Jefferson County Quick Facts

- Government Website: http://jeffconline.jccal.org/
- Created Date / Origin: Dec. 13 1819 it was formed from Blount County
- County Seat: Carrollsville from 1819-21, at Elyton from 1821-73, and since 1873 has been at Birmingham, which was named for England’s iron and steel center in Warwickshire.
- Named After: Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), 3rd U.S. President
- Bordering Counties: Blount County (north), St. Clair County (northeast and east), Shelby County (south and southeast), Bibb County (southwest (a very short boundary), Tuscaloosa County (west and southwest), Walkery County (northwest and north).
- Cities & towns include: Adamsville, Adger, Alton, Argo, Avondale, Bessemer, Birmingham, Brighton, Brookside, Cahaba Heights, Cardiff, Center Point, Chalkville, Clay, Concord, County Line, Dolomite, Edgewater, Ensley, Ezra, Fairfield, Forestdale, Fultondale, Gardendale, Grayson Valley, Graysville, Helena, Homewood, Hoover, Hueytown, Irondale, Kimberly, Leeds, Lipscomb, Maytown, McCalla, McDonald Chapel, Midfield, Minor, Morris, Mount Olive, Mountain Brook, Mulga, North Johns, Oak Grove, Pinson, Pleasant Grove, Pratt City , Providence, Rock Creek, Sandusky, Shady Grove, Ala., Shannon, Southside, Smithfield, Sumiton, Sylvan Springs, Tarrant, Trafford, Trussville, Valley Creek, Vestavia Hills, Warrior, West Jefferson, Woodlawn, Wylam.
Jefferson County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Birmingham Public Library, (Tutwiler Collection), 205-226-3665
- Birmingham Genealogical Society, Box 2432, Birmingham, AL 35201; Publication: Pioneer Trails
- Birmingham Historical Society, 1 Sloss Quarters, Birmingham, AL 35222; Publication: Birmingham Historical Society Journal
- Hueytown Historical Society, P.O. Box 3313, Hueytown, AL 35023
- Jefferson County Historical Commission, 571 Landmark Center, 2100 First Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, 205-324-0988
- Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society, P.O. Box 130285, Birmingham, AL 35213-0285
- Roebuck Springs Historic Preservation Society, 504 Valley Rd., Birmingham, AL 35206
- West Jefferson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 184, Bessemer, Alabama 35021-0184; (205) 426-1633
- Alabama Genealogical Society, Inc. (Depository and Headquarters) Samford University Library, 800 Lakeshore Drive, P.O. Box 2296, Birmingham, AL 35229-0001 EMAIL
- ALJEFFER. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Jefferson County, Alabama.To subscribe send “subscribe” to aljeffer-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or aljeffer-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- AL-RUHEASTL. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in the Ruhama Baptist Church, East Lake area, Jefferson County, Alabama. To subscribe send “subscribe” to al-ruheastl-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or al-ruheastl-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Jefferson County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.org) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Jefferson County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Jefferson County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Jefferson County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Jefferson 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 Jefferson County court records.
There was record loss due to a couthouse fire in 1870 .
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Jefferson county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
- Jefferson 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: 716 N. 21st St., Birmingham, AL 35263-0001
- Phone: (205) 325-5300
- Court Records: 1826
- 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)
- Jefferson 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: 716 North 21st Street, Birmingham, AL 35263
- Phone: (205) 325-5512
- Marriage Records: 1818 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1819
- Land Records: 1819
- Jefferson Tax Assessor’s Officemaintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Address: ?
- Phone: ?
- Jefferson County Health Department has Birth Records from (Partial)1871, 1882, Death records from (Partial)1871, 1882 . . 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.
Jefferson County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Jefferson 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.
- Jefferson 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.
- Jefferson County, Alabama Books (amazon.com)
- Jefferson County Newspapers (usgwarchives.org)
- Alabama newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Jefferson County Obituaries (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Alabama
- Jefferson 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.
- Jefferson Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Alabama Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- Jefferson 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.
- Jefferson County Land & Deed Records (usgwarchives.org) Includes BLM Index, Slave & Indentured Servant Deeds
- Jefferson Co. AL Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Alabama
- Jefferson County, AL Census Records (census-online.com)
- Jefferson County, AL Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Jefferson County Census Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson 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.
- Jefferson Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Alabama
- Jefferson County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Jefferson Co., Alabama Graves (findagrave.com)
- Jefferson Co., Alabama Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Jefferson County Cemetery Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Jefferson County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Jefferson Co., Alabama Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Jefferson Co. AL Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Alabama
- Jefferson County Church Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Jefferson County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Autauga County Bible Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson County, Alabama Church Books (amazon.com)
- Jefferson Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Jefferson County Biographies (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson County Pictures (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson Co. AL General and History Websites
- Jefferson County Alabama (genealogytrails.com)
- Jefferson County, Alabama Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Jefferson Co. Alabama Genealogy (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Jefferson Co. Alabama Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Jefferson County History (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
- Jefferson County, Alabama (linkpendium.com) Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Alabama – Counties – Jefferson (cyndislist.com)
- Jefferson County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Jefferson Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Jefferson Co., AL Immigration & Naturalization
- Jefferson Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Alabama
- Jefferson County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Jefferson County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Jefferson 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.
- Jefferson County Military Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Jefferson Co., AL Schools & Directories
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