Solano County Genealogy Records

Genealogy records for Solano County document families in the northern Bay Area since 1850. The Assessor-Recorder office in Fairfield maintains vital records including birth and death certificates for events in the county and marriage licenses issued here. With over 447,000 residents, Solano County sits between Sacramento and San Francisco. Early records date to California statehood when Solano became one of the original twenty seven counties. Researchers can access genealogy records through the Fairfield office, online systems, or mail requests. Pre-1905 records are incomplete due to voluntary registration before statewide requirements took effect.

Solano County Assessor-Recorder Office

The Solano County Assessor-Recorder serves as the primary source for genealogy records. This office keeps birth and death certificates for events that occurred locally and marriage records for licenses issued in Solano County. The recorder office operates from the county administration building in Fairfield.

Records go back to 1850 when Solano County was formed. The county name honors Chief Solano, a Native American leader who allied with early Mexican settlers. Early vital records are sparse since California had no statewide registration until 1905 and did not require it until 1915. Many births and deaths from the 1850s through 1910s were never recorded. Genealogy researchers should expect gaps in early records.

Staff can search electronic databases for recent records and microfilm or paper indexes for older records. The county has modernized many systems to improve access. Bring detailed information when visiting to speed up searches for genealogy records.

Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates

Birth certificates show a child's name, birth date and place, parents' names and ages, and other family information. Death records include the deceased person's name, death date, age, birthplace, parents' names, and often cause of death. Marriage records show both spouses with marriage date and location. These vital records form the foundation of genealogy research in Solano County.

Current fees are thirty one dollars for birth certificates, twenty six dollars for death certificates, and nineteen dollars for marriage certificates. These prices cover one certified copy. Genealogy researchers should request informational copies rather than certified copies. Informational copies work perfectly for family history and do not require notarized sworn statements. Both copy types cost the same.

To order a record, provide the person's full name, date of the event, and location within Solano County. Parents' names help for birth records. Additional details speed searches. Birth and death records take about three weeks to become available after the event is registered. Historical records are already on file.

The California Birth Index 1905-1995 on FamilySearch provides free access to state birth indexes. Use this to verify a Solano County birth occurred before paying for certificates. The index shows names, dates, and counties but not full certificate details.

How to Get Solano County Genealogy Records

Three methods exist to obtain vital records. Visit the Fairfield office during business hours. Bring photo ID and details about the record you need. Staff will search their systems and make copies if they find a match. In-person requests often receive same-day service when the office is not too busy.

Mail requests work for people who live far from Fairfield. Download application forms from the county website. Fill them out completely with all known information. Include payment by check or money order. Send to the Fairfield address. Processing takes one to two weeks once the county receives your request. The county keeps fees even if no record is found since fees cover search costs.

Online ordering through authorized vendors provides convenience. VitalChek and similar services accept credit cards and mail certificates. These vendors charge processing fees on top of county fees. Only use vendors linked from the official Solano County website. Unauthorized sites charge high fees for the same service.

Solano County Genealogy Resources

The Solano County Library system has genealogy materials at several branches. The Fairfield Civic Center Library has the largest collection with books, microfilm, and digital resources. Local history materials include city directories, newspapers, and family files. Library staff can guide genealogy researchers to relevant materials.

The Solano County Genealogical Society offers resources and support for local family history research. Members share knowledge about Solano County records and research strategies. The society maintains a research library and publishes guides to local resources. Meetings provide networking opportunities with other genealogy researchers.

Cemetery records provide valuable genealogy information. Solano County has many historic cemeteries including those in Fairfield, Vallejo, and Vacaville. Find A Grave indexes thousands of local burials with headstone photographs. Physical cemetery visits can reveal family plot arrangements and inscriptions with dates and relationships.

The California State Archives in Sacramento holds some Solano County records. Their collection includes county records transferred to state custody. Visit the archives or contact staff to learn what Solano County materials they have for genealogy research.

Solano County Historical Background

Solano County was one of California's original twenty seven counties created in 1850. The area had been part of Mexican California before statehood. Rancho land grants from the Mexican period shaped early settlement patterns. American settlers arrived during and after the Gold Rush, though Solano County itself had no major gold deposits.

Vallejo served as California's state capital briefly in 1852 and 1853. Fairfield became the permanent county seat in 1858. Agriculture dominated the economy with wheat and fruit orchards. The Mare Island Naval Shipyard brought military presence to Vallejo starting in 1854. This naval facility influenced county development for over a century.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake impacted Solano County less severely than areas closer to San Francisco. Most county records survived the disaster. Population grew steadily through the 1900s as the county industrialized and suburbanized. Modern Solano County serves as a bedroom community for Bay Area workers while maintaining agricultural roots.

Immigration patterns affected genealogy records. Portuguese, Italian, and Filipino families settled in Solano County. Each group left different types of records. Church records, fraternal organizations, and ethnic societies supplement official vital records for genealogy research.

Tips for Solano County Genealogy Research

Start with family knowledge. Talk to older relatives about names, dates, and places. Write everything down before memories fade. Work backward one generation at a time. Do not skip ahead to distant ancestors until you have solid connections through each generation in your Solano County genealogy research.

Check both county and state sources. The California Department of Public Health has records from 1905 forward. Solano County has some earlier records. If one source fails, try the other. Different filing systems mean one might have what the other lacks.

Use newspapers when vital records are missing. The California Digital Newspaper Collection includes Solano County newspapers from the 1800s forward. Obituaries, marriage notices, and local news provide family details not found in official records. Public libraries maintain additional newspaper archives on microfilm.

Consider military records for families connected to Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Personnel records, pension files, and military town populations create unique genealogy sources. The National Archives has military records that supplement local vital records for Solano County families with naval connections.