Santa Barbara County, California Records

Santa Barbara County, California (Map It) was created on February 18, 1850 as one of the original 27 counties . Santa Barbara County was named for the city of Santa Barbara, itself Spanish for Saint Barbara

Santa Barbara County is bordered by San Luis Obispo County (north), Kern County (northeast), Ventura County (east) .

Santa Barbara County Cities and Towns include Ballard, Buellton, Carpinteria, Casmalia, Cuyama, Garey, Gaviota, Goleta, Guadalupe, Hollister Ranch, Hope Ranch, Isla Vista, Lompoc, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Mission Canyon, Mission Hills, Montecito, New Cuyama, Orcutt, Painted Cave, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Sisquoc, Solvang, Summerland, Toro Canyon, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Vandenberg Village, Ventucopa .

Since its creation Santa Barbara County boundries have changed to include these:

• Most of Santa Barbara County has been in the county since 1850.
• Territory in Santa Barbara County from 1850 to 1851, was in San Luis Obispo County 1851 from 1851 to 1852 when it was returned to Santa Barbara County.
• Territory in Santa Barbara County from 1850 to 1854, was in San Luis Obispo County from 1854 to 1872 when it was returned to Santa Barbara County.
• Territory was in San Luis Obispo County from 1850 to 1872 when it was added to Santa Barbara County.
• Territory which at one time was in Santa Barbara County is now in Los Angeles County, San Luis Obispo County, and Ventura County.

Santa Barbara County, California Courthouse Records

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is located in Santa Barbara, California. Land was added from San Louis Obispo County in 1852 and 1872. Learn More About State of California Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Courthouse History - Once the pride of Victorian Santa Barbara, by the 1920s the Greek Revival courthouse was overwhelmed by the growth of the county and out of step with the region's Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial architectural movements. A 1925 earthquake settled the question of what to do with the old courthouse, and by 1929 Santa Barbara had a new Spanish-style courthouse that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Above the entrance to the current courthouse is the inscription "God Gave Us the Country, the Skill of Man Hath Built the Town."

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 Santa Barbara 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.

• Santa Barbara County Recorder-Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1859 / 1873, Marriage Records from 1850 and Land Records from 1844. 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.
• Santa Barbara County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1854 and Court Records from 1850. 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.
• Santa Barbara County County Treasurer / Tax Collector
• Local Registrar of Births and Deaths, 345 Camino Del Remedio, Santa Barbara, CA 93110; Office (805) 681-5150, 5151

Santa Barbara County, California Census Records

• Learn More: State of California Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• State Population Schedules: 1852, Voter Registers, 1866-1898, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Santa Barbara 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.

Santa Barbara County, California Resources

• Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
• Santa Barbara County, California Message Boards

Santa Barbara County, California External Links

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