Placer County Land Claim Records, 1852-1876

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Placer County Clerk-Recorder
Abstract:
Extent:
5 Volumes, one box of loose pages
Language:
Preferred citation:

Placer County Land Claim Records. Placer County Archives

Background

Scope and content:

The Placer County Land Claims Collection includes five bound volumes and one box. The Land Claims contain the name of the claimant, the date notice was filed and date it was recorded, the boundaries of the property, the number of acres, a surveyor’s name and occasionally a diagram of the property claimed.

Biographical / historical:

The Gold Rush of 1848-49 brought thousands of hopeful miners to what would become Placer County. Although miners were notorious for moving about in search of better gold fields, this area was settled early in the Gold Rush by farmers, merchants, bankers, and tradesmen. Placer County was formed in 1851 and official record keeping began. Many of the Land Claims in this collection are Pre-emptive or Squatter’s Rights claims. Many properties in early Placer County had been settled before an organized government was in place. Land Claims and Pre-emptive Claims allowed those who had settled and improved their property to legally claim it.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The Collection is open for research by appointment. A separate index has been created for the volumes A, B and C and is available at the Archives. Appointment times are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 9-3.

Preferred citation:

Placer County Land Claim Records. Placer County Archives

Location of this collection:
101 Maple Street
Auburn, CA 95603, US
Contact:
(530) 889-7789