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

- Government Website: http://www.etowahcounty.org/
- Created Date / Origin: Dec. 7, 1866, and was formed from Blount County, Calhoun County, Cherokee County, Dekalb County, Marshall County, and St. Clair County. Originally named Baine County, it abolished on Dec. 1, 1868 by the Constitutional Convention and re-established on the same day, under the name of Etowah
- County Seat: Gadsden is the county seat, named after Col. James Gadsden, distinguished soldier, diplomat, and railroad president.
- Named After: Baine County in honor of Gen. David W. Baine, a Confederate soldier from Lowndes County. Etowah County, which is from the Cherokee language.
- Bordering Counties: DeKalb County (north), Cherokee County (east), Calhoun County (southeast), St. Clair County (southwest), Blount County (west), Marshall County (northwest).
- Cities & towns include: Altoona, Attalla, Boaz, Gadsden, Gallant (unincorporated), Glencoe, Hokes Bluff, Mountainboro, Ohatchee, Rainbow City, Reece City, Ridgeville, Sardis City, Southside, Walnut Grove.
Etowah County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Etowah County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Etowah County Historical Society, PO Box 8131, Gadsden, Al 35901
- ALETOWAH. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Etowah County, Alabama. To subscribe send “subscribe” to aletowah-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or aletoway-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Etowah County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Etowah County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Etowah County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Etowah County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Etowah 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 Etowah County court records.
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Etowah county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
- Etowah 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: P.O. Box 18, Gadsden, AL 35902
- Phone: (256) 549-5342
- Court Records: 1867
- 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)
- Etowah 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: 800 Forrest Avenue, Gadsden, AL 35901-3641
- Phone: (256) 546-2821
- Marriage Records: 1867 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1867
- Land Records: 1867
- Etowah Revenue Commissioner’s Officemaintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Address: 800 Forrest Avenue , Gadsden, AL 35901
- Phone: (256) 549-8114
- Etowah County Health Department has Birth Records from 1894 , Daeth records from 1898. 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.
Etowah County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Etowah 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.
- Etowah 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.
- Etowah County, Alabama Books (amazon.com)
- Etowah County Newspapers (usgwarchives.net)
- Alabama newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Etowah County Obituaries (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Alabama
- Etowah County Vital Records (usgwarchives.net) 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.
- Etowah Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Alabama Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- Etowah County Court Records (usgwarchives.net) 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.
- Etowah County Land & Deed Records (usgwarchives.net) Includes BLM Index, Slave & Indentured Servant Deeds
- Etowah Co. AL Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Alabama
- Etowah County, AL Census Records (census-online.com)
- Etowah County, AL Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Etowah County Census Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah 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.
- Etowah Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Alabama
- Etowah County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Etowah Co., Alabama Graves (findagrave.com)
- Etowah Co., Alabama Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Etowah County Cemetery Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Etowah County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Etowah Co., Alabama Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Etowah Co. AL Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Alabama
- Etowah County Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Etowah County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Autauga County Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah County, Alabama Church Books (amazon.com)
- Etowah Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Etowah County Biographies (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah County Pictures (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah Co. AL General and History Websites
- Etowah County Alabama (genealogytrails.com)
- Etowah County, Alabama Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Etowah Co. Alabama Genealogy (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Etowah Co. Alabama Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Etowah County History (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah 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 – Etowah (cyndislist.com)
- Etowah County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Etowah Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Etowah Co., AL Immigration & Naturalization
- Etowah Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Alabama
- Etowah County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Etowah County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Etowah 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.
- Etowah County Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Etowah Co., AL Schools & Directories
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