Tulare County, California Records
Tulare County, California (Map It) was created on April 20, 1852 from Mariposa County . While hunting for deserters in 1772, Commandante Fages discovered a great lake surrounded by marshes and filled with rushes which he named Los Tules (the tules). It is from this lake that the county derives its name. The root of the name Tulare is found in the Mexican word tullin, designating cattail or similar reeds
Tulare County is bordered by Fresno County (north), Inyo County (east), Kings County (west), Kern County (south) .
Tulare County Cities and Towns include Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake .
Since its creation Tulare County boundries have changed to include these:
- Almost all of Tulare County was in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1852 when it was moved to the new county.
- A tiny territory in Mariposa County from 1850 to 1852, and in Tulare County from 1852 to 1856, was in Fresno County from 1856 to 1874 when it was returned to Tulare County.
- Territory which at one time was in Tulare County is now in Fresno County, Inyo County, Kern County, Kings County, Mono County, and San Luis Obispo County
Tulare County, California Courthouse Records
Tulare County, CA Courthouse
Old Tulare County Courthouse
The Tulare County Courthouse is located in Visalia, California. Learn More About State of California Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.
Courthouse History - Tulare's third courthouse, built on the site of the first and second, was considered one of the most beautiful in the state and used as a model for the courthouses in Fresno and Merced Counties. Damage sustained in a 1952 earthquake made the building unsafe, and it was demolished shortly after the courts and county offices found temporary housing in Visalia. The statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, on top of the dome was saved and today greets visitors to the county's historical museum.
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 Tulare 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.
- Tulare County Recorder-Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1852 / 1873, Marriage Records from 1852 and Land Records from 1854. 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.
- Tulare County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1854 and Court Records from 1854. 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.
- Tulare County County Treasurer / Tax Collector
- Local Registrar of Births and Deaths, 1150 South K Street, Tulare, CA 93274; Office (559) 687-6963
Tulare 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
Tulare 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.
Tulare County, California Resources
- Sequoia Genealogical Society
- Tulare County Historical Society
- Alta District Historical Society
- Tulare County, California Message Boards
Tulare County, California External Links
- California Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
- Tulare County, California Books - Amazon
- Tulare Co., California - FindaGrave
- California Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
- California Pioneer Project
- Tulare County History
- Tulare County, California Links - Cyndi's List
- Historical Newspapers from California (1813 - 1978)
- Tulare Co. CAGenweb
- Tulare County, California Ancestry Database Collections
- Tulare County, California Military Records
