Nevada County, California Records

Nevada County, California (Map It) was created on April 25, 1851 from Yuba County . Nevada County was named for the mining town of Nevada City, a name derived from the term “Sierra Nevada.” The word nevada in Spanish means “snowy” or “snowcovered.”

Nevada County is bordered by Placer County (south), Yuba County (west), Sierra County (north), Washoe County, Nevada (east) .

Nevada County Cities and Towns include  Grass Valley, Truckee, Nevada City .

Since its creation Nevada County boundries have changed to include these:

• Most of Nevada County was in Yuba County from 1850 to 1851 when it was separated to create Nevada County.
• Territory was in Yuba County from 1850 to 1852 when it was added to Nevada County.
• Territory in Yuba County from 1850 to 1852 was in Sierra County from 1852 to 1856, when it was added to Nevada County.

Nevada County, California Courthouse Records

The Nevada County Courthouse is located in Nevada City, California. Land was added from counties Yuba (1852) and Sierra (1856). The first courthouse was damaged by fire in 1856. Fire again damaged the courthouse in 1863. Learn More About State of California Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Courthouse History - The first courthouse on this site in Nevada City was built in 1856, damaged by fire the same year, and then rebuilt. When fire again damaged the courthouse in 1863, a new courthouse was built on the same site. The lobby of the building, which was extensively remodeled in the 1930s and given an Art Deco façade, houses a collection of photographs of the courthouse as well as other exhibits. It remains in use.

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research. Some early court records from the various courts may have been sent to the California State Archives. Besides court minutes and judgements, these records include tax lists, wills, deeds, estate inventories, and marriage bonds. The California State Archives has microfilm of selected county records, 1850–1919.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Nevada county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk. 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.

• Nevada County Recorder-Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1873, Marriage Records from 1856 and Land Records from 1856. The 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.
• Nevada County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1856 and Court Records from 1856. The 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.
• Nevada County County Treasurer / Tax Collector
• Local Registrar of Births and Deaths, 500 Crown Point Circle, Suite 110, Grass Valley, CA 95945; Office (530) 265-7264

Nevada County, California Census Records

• Learn More: State of California Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• State Population Schedules: Voter Registers, 1866-1898, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Nevada County, California Vital Records

• Learn More: State of California Vital Records
• Birth Records: from July 1905 to present.
• Marriage Records: Indexes from 1949-1986 and 1998-1999.
• Death Records: from July 1905 to present. See Local County Recorder
• Divorce Records: from 1962 and June, 1984. See local County Circuit or County Chancery Clerk.
• Locations: California Department of Public Health, Vital Records, – MS 5103, 1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814; PH (916) 445-1719 or (916) 445-2684
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail:  Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications.

Nevada County, California Resources

• Nevada County Genealogical Society
• Nevada County Historical Society
• Truckee-Donner Histsorical Society
• Searls Library (Archive of Nevada County)
• Doris Foley Library for Historical Research, 211 N. Pine Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
• Nevada County, California Message Boards

Nevada County, California External Links

• California Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Nevada County, California Books - Amazon
• Nevada Co., California - FindaGrave
• California Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
• California Pioneer Project
• Nevada County History
• Nevada County, California Links - Cyndi's List
• Historical Newspapers from California (1813 - 1978)
• Nevada Co. CAGenweb
• Nevada County, California Ancestry Database Collections
• Nevada County, California Military Records