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San Mateo 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
San Mateo County, California Facts
When was San Mateo County, CA Created?
San Mateo County was established on April 19, 1856 from the southern portion of San Francisco County . This county bears the Spanish name for Saint Matthew. As a place name, St. Matthew appears as early as 1776, and the arroyo, the point and the settlement at the unofficial San Mateo Mission are all so designated on the early maps. Until about 1850, the name appeared as San Matheo. .
What is the County Seat of San Mateo County, CA?
The County Seat is located in Redwood City also, the county government website is www.co.sanmateo.ca.us
What counties are adjacent to San Mateo County, CA?
Bordering Counties are San Francisco County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County
San Mateo County, CA Vital Records
Where can find San Mateo County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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, 225 West 37th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403; Office (650) 573-2395
- California, San Mateo County Records, 1856-1967
- 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
San Mateo County, CA Census Records
What San Mateo County, CA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for San Mateo 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.
San Mateo Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. San Mateo Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1860, 1870 and 1880. San Mateo 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.
San Mateo County, CA Courthouse and Government Records
San Mateo County CourthouseWhat genealogical records can I find in the San Mateo County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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.
- San Mateo County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063-1665
- Phone: (650) 363-4302
- San Mateo County Recorder-Clerk
- Address: 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063-1665
- Phone: (650) 363-4500
- Birth / Death Records: 1865
- Marriage Records: 1853
- Land Records: 1856
- San Mateo County Clerk of Superior Court
- Probate Records: 1856
- Court Records: 1871
- Early California Wills
- BLM Land Records
San Mateo County, CA Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for San Mateo County, CA?
A list of San Mateo County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Californiia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- San Mateo County Genealogical Society, PO Box 5569, Redwood City, CA 94063-5569; Phone: 650.306.3423
- Belmont Historical Society, 1225 Ralston Avenue Belmont, CA 94002-1902
- Burlingame Historical Society, PO Box 144, Burlingame CA 94011
- Millbrae Historical Society, P.O. Box 511, 420 Poplar Avenue, Millbrae, CA 94030; (650) 692-5786
- San Mateo History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063; Phone: 650.299.0104
- San Mateo County Historical Association, 777 Hamilton Street, Redwood City, CA 94063
- Spanishtown Historical Society, 505 Johnston Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019; (650) 726-7084
- 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 San Mateo County, CA Researchers through message boards and forums?
- California Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- California State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- San Mateo County, California Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- San Mateo County, California Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in San Mateo County, CA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to San Mateo 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.
San Mateo Co. CA Books, Newspapers & Publications
- California Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Times (San Mateo, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- San Mateo Times And Daily News Leader (San Mateo, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- San Mateo Times (San Mateo, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- Post (San Mateo, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical Newspapers from California (1813 – 1978) (genealogybank.com)
- San Mateo County, California Books (amazon.com)
- Search California Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- San Mateo County California Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
San Mateo Co. CA Cemeteries & Church Records
- California, San Mateo County, Colma, Italian Cemetery Records (familysearch.org)
- San Mateo Co., California Graves (findagrave.com)
- San Mateo County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- San Mateo Co., California Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- San Mateo Co., California Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- San Mateo County, California Church Books (amazon.com)
San Mateo 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.
San Mateo Co. CA General and History Websites
- See Also State History for California
- History of San Mateo County, California (search.ancestry.com)
- Peninsula community book : (San Mateo County, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- History of San Mateo County : from the earliest times, with a description of its resources and advantages, and the biographies (search.ancestry.com)
- San Mateo County, California Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- San Mateo County, California Wiki (familysearch.org)
- San Mateo Co. CA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- San Mateo County, California (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – California – Counties – San Mateo (cyndislist.com)
- San Mateo County California (genealogytrails.com)
- San Mateo Co. CAGenweb (cagenweb.com)
- San Mateo County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- San Mateo Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
San Mateo Co. CA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of California Links and Information
- 1895 San Mateo County Map (livgenmi.com)
San Mateo 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 San Mateo County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
