Tehama County Genealogy and Vital Records

Genealogy records for Tehama County document families in Northern California's Sacramento Valley since 1856. The Clerk and Recorder office in Red Bluff maintains vital records for births, deaths, and marriages occurring in this rural county. With about 65,000 residents, Tehama County stretches from the valley floor to mountain forests. Records from pioneer ranching days through modern times trace families who worked cattle, sheep, and timber operations. Researchers can access genealogy records through the Red Bluff office, mail requests, or online systems. Early records are incomplete due to voluntary registration before mandatory laws took effect in 1915.

Tehama County Clerk and Recorder

The Tehama County Clerk and Recorder serves as the primary source for genealogy records. This office keeps birth and death certificates for events in the county and marriage records for licenses issued here. The recorder operates from the county courthouse in Red Bluff, the county seat since 1857.

Records date back to 1856 when Tehama County was carved from parts of Colusa, Butte, and Shasta Counties. Early vital records are sparse since California had no statewide registration until 1905 and did not require it until 1915. Many births and deaths went unrecorded. Genealogy researchers should expect gaps in records from the 1850s through 1910s.

Staff can search electronic databases and older microfilm records. The small county size means personalized service. Bring detailed information when visiting to speed record searches for genealogy purposes.

Birth, Death, and Marriage Records

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 usually cause of death. Marriage records show both spouses with marriage date and location. These vital records help genealogy researchers document family lines across generations.

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 for family history and do not require notarized statements. Both copy types cost the same.

To order a record, provide the person's full name, date of the event, and location within Tehama 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 provides free access to state birth indexes. Use this to verify a Tehama County birth occurred before ordering certificates. The index shows names, dates, and counties but not full certificate details.

How to Order Tehama County Genealogy Records

Three methods exist to obtain vital records. Visit the Red Bluff office during business hours. Bring photo ID and details about the record you want. 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 Red Bluff. Download application forms from the county website or call to have them mailed to you. Fill out forms completely with all known information. Include payment by check or money order. Send to the Red Bluff address. Processing takes one to two weeks once the county receives your request.

Online ordering through authorized vendors provides convenience for genealogy researchers. 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 Tehama County website. The county keeps fees even if no record is found since fees cover search costs.

Tehama County Genealogy Resources

The Tehama County Library system has genealogy materials at several branches. The Red Bluff Library has the largest collection with books and digital resources. Local history materials include newspapers and family files. Library staff can guide genealogy researchers to relevant materials about Tehama County families.

The Kelly-Griggs House Museum in Red Bluff has historical archives relevant to genealogy research. Their collection includes photographs, maps, and documents about Tehama County history. The museum focuses on Victorian era families and local communities from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Cemetery records provide valuable information for family history. Tehama County has many small cemeteries scattered across ranches and rural areas. The Oak Hill Cemetery in Red Bluff dates to pioneer days. Find A Grave indexes many local burials with headstone photographs. Physical cemetery visits can reveal family information not captured online.

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

Tehama County History and Records

Tehama County was created in 1856 from parts of three existing counties. The county name comes from Tehama, a Mexican land grant in the area. Red Bluff became the county seat in 1857 and remains so today. Early settlers raised cattle and sheep on vast ranches. The Sacramento Valley's southern end provided good grazing land.

The California and Oregon Railroad reached Red Bluff in 1870, improving transportation and spurring growth. Timber operations in the mountain areas supplemented valley ranching. Small farms planted wheat and later orchards. Irrigation systems brought water to valley lands in the early 1900s.

Population remained relatively stable compared to urban California counties. The rural character attracted families seeking ranch and farm life. Modern Tehama County maintains this agricultural and timber economy. Recent genealogy records are more complete than those from pioneer times due to modern record-keeping systems.

Native American tribes lived in Tehama County for thousands of years before European contact. Few records document these early populations. Spanish and Mexican period records are minimal. Most genealogy records begin with American settlement in the 1850s and later.

Tips for Tehama County Genealogy Research

Start with family knowledge. Talk to older relatives about names, dates, and places. Write everything down. Work backward one generation at a time. Do not skip ahead to distant ancestors until you have solid connections through each generation of your family tree.

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

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

Consider ranch and land records for rural families. Property deeds, brand registrations, and grazing permits help document family locations and activities. The California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 governs vital records access. These property records supplement vital records to build complete family histories in this ranching county.