Simi Valley Genealogy Records

Simi Valley genealogy research relies on Ventura County vital records and local historical collections to trace family roots. Birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses for Simi Valley residents are processed through county offices in Ventura. The city developed from a ranching valley into a residential community beginning in the 1960s. Earlier generations lived on ranches and farms that dominated the valley landscape. Ventura County has maintained records for the Simi Valley area since the county's formation in 1873, providing a continuous trail for family historians to follow back through multiple generations.

Ventura County Vital Records

Ventura County maintains birth, death, and marriage records for Simi Valley and all county communities. The County Clerk-Recorder office in Ventura processes vital record requests. Birth certificates cost thirty one dollars. Death records are twenty six dollars. Marriage certificates run nineteen dollars per copy.

The county provides in person service at their Ventura office. Mail requests work for those unable to visit. Online ordering adds convenience with additional processing fees. Most applications process within one to two weeks. The office maintains records from 1873 when Ventura County separated from Santa Barbara County.

Before 1873, check Santa Barbara County for Simi Valley records. The valley was part of Santa Barbara County until Ventura County formed. Marriage records exist for licenses issued in Ventura County. Search under the county that issued the license, not where the ceremony occurred, if those differ.

Simi Valley Public Library History

The Simi Valley Public Library maintains local history materials including city directories, newspapers, and photographs. These resources help researchers trace families through the valley's transformation from agricultural to residential. High school yearbooks document students and families from Simi Valley High School and later schools.

Newspaper collections include local publications covering Simi Valley news. Obituaries provide death dates, survivors, and burial information. The library offers access to genealogy databases for in library use. Library staff can suggest resources and research strategies for those new to genealogy or local history.

The library collection includes materials about ranch life and early valley settlement. Many families worked on the large ranches that dominated the area before suburban development. Understanding this agricultural heritage helps place ancestors in historical context. Maps and photographs show how the valley landscape changed dramatically in the twentieth century.

Simi Valley Historical Society

The Simi Valley Historical Society preserves documents and artifacts related to valley history. Their collection includes ranch records, family papers, photographs, and oral histories. The society operates a museum documenting the valley's evolution from Native American settlement through modern times.

Ranch employment records sometimes list workers and families. School records show students who attended valley schools before consolidation. The society maintains cemetery transcriptions for valley burial grounds. Researchers can contact the society to inquire about specific families or topics.

The society publishes historical works and maintains a research library. Many materials are unique to their collection and exist nowhere else. Visiting the archives may reveal unexpected details about Simi Valley ancestors. The society welcomes researchers and provides guidance on local resources.

State and Regional Archives

The California State Archives holds Ventura County records supplementing local collections. Census schedules list Simi Valley households from 1880 forward. Earlier census records show scattered ranches in the valley. Probate files and court records document family relationships and property.

The Southern California Genealogical Society library in Burbank serves Ventura County researchers. Their collection includes published family histories, county records, and genealogical society publications. The society offers research services and educational programs for genealogists tracing Southern California families.

University archives may hold manuscript collections relevant to Simi Valley history. Land grant papers, rancho records, and business materials sometimes survive in academic libraries. These collections extend beyond immediate geographic boundaries and may document valley families.

Church Records and Burial Information

Simi Valley churches maintain historical records supplementing county vital records. Catholic parishes kept baptism, marriage, and death registers. Protestant congregations also have historical materials. Contact churches directly for access to their records or ask about diocesan archives.

Simi Valley cemeteries include the old Simi Valley Pioneer Cemetery and newer memorial parks. Cemetery records list burial dates and plot locations. Cemetery offices can search their databases for specific individuals. Online databases like Find A Grave include many Simi Valley burials with photographs and transcriptions.

Some early valley families are buried in Los Angeles County or Ventura County cemeteries outside Simi Valley. Ranch families sometimes had private burial grounds on their property. Understanding settlement patterns helps locate ancestors in appropriate cemeteries.

Note: Development displaced some early burial grounds; records may be incomplete for these sites.

Simi Valley Research Tips

Start with Ventura County vital records. Order informational copies for genealogy purposes. These work for family history research and do not require notarized forms. Use birth records to identify parents. Death certificates show birthplaces. Marriage records list both sets of parents. Build family groups systematically from these documents.

Remember that Simi Valley incorporated only in 1969. Before that, the area was unincorporated Ventura County. Search for "Simi" or "Simi Valley" in historical records. Census records may list families as living in Ventura County without specifying Simi. City directories and maps help identify valley boundaries in different time periods.

Check ranch records if ancestors worked in agriculture. Large ranches like the Strathearn and Simi ranches employed families who lived on the properties. Ranch records may survive in historical society collections or private archives. Land ownership records show who controlled valley property before suburban development.

Explore connections to neighboring communities. Some families lived in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, or other Ventura County areas. Others came from Los Angeles County. Regional migration patterns mean checking multiple locations may reveal family movements. All Ventura County residents use the same county offices for vital records.

Related Research Locations

Simi Valley is part of Ventura County along with Thousand Oaks and Ventura. These communities share county resources and similar development histories. The Southern California Genealogical Society library in Burbank serves researchers from throughout the region. All vital records for Ventura County communities are processed through the same county offices.