Inyo County, California Records

Inyo County, California (Map It) was created on March 22, 1866 from Mono County and Tulare County . Inyo County derived its name from the Indian name for the mountains in its area. The meaning of the word inyo is “dwelling place of the great spirit.”

Inyo County is bordered by San Bernardino County (south), Kern County (southwest), Tulare County (west), Fresno County (west), Mono County (north), Esmeralda County, Nevada (northeast), Nye County, Nevada (east), Clark County, Nevada (southeast). .

Inyo County Cities and Towns include Big Pine, Bishop, Calavada Springs, Cartago, Darwin, Deep Springs, Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek, Furnace Creek, Homewood Canyon, Independence, Keeler, Lone Pine, Mesa, Olancha, Pearsonville, Round Valley, Shoshone, Tecopa, Valley Wells, West Bishop, Wilkerson .

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

• Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1856, and in Fresno County from 1856 to 1861, was in Mono County from 1861 to 1870, when it was moved to Inyo County.
• Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1852, in Tulare County from 1852 to 1856, and in Fresno County from 1856 to 1861, was in Mono County from 1861 to 1870 when it was added to Inyo County.
• Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1852, in Tulare County from 1852 to 1856, and in Fresno County from 1856 to 1861, was in Mono County from 1861 to 1866 when it was moved to Inyo County.
• Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1852, and in Tulare County from 1852 to 1861, was in Mono County from 1861 to 1870, when it was added to Inyo County.
• Much of the county was in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1852, then in Tulare County from 1852 to 1866 when it was moved to Inyo County.
• Territory in San Diego County from 1850 to 1851, and in Mariposa County from 1851 to 1852, was in Tulare County from 1852 to 1866 when it was moved to Inyo County.
• Territory in San Diego County from 1850 to 1851, and in Los Angeles County from 1851 to 1853, was in San Bernardino County from 1853 to 1872, when it was added to Inyo County.
• Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1851, and in Los Angeles County from 1851 to 1853, was in San Bernardino County from 1853 to 1872, when it was added to Inyo County.
• Territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1851, and in Los Angeles County from 1851 to 1866, was in Kern County from 1866 to 1872 when it was added to Inyo County.

Inyo County, California Courthouse Records

The Inyo County Courthouse is located in Independence, California. Land was later added from counties Mono (1870), San Bernardino (1872), and Kern (1872). Courthouse was destroyed by an earthquake March 26, 1872. On June 30, 1886 a fire broke out in a vacant building in Independence and destroyed thirty-eight buildings. Although the county records and most of the furniture were saved, the courthouse was one of the buildings destroyed. Learn More About State of California Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Courthouse History - After three previous courthouses were lost to earthquake and fire, Inyo's fourth and current courthouse was built to resist both. The region's only example of monumental Neoclassical Revival public architecture, this courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 in recognition of its "integrity of feeling and association." It was here in Independence that 24 members of the Manson Family were jailed in 1969 for possession of stolen vehicles and property. Within days of his preliminary hearing, Charles Manson was indicted in the Tate murders and transferred to Los Angeles.

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 Inyo 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.

• Inyo County Recorder-Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1905, Marriage Records from 1873 and Land Records from 1866. 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.
• Inyo County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1866 and Court Records from 1866. 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.
• Inyo County County Treasurer / Tax Collector
• Local Registrar of Births and Deaths, 155 East Market Street, Mail to: P.O. Drawer H, Independence, CA 93526; Office (760) 878-0242

Inyo County, California Census Records

• Learn More: State of California Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 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: 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Inyo 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.

Inyo County, California Resources

• Bishop Museum & Historical Society
• Friends of the Eastern California Museum
• Searles Valley Historical Society
• Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert
• Pioneers of Inyo County
• Inyo County, California Message Boards

Inyo County, California External Links

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