CA RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
Modoc 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
Modoc County, California Facts
When was Modoc County, CA Created?
Modoc County was established on April 19, 1855 from Siskiyou County . This county derived its name from a fierce Indian tribe that lived at the Pit River headwaters. One historian suggests that the word modoc means “the head of the river.” Another states that the word is derived from the Klamath word moatakni meaning “southerners,” i.e., the people living south of the Klamath tribe.
What is the County Seat of Modoc County, CA?
The County Seat is located in Alturas also, the county government website is http://www.modoccounty.us/
What counties are adjacent to Modoc County, CA?
Bordering Counties are Lassen County, Shasta County, Siskiyou County, Klamath County, Oregon, Lake County, Oregon, Washoe County, Nevada.
Modoc County, CA Vital Records
Where can find Modoc County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Modoc 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 Modoc 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, 204 South Court Street, Alturas, CA 96101; Office (530) 233-6205
- 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
Modoc County, CA Census Records
What Modoc County, CA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Modoc County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Modoc Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Modoc Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Modoc Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890.
Another California census is the California State Census in 1852. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also California Census Records Research Guide.
Modoc County, CA Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Modoc County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Modoc 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 Modoc 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.
- Modoc County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 205 S East St, Alturas, CA 96101
- Phone: (530) 233-6515
- Modoc County Recorder-Clerk
- Address: 204 South Court Street, Room 107, Alturas, CA 96101-4020
- Phone: 530-233-6205
- Birth / Death Records: 1894 / 1882
- Marriage Records: 1874
- Land Records: 1874
- Modoc County Clerk of Superior Court
- Probate Records: 1874
- Court Records: 1874
- Early California Wills
- BLM Land Records
Modoc County, CA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Modoc County, CA?
A list of Modoc County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Californiia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Modoc County Historical Society & Museum, 600 South Main Street, Alturas, California – (530) 233-2944
- 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 Modoc County, CA Researchers through message boards and forums?
- California Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- California State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Modoc County, California Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Modoc County, California Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Modoc County, CA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Modoc 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.
Modoc 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)
- Modoc County, California Books (amazon.com)
- Search California Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Modoc County California Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Modoc Co. CA Cemeteries & Church Records
- Modoc Co., California Graves (findagrave.com)
- Modoc County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Modoc Co., California Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Modoc Co., California Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Modoc County, California Church Books (amazon.com)
Modoc 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.
Modoc Co. CA General and History Websites
- See Also State History for California
- Modoc County History (rootsweb.ancestry.com) A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California
- Great little Watertown : a tercentenary history (search.ancestry.com)
- Modoc County, California Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Modoc County, California Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Modoc Co. CA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Modoc County, California (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – California – Counties – Modoc (cyndislist.com)
- Modoc County California (genealogytrails.com)
- Modoc Co. CAGenweb (cagenweb.com)
- Modoc County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Modoc Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Modoc Co. CA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of California Links and Information
- 1895 Modoc County Map (livgenmi.com)
Modoc 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 Modoc County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.