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Santa Cruz 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
Santa Cruz County, California Facts
When was Santa Cruz County, CA Created?
Santa Cruz County was established on February 18, 1850.
What is the County Seat of Santa Cruz County, CA?
The County Seat is located in Santa Cruz also, the county government website is www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/
What counties are adjacent to Santa Cruz County, CA?
Bordering Counties are San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, San Benito County, Monterey County (southeast & south) .
Santa Cruz County, CA Vital Records
Where can find Santa Cruz County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Deaths, Office of Vital Records, 1430 Freedom Boulevard, Suite 101, Watsonville, CA 95076; Mail to: P. O. Box 962, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (831) 763-8430
- 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
Santa Cruz County, CA Census Records
What Santa Cruz County, CA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Santa Cruz County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Santa Cruz Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Santa Cruz Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County, CA Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Santa Cruz County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 701 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Phone: (831) 454-2060
- Santa Cruz County Recorder-Clerk
- Birth / Death Records: 1873
- Marriage Records: 1851
- Land Records: 1847 (Alcalde records included from 1779. See Land Records.)
- Santa Cruz County Clerk of Superior Court
- Probate Records: 1850
- Court Records: 1850
- Early California Wills
- BLM Land Records
Santa Cruz County, CA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Santa Cruz County, CA?
A list of Santa Cruz County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Californiia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County, PO Box 72, Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0072; (831) 427-7707, ext. 5794
- Art and History Museum of Santa Cruz, 705 Front Street, Downtown Santa Cruz
- Capitola Historical Museum, 410 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010; 831.464.0322
- Soquel Pioneer and Historical Association
- Pajaro Valley Historical Association, 332 East Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076; (831) 722-0305
- 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 Santa Cruz County, CA Researchers through message boards and forums?
- California Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- California State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Santa Cruz County, California Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Santa Cruz County, California Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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)
- Santa Cruz County, California Books (amazon.com)
- Search California Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Santa Cruz County California Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Santa Cruz Co. CA Cemeteries & Church Records
- Santa Cruz Co., California Graves (findagrave.com)
- Santa Cruz County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Santa Cruz Co., California Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Santa Cruz Co., California Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Santa Cruz County, California Church Books (amazon.com)
Santa Cruz 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.
Santa Cruz Co. CA General and History Websites
- See Also State History for California
- Amador County History (rootsweb.ancestry.com) HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 1891
- History of Santa Cruz County, California (search.ancestry.com)
- Santa Cruz County, California Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Santa Cruz County, California Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Santa Cruz Co. CA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Santa Cruz County, California (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – California – Counties – Santa Cruz (cyndislist.com)
- Santa Cruz County California (genealogytrails.com)
- Santa Cruz Co. CAGenweb (cagenweb.com)
- Santa Cruz County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Santa Cruz Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Santa Cruz Co. CA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of California Links and Information
- 1895 Santa Cruz County Map (livgenmi.com)
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.