Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: San Diego County Recorder Declarations of Homestead
Dates: 1860-1931
Collection Number: RCC/OFR07
Creator/Collector:
San Diego County (Calif.). Office of County Recorder
Extent: 13.2 cubic feet (18 oversize boxes)
Repository:
San Diego County Archives
Abstract: Declarations of Homestead provide evidence of property settlement in San Diego County, especially in the early years of California’s
US statehood, and date from 1860-1931. These documents relate to the Homestead Act (1862-1976), which allowed the settlement
of hundreds of millions of acres of land by Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Language of Material: English
Access
Please contact the San Diego County Archives staff at archives@sdcounty.ca.gov for access information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. San Diego County Recorder Declarations of Homestead. Collection Number: RCC/OFR07. San Diego County
Archives
Scope and Content of Collection
Declarations of Homestead provide evidence of property settlement in San Diego County, especially in the early years of California’s
US statehood. The documents relate to the Homestead Act (1862-1976), which allowed the settlement of hundreds of millions
of acres of land by Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Declarations of homestead are divided into two series:
Indexes to Declarations of homestead (1860-1931) and Declarations of homestead (1860-1931).
Series 1, Indexes to Declarations of Homesteads, consists of two volumes. The first is a disbound volume recorded chronologically
at the time of recordation. The second, more complete volume is bound. This volume was transcribed and consolidated with later
Declarations, having great temporal breadth, and is arranged alphabetically by last name. Both volumes note the date, book,
and page number where the Declaration of Homestead is recorded. Few have other notes, including separate property, abandonment,
wife of, homestead, error, etc.
Series 2, Declaration of Homestead, consists of 16 disbound volumes. A Declaration of Homestead is a recorded document providing
a narrative assertation by an adult living in/on unclaimed land specified in the document. These Declarations include the
name and marital status of the person filing the declaration, the boundaries of the land being homesteaded, the family’s intention
to reside on said land, and a valuation of the cash value of the property. The date of recording is also present. Records
are arranged chronologically by date of recording.
Indexing Terms
Land settlement--California
Land titles--Registration and transfer--California--San Diego County
Real property--California--San Diego County
San Diego County (Calif.)
Indexes (reference sources)