Franklin County Quick Facts

- Government Website: http://www.franklincountyal.org
- Created Date / Origin: Feb. 6, 1818 out of the Cherokee Cession of 1816.
- County Seat: The county seat was originally located at Russellville, named after William Russell, an early settler and chief scout for Gen. Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian War of 1813-14. In 1849, the county seat was transferred to Frankfort, where it remained until 1879 when it was moved to Belgreen. A courthouse fire in 1890 probably accounted for the relocation of the county seat to Russellville in 1891.
- Named After: in honor of Benjamin Franklin
- Bordering Counties: Colbert County (north), Lawrence County (east), Winston County (southeast), Marion County (south), Itawamba County, Mississippi (southwest), Tishomingo County, Mississippi (northwest)
- Cities & towns include: Belk, Berry, Fayette, Glen Allen, Gu-Win, Winfield, Hubbertville, Bazemore
Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Franklin County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- ALFRANKL. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Franklin County, Alabama. To subscribe send “subscribe” to alfrankl-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or alfrankl-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- AL-NW-FRANKLIN. A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding Family Groups in NorthWestern Franklin County, Alabama, centered around the communities of Belgreen and Pleasant Site. The common family groups include Bolton, Bonds, Jones, Massey, Carpenter, McKinney, Strickland, Thorn, Horton, McAfee, McMurray, Chamblee, Gray, Petree, Hester, Ezzell, Malone and many related families. To subscribe send “subscribe” to al-nw-franklin-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or al-nw-franklin-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Franklin County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.org) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Franklin County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Franklin County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Franklin County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Franklin 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 Franklin County court records.
There was record loss due to a couthouse fire in 1890 .
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Franklin county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
- Franklin 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: 410 N. Jackson St, Russellville, AL 35653
- Phone: 256-332-1210
- Court Records: 1890
- 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)
- Franklin 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: P.O. Box 1438, Russellville, AL 35653
- Phone:(256) 332-1210
- Marriage Records: 1890 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1890
- Land Records: 1818
- Franklin County Revenue Commissioner’s Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Address: ?
- Phone: ?
- Franklin County Health Department has Birth Records from 1916 , Death records from 1892 . 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.
Franklin County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Franklin 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.
- Franklin 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.
- Franklin County, Alabama Books (amazon.com)
- Franklin County Newspapers (usgwarchives.org)
- Alabama newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Franklin County Obituaries (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Alabama
- Franklin 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.
- Franklin Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Alabama Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- Franklin 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.
- Franklin County Land & Deed Records (usgwarchives.org) Includes BLM Index, Slave & Indentured Servant Deeds
- Franklin Co. AL Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Alabama
- Franklin County, AL Census Records (census-online.com)
- Franklin County, AL Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Franklin County Census Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin 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.
- Franklin Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Alabama
- Franklin County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Franklin Co., Alabama Graves (findagrave.com)
- Franklin Co., Alabama Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Franklin County Cemetery Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Franklin County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Franklin Co., Alabama Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Franklin Co. AL Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Alabama
- Franklin County Church Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Franklin County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Autauga County Bible Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin County, Alabama Church Books (amazon.com)
- Franklin Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Franklin County Biographies (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin County Pictures (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin Co. AL General and History Websites
- Franklin County Alabama (genealogytrails.com)
- Franklin County, Alabama Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Franklin Co. Alabama Genealogy (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Franklin Co. Alabama Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Franklin County History (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin 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 – Franklin (cyndislist.com)
- Franklin County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Franklin Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Franklin Co., AL Immigration & Naturalization
- Franklin Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Alabama
- Franklin County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Franklin County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Franklin 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.
- Franklin County Military Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Franklin Co., AL Schools & Directories
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