 1980 | 245,738 | 30.5% |
| 1990 | 311,921 | 26.9% |
| 2000 | 368,021 | 18.0% |
| 2010 | 442,179 | 20.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- Tulare 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
- Porterville
- Visalia
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Directories
- 1950 Polk's Tulare County, California, Directory, 1950 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1958 Polk's Tulare County, California, Directory, 1958 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
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
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Tulare County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
- A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California. Compiled by Myron Angle. Chicago, Illinois : Lewis Pub. Co., [1892?]. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
- History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California : with Biographical Sketches. By Eugene L. Menefee and Fred A. Dodge. Los Angeles, California : Historical Record Co., 1913. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
- History of Kern County, California : with Illustrations. San Francisco, California : Wallace W. Elliott, 1883. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library. Includes Tulare County, beginning p. 186.
- Tulare County History Books Excerpts (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
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
- 1798-1937 United States Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps, 1798-1937 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1856 The Indian War on the Tule River (Genealogy Trails)
Civil War
- 1883 Tulare County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1886 Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts in Tulare County (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 Tulare County, World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
- Tulare County, Honor List of World War II Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- Index to Tulare County Naturalization Records (CAGenWeb Project)
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
- Index to Tulare County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Tulare County Individual Obituaries and Obituary Collections (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Tulare County Obituary Sources (CAGenWeb Project)
Other Records
Voting Records
California county clerks were to keep voting registers every other year from 1866 and well into the 20th century. These large books, called Great Registers, listed the men who registered to vote in that county. Besides name and age, the record may show place of birth, address, occupation, naturalization date and sometimes even a physical description.
These records are at the California State Library (1866-1944), and microfilmed copies are available through FamilySearch Centers (1866-1910). Ancestry ($) has a searchable database of Los Angeles Great Registers from 1873-1896.
- 1869, 1890, and 1898 Voter Registers, 1869, 1890, and 1898 at RootsWeb
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 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.
- Index to Tulare 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($)
- Tulare County Birth Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)
Marriage
- 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 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($)
- 1960-1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
- Tulare 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($)
Divorce
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Tulare 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
- Fresno California East FamilySearch Center]
- Porterville California FamilySearch Center
- Visalia California FamilySearch Center
- Fresno County Public Library - an affiliate library
- Tulare Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Tulare County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Tulare County Library
200 W Oak Avenue
Visalia, CA 93291
Phone: 559-713-2700
Email: questions@tularecountylibrary.org
Website
Tulare Public (City) Library
475 N. M Street
Tulare, CA 93274
Phone: 559-685-4500
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Tulare County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Sequoia Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 820
Tulare, CA 93275
Phone: 559-685-4518
Email: sgstuleroots@gmail.com
Website
Supports and operates in the Genealogy Room at the Tulare Public (City) Library
Tulare County Historical Society
27000 South Mooney Boulevard
Visalia, CA 93277
Phone: 559-733-6616
Website
Websites
- Tulare County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- Tulare County, California Genealogy Trails
- Tulare 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
- Tulare Research Guide at California State Library
References
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Tulare County, California" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulare_County,_California 05/09/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tulare County, California. Page 88At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tulare 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, "Tulare County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulare_County,_California, accessed 27 September 2019.