San Bernardino County, California Genealogy
San Bernardino County, California genealogy and family history research page. Identify links to record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you locate your own San Bernardino Co., ancestors. Get going by constructing a Free Family Tree.
San Bernardino County Quick Facts
- Government Website: http://www.sbcounty.gov/
- County Seat: San Bernardino
- Created Date / Origin: April 26, 1853 from Los Angeles County
- Boundary Changes:
- Most of San Bernardino County territory had been in San Diego County from 1850 to 1851 and then in Los Angeles County from 1851 to 1853 when it was moved to the new county.
- A smaller territory was in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1851, then in Los Angeles County from 1851 to 1853 when it was moved to San Bernardino County.
- A third territory had been in Los Angeles County from 1850 to 1853 when it was moved to the new county.
- Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1851, was in Los Angeles County from 1851 to 1878*, when it was added to San Bernardino County.
- Territory in Los Angeles County from 1850 to 1878* was added to San Bernardino County.
- Territory which at one time was in San Bernardino County is now in Inyo County and Riverside County
- Named After: Saint Bernard is the patron saint of mountain passes. The name Bernardino means “bold as a bear.” The Spanish gave the name San Bernardino to the snowcapped peak in southern California, in honor of the saint; from him the county derived its name.
- Bordering Counties: Inyo County (north), Clark County, Nevada (northeast), Mohave County, Arizona (east), La Paz County, Arizona (southeast), Riverside County (south), Orange County (southwest), Los Angeles County (west), Kern County (west)
- Cities & Towns: Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley
- CDPs ( census-designated place) Include Big Bear City, Big River, Bloomington, Bluewater, Crestline, Joshua Tree, Lake Arrowhead, Lenwood, Mentone, Morongo Valley, Mountain View Acres, Muscoy, Nebo Center, Running Springs, San Antonio Heights, Searles Valley, Twentynine Palms Base, Wrightwood.
- Other Communities: Amboy, Angelus Oaks, Baker, Blue Jay, Cadiz, Calico, Cima, Daggett, Devore, Essex, Fort Irwin, Goffs, Green Valley Lake, Halloran Springs, Helendale, Hinkley, Kelso, Landers, Lucerne Valley, Lytle Creek, Nipton, Phelan, Pinon Hills, Pioneertown, Rice, Sugarloaf, Sunfair, Sunfair Heights, Trona, Vidal, Yermo, Zzyzx
San Bernardino County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of San Bernardino County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also California Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- California State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- The Highland Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 353, Highland, CA 92346-0353; Meetings: 1st. Thursday of Jan, March, May, Sept, Nov. at 7:00 PM; Meetings are held at the Highland Senior Center, 3102 E. Highland Avenue.
- 29 Palms Historical Society and Museum 6760 National Park Drive, P.O. Box 1926, 29 Palms, California 92277; (760) 367-2366
- The Genealogical Society of the Morongo Basin, PO Box 234, Yucca Valley,CA 92286
- Mohave Historical Society, P.O. Box 21, Victorville, CA 92393
- Redlands Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 1024, Redlands, CA 92373; (909) 307-6060
- Redlands Chapter, California Society Sons of the American Revolution
- San Bernardino Valley Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 2128, San Bernardino, CA 92406
- Big Bear Lake History Museum, 630 Bartlett Road, CA ; (909) 585-8100
- Big Bear Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 513, Big Bear City, CA 92314; Phone: (909) 585-8100
- San Bernadino Historical and Pioneer Society, 796 North D Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401; (909) 885-2204
- San Bernardino Valley Genealogical Society, Feldheym Library, California Room, 555 W 6th St, P.O. Box 26020, San Bernardino 92406; 909.381.8201
- San Bernardino County, California Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in San Bernardino County
- San Bernardino County, California Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for San Bernardino County
- USGenWeb Archives for San Bernardino County (usgwarchives.net)
San Bernardino County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the advantages of San Bernardino County court, probate, and land files as a useful resource of genealogical details. Hidden away in California courthouses and archives everywhere tend to be the dreams and frustrations of the many California inhabitants.
The possibilities are great that your potential forefathers have left a detailed document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the San Bernardino County court records. Even if your ancestors is not mentioned in a Court case, contemplate all of the other methods that could have lead to her or him showing up in court records.
Courthouse History - After supervisors approved a $40,000 tax to construct a new Hall of Records in the late 1880s, south county residents voted to separate from San Bernardino and formed Riverside County in 1893. Undeterred, San Bernardino supervisors approved another tax to finance the construction of this Romanesque Revival building, which was demolished in 1928 after the construction of the current courthouse. The clock in this photo was removed and stored for more than 40 years until it was reinstalled in a new tower a half block from the site of the old courthouse.
Remember to get in touch with the clerk's dept to verify hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics prior to visiting or seeking information because of in some cases changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The data files are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. A good number of employees will assist persons in obtaining the materials, but it's up to the person to do the research.
Some counties encompass land settled in the eighteenth century; their records pre-date county formation. Land transactions and vital records recorded in the county are at the county recorder's office. The county clerk general has probate books and files from the county's superior court, civil court records, and naturalizations. Divorces may be in either place, depending on how filed.
The following facts indicates whatever marriage, birth, death, land, wills, and court records will be in San Bernardino County. The years indicated below are considered the first widely known records for this county. Land was added from Los Angeles County in 1878.
- San Bernardino County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk is s responsible for examination and recording of all documents presented for recording that deal with establishing ownership of land in the County or as required by statute; administers the real property transfer tax law and maintains a permanent record and indexes of all documents for public viewing plus providing certified copies requested by the public; recording of all lawful documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, judgments, liens, affidavits, Uniform Commercial Code Financial Statements, etc; and the filing of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
- Address: 222 West Hospitality Lane, First Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022
- Phone: 855-REC-CLRK
- Birth / Death Records: 1854 / 1873
- Marriage Records: 1854
- Land Records: 1854
- San Bernardino County Clerk of Superior Court has probate books and files from the county's superior court, civil court records, and naturalizations. Divorces may be here or in the Recorders Office, depending on how it was filed.
- Probate Records: 1856
- Court Records: 1853
- San Bernardino County County Treasurer / Tax Collector
- California Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. 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. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
California Historical Records - Databases include California Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; California Birth, Marriage & Death Records; California Voter Lists & Census Records; California Immigration & Emigration Records; California Obituary Records; California Military Records; California Family Tree Records; California Pictures; California Stories, Memories & Histories; California Directories & Member Lists and much more....
San Bernardino County Genealogy Links
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relevant to San Bernardino 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. Feel free to suggest your own preferred San Bernardino County genealogy or family history associated sites.
San Bernardino Co. CA Books, Newspapers & Publications
- See Also Statewide Newspapers, Books & Publications Links for California
- The Daily Report (Ontario, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- The Upland News (Upland, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- Montclair Tribune (Montclair, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, California) (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical Newspapers from California (1813 - 1978) (genealogybank.com) Easily identify names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements along with other items written in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. Completely new content added each month!
- San Bernardino County, California Books (amazon.com)
- California Newspapers
- Search California Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com) Over 28 million obituaries containing helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - 1,100 U.S. newspapers.
- San Bernardino County California Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
San Bernardino Co. CA Birth, Marriage & Death Records
San Bernardino Co. CA Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
San Bernardino Co. CA Census Records
San Bernardino Co. CA Cemeteries & Graveyards
San Bernardino Co. CA Church & Bible Records
San Bernardino Co. CA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- 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 Bernardino Co. CA General and History Websites
San Bernardino Co. CA Immigration & Naturalization
San Bernardino Co. CA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
San Bernardino Co. CA Military Records
San Bernardino Co. CA Schools & Directories