Cherokee County, Alabama genealogy and family history research page. Find links to record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you trace your Cherokee Co., ancestors.
Cherokee County Quick Facts

- Government Website: http://www.cherokeecounty-al.gov/
- Created Date / Origin: Jan. 9, 1836 and was formed from the Creek Cession of 1835
- County Seat: Centre. For the first ten years, the residents of Cherokee County quarrelled over the location of a county seat. In 1837, the AL legislature authorized the seat of county government to be established at Cedar Bluff. In 1844 an election was held and the county seat was moved to the town of Centre.
- Named After: Cherokee Indians, who ceded the land that now comprises the county to the Federal government by the treaty of New Echota, Dec. 29, 1835.
- Bordering Counties: DeKalb County (north), Chattooga County, GA (northeast), Floyd County, GA (east), Polk County, GA (southeast), Cleburne County (south), Calhoun County (south), Etowah County (west)
- Cities & towns include: Cedar Bluff, Centre (County seat), Collinsville, Gaylesville, Leesburg, Piedmont, Sand Rock
Cherokee County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Cherokee County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Coosa River Valley Historical and Genealogical Society, PO Box 295, Centre, AL 35960
- Cherokee County Genealogical Society, Box 90, Spring Garden, AL 36275,Newsletter approx every 3 months
- Centre Library, Phone 256-927-5838
- Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society, Box 8268 , Gadsden, AL 35902; Publication: Northeast Alabama Settlers
- ALCHEROK. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Cherokee County, Alabama. To subscribe send “subscribe” to alcherok-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or alcherok-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Cherokee County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.org) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Cherokee County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Cherokee County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Cherokee County court, probate, and land records as a source of genealogy and family history information. Buried away in Alabama courthouses and archives everywhere are the dreams and frustrations of many Alabama citizens. The chances are great that your ancestors have left a detailed record of at least some aspects of their lives in the Cherokee County court records.
There was record loss due to a couthouse fire in 1882 and 1895 .
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Cherokee county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
- Cherokee County Clerk of Circuit Court serves as custodian of all county court records, and is responsible for providing access to those court records by court personnel, the legal community and the public.
- Address: Main Street, Centre, AL 35960
- Phone: (256) 927-3363, (256) 927-3378
- Court Records: 1882
- Divorce Records: are maintained among the equity records (Divorces issued prior to 1950 are located here. Divorces issued after 1950 can be found at the Alabama Department of Public Health)
- Cherokee County Clerk of Probate Court maintains following records in the probate office: Plats, Maps, Judgments, Liens, Deeds, Mortgages, Corporations, Lis pendens, Marriage licenses, Military discharges. The Probate Judge presides over all probate court hearings for Probate of Wills, Administrations, Conservators, Guardianships, Adoptions, Legitimations, Name changes, Condemnations, Mental Commitment hearings, and performs marriage ceremonies.
- Address: Main Street, Centre, AL 35960.
- Phone: (256) 927-3363, (256) 927-3378
- Marriage Records: 1882 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1882
- Land Records:1882
- Cherokee County Assessor’s Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Address: ?
- Phone: ?
- Cherokee County Health Department has Birth Records from 1908, Death record from 1908. You may go to any county health departmentin the State of Alabama to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait.
- Alabama Department of Public Health has Birth And Death Records from 1908, Marriages from 1936 and Divorce Records from 1950
- Ordering Vital Records – You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.
Cherokee County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Cherokee County. 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.
- Cherokee Co. AL Books, Newspapers & Publications
- See Also Statewide Newspapers, Books & Publications Links for Alabama
- Historical Newspapers from Alabama (1864 – 1922) (genealogybank.com) Has exclusive newspaper archive for family genealogy research provides information on millions of American families from 1690–today.
- Cherokee County, Alabama Books (amazon.com)
- Cherokee County Newspapers (usgwarchives.org)
- Alabama newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Cherokee County Obituaries (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Alabama
- Cherokee County Vital Records (usgwarchives.org) Births, Marriages, Deaths & Social Security
- Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com) Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research.
- Cherokee Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Alabama Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- Cherokee County Court Records (usgwarchives.org) Including All Courts, Admins, Estate, Probate, Guardianship & Slave Records
- BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)covers the State of Alabama. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
- Cherokee County Land & Deed Records (usgwarchives.org) Includes BLM Index, Slave & Indentured Servant Deeds
- Cherokee Co. AL Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Alabama
- Cherokee County, AL Census Records (census-online.com)
- Cherokee County, AL Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Cherokee County Census Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee County Census Records (search.ancestry.com)Learn where your ancestors lived, who lived in the household, ages, places of birth, occupation, actual images of the Federal Censusrs and more.
- Cherokee Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Alabama
- Cherokee County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Cherokee Co., Alabama Graves (findagrave.com)
- Cherokee Co., Alabama Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Cherokee County Cemetery Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Cherokee County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Cherokee Co., Alabama Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Cherokee Co. AL Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Alabama
- Cherokee County Church Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Cherokee County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Autauga County Bible Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee County, Alabama Church Books (amazon.com)
- Cherokee Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Cherokee County Biographies (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee County Pictures (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee Co. AL General and History Websites
- Cherokee County Alabama (genealogytrails.com)
- Cherokee County, Alabama Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Cherokee Co. Alabama Genealogy (algw.org)
- Cherokee Co. Alabama Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Cherokee County History (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
- Baldwin County, Alabama (linkpendium.com) Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Alabama – Counties – Cherokee (cyndislist.com)
- Cherokee County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Cherokee Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Cherokee Co., AL Immigration & Naturalization
- Cherokee Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Alabama
- Cherokee County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Cherokee County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Cherokee Co. AL Military Records
- See Also Statewide Military Links for Alabama
- Alabama Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Alabama men and women who served. Perfect for genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
- Cherokee County Military Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Cherokee Co., AL Schools & Directories
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