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Imperial County, California
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Imperial County, California Facts
When was Imperial County, CA Created?
Imperial County was established on August 6, 1907 from San Diego County (was the last formed, the 58th of the existing 58 counties). This county derived its name from the Imperial Valley and is the “youngest” of California’s counties. The valley was named for the Imperial Land Company, a subsidiary of the California Development Company, which at the turn of the century had reclaimed the southern portion of the Colorado desert for agriculture.
What is the County Seat of Imperial County, CA?
The County Seat is located in El Centro also, the county government website is http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/
What counties are adjacent to Imperial County, CA?
Bordering Counties are Riverside County, Yuma County, Arizona, La Paz County, Arizona, San Diego County .
Imperial County, CA Vital Records
Where can find Imperial County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Imperial County vital records can be found at the California Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records from July 1905, marriage records that occurred from 1949-1986 and 1998-1999, divorce records that occurred between 1962 and June, 1984. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in California for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Imperial County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for California Birth Certificate, Marriage or Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
Vital Records can also be found in the Local Registrar of Births and Death, 935 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243; Office (760) 482-4438
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenweb Archives California Marriage Project
- California Birth Index 1905 to 1995 from the California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics
- California Birth Index, 1905-1995
- California Marriage Records 1960 to 1985 from the California Department of Health
- California, County Marriages, 1850-1952
- California Marriages, 1850-1877
- California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985
- California Divorce Index, 1966-1984
- Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011
- California Death Index 1940 to 1997
- California Death Index, 1940-1997
- California, World War I Death Announcements, 1918-1921
- California Biographical Collection: Responses to Vital Record Inquiries, 1822-1964
Imperial County, CA Census Records
What Imperial County, CA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Imperial County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also California Census Records Research Guide.
Imperial County, CA Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Imperial County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Imperial County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in California courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless California residents.
The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Imperial County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also California Corthouse Records Research Guide.
- Imperial County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 940 W. Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243
- Phone: (760) 482-4220
- Imperial County Recorder-Clerk
- Phone: (760) 482-4272
- Birth / Death Records: 1900
- Marriage Records: 1903
- Land Records: 1851
- Imperial County Clerk of Superior Court
- Probate Records: 1907
- Court Records: 1907
- Early California Wills
- BLM Land Records
Imperial County, CA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Imperial County, CA?
A list of Imperial County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Californiia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- IVC Desert Museum & Southeastern Information Center, PO Box 430, Ocotillo, CA 92259; Phone: (760) 358-7016
- Pioneers Museum and Cultural Center of the Imperial Valley, 373 East Aten Road, Imperial, Ca. 92251
- Imperial County Free Library System, 1125 Main Street, El Centro, California 92243; Phone: (760) 482-4791, Fax: (760) 482-4792
- California State Archives, Office of Secretary of State, 1020 O Street, Room 130, Sacramento, CA 95814
- California State Library, 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
- California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco 94105
- California Genealogical Society And Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland 94612-3017
Where can I connect with other Imperial County, CA Researchers through message boards and forums?
- California Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- California State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Imperial County, California Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Imperial County, California Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Imperial County, CA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Imperial County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a payment. This is basically a listing which has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site above another.
Imperial Co. CA Books, Newspapers & Publications
- California Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- California historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from California (1813 – 1978) (genealogybank.com)
- Imperial County, California Books (amazon.com)
- Search California Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Imperial County California Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Imperial Co. CA Cemeteries & Church Records
- Imperial Co., California Graves (findagrave.com)
- Imperial County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Imperial Co., California Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Imperial Co., California Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Imperial County, California Church Books (amazon.com)
Imperial Co. CA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- California Pioneer Project – The California Pioneer List (CPL) is a list of settlers to California who migrated to or were born in California prior to 1880 (included in the 1880 California Census) and obtained from those sent (e-mailed) directly from individuals doing genealogical research.
Imperial Co. CA General and History Websites
- See Also State History for California
- Imperial County History (rootsweb.ancestry.com) The History of Imperial County, California 1918
- The History of Imperial County, California (search.ancestry.com)
- Imperial County, California Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Imperial County, California Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Imperial Co. CA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Imperial County, California (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – California – Counties – Imperial (cyndislist.com)
- Imperial County California (genealogytrails.com)
- Imperial Co. CAGenweb (cagenweb.com)
- Imperial County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Imperial Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Imperial Co. CA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of California Links and Information
- 1895 Imperial County Map (livgenmi.com)
Imperial Co. CA Military Records
- California Military Records Research Guide
- California Military Records (fold3.com) gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the California individuals that served. Great for Imperial County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.