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Santa Clara County, California
Genealogy, History & Facts

Santa Clara County, California Facts

When was Santa Clara County, CA Created?
Santa Clara County was established on February 18, 1850.

What is the County Seat of Santa Clara County, CA?
The County Seat is located in San Jose also, the county government website is www.sccgov.org

What counties are adjacent to Santa Clara County, CA?
Bordering Counties are San Benito CountySanta Cruz County (south & southwest), San Mateo CountyAlameda CountyStanislaus CountyMerced County .

Santa Clara County, CA Vital Records

Where can find Santa Clara County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for California Birth CertificateMarriage or Divorce CertificateDeath Certificate Applications to mail.

Vital Records can also be found in the Local Registrar of Births and Deaths, 976 Lenzen Ave., Suite 1300, San Jose, CA 95126; Office (408) 885-2010

Santa Clara County, CA Census Records


What Santa Clara County, CA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Santa Clara County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1850186018701880 (free index)1890 (fragment)19001910192019301940.

Santa Clara Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Santa Clara Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Santa Clara 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.

Santa Clara County, CA Courthouse and Government Records

Santa Clara County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Santa Clara County Courthouse?

Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara 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.

  • Santa Clara County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: 191 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
    • Phone: (408)882-2700
  • Santa Clara County Recorder-Clerk
    • Address: County Government Center, East Wing, First Floor, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110
    • Phone: Office (408) 299-2481 (General), Office (408) 299-5669 (Recording)
    • Birth / Death Records: 1873
    • Marriage Records: 1846
    • Land Records: 1850
  • Santa Clara County Clerk of Superior Court
    • Probate Records: 1850
    • Court Records: 1850
  • Early California Wills
  • BLM Land Records

Santa Clara County, CA Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Santa Clara County, CA?
A list of Santa Clara County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Californiia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

Where can I connect with other Santa Clara County, CA Researchers through message boards and forums?

What other genealogical resources are available in Santa Clara County, CA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Santa Clara 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.

Santa Clara Co. CA Books, Newspapers & Publications

Santa Clara Co. CA Cemeteries & Church Records

Santa Clara Co. CA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Santa Clara Co. CA General and History Websites

Santa Clara Co. CA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Santa Clara Co. CA Military Records