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Alabama Genealogy

Alabama Genealogy Facts

Alabama’s history as a state began in 1819 when delegates gathered in a cabinetmaker’s shop in Huntsville to write the Alabama Constitution. In 1819 construction began on what was later to be called Fort Morgan at Mobile Point.

  • Alabama became a Territory on 3 March 1817
  • Alabama entered the union as a state on 14 December 1819 as the 22nd state.
  • It has 67 Counties.
  • Alabama has had five capitals during its history. The first was the territorial capital in St. Stephens in 1817, followed by the state convention in Huntsville in 1819, then the first “permanent” capital in Cahaba in 1820. It was then moved to Tuscaloosa in 1826, until moving to its current location in Montgomery in 1846.
  • It is bordered by Florida (south), Georgia (east), Mississippi (west) and Tennessee (north).
  • It has a land area of 52,423 square miles making it the 30th largest state.
  • The 2010 population was 4,779,736.
  • The  largest cities (2010) are Birmingham (231,483), Montgomery (200,127), Mobile (191,544), Huntsville (166,313), Tuscaloosa (81,358), Hoover (67,469), Dothan (62,713), Decatur (54,909), Auburn (49,928), Gadsden (37,405). [All pop. number are as of 2005].
  • The State name  is dirived from the Alabama River by early European explorers and named “Alibamu” after the local Indian tribe.
  • The State Nickname is Heart of Dixie, “Yellowhammer State”.
  • The State Motto is “Audemus jura nostra defendere” – We Dare Defend Our Rights.
  • Washington County is the oldest county of Alabama which was created on June 4, 1800 and Houston County is the youngest which was created on February 9, 1903.

Alabama County Genealogy

Alabama County records vary widely from county to county in both quality and quantity. Some have been carefully preserved while others have been much abused and neglected.

Some Alabama records have simply disappeared. Other scattered records are now preserved by the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the University of Alabama Library, and the Samford University Library.

Each County Page includes genealogy and Family History information and addresses for County Court Records , Probate Records, Land Records, Tax Records, County Census Records, Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records, Death Records, Cemeteries, Graveyards, Church & Bible Records.

For genealogists doing research in Alabama there is no effective replace for an on-site search of county courthouse records. County level records have not yet been centralized. No single county’s records have been significantly abstracted or transcribed, making a courthouse visit essential.

Select a County Below

Alabama contains some counties that no longer exist because they were discontinued, renamed or merged with another county. These are important for genealogy research purposes. Those counties are:

  • Benton County: (Formed 1832 from former Creek Indian territory and named for Colonel Thomas Hart Benton. Renamed Calhoun County in 1858, honor of John C. Calhoun of South Carolina)
  • Jones County, Alabama: (Formed 1867, renamed Sanford County in 1868, Renamed Lamar County in 1877)
  • Hancock County: (Formed 1850, renamed Winston County in 1858)
  • Sanford County: (Formed in 1867 as Jones County, renamed Sanford County in 1868, renamed Lamar County in 1877)
  • Cahawba County: (Renamed Bibb County in 1820)
  • Baine County (renamed Etowah County in 1868)
  • Baker County (renamed Chilton County in 1874)

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Alabama Genealogy Links

See Alabama County Genealogy for County Links. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.

Alabama State History

Coming Soon

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