Russell County Quick Facts

- Government Website: http://www.rcala.com/
- Created Date / Origin: 18 Dec. 1832 in the Creek Cession of 1832, from former Creek Indian territory.
- County Seat: Phenix City. (first county seat was established at Girard. The county seat was moved to Seale in 1868 and to Phenix City in the 1930s)
- Named After: Col. Gilbert C. Russell of Mobile, a U.S. military officer who fought in the Creek Wars
- Bordering Counties: Lee County (north), Muscogee County, GA (northeast), Chattahoochee County, GA (east), Stewart County, GA (southeast), Barbour County (south), Bullock County (southwest), Macon County (northwest).
- Cities & towns include: Glenville (unincorporated), Hurtsboro, Ladonia, Phenix City, Seale.
Russell County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Russell County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Russell County Historical Commission, 1040 Broad Street, Phenix City, AL 36867; 334-297-8225
- Phenix City Public Library, 334-297-1139
- ALRUSSEL. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Russell County, Alabama. To subscribe send “subscribe” to alrussel-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or alrussel-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Russell County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Russell County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Russell County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Russell County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Russell 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 Russell County court records.
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Russell county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
- Russell 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 518, PHENIX CITY, AL 36868-0518, Telephone:
- Phone: 334-298-0516
- Court Records: 1832
- 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)
- Russell 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 700, PHENIX CITY, AL 36868-0700
- Phone: 334-298-7979
- Marriage Records: 1828 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1832
- Land Records: 1832
- Russell County Revenue Commissioner’s Officemaintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Address: ?
- Phone: ?
- Russell County Health Department has Birth Records from 1934 , Death records from 1934. 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.
Russell County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Russell 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.
- Russell 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.
- Russell County, Alabama Books (amazon.com)
- Russell County Newspapers (usgwarchives.net)
- Alabama newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Russell County Obituaries (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Alabama
- Russell 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.
- Russell Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Alabama Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- Russell 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.
- Russell County Land & Deed Records (usgwarchives.net) Includes BLM Index, Slave & Indentured Servant Deeds
- Russell Co. AL Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Alabama
- Russell County, AL Census Records (census-online.com)
- Russell County, AL Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Russell County Census Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell 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.
- Russell Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Alabama
- Russell County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Russell Co., Alabama Graves (findagrave.com)
- Russell Co., Alabama Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Russell County Cemetery Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Russell County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Russell Co., Alabama Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Russell Co. AL Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Alabama
- Russell County Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Russell County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Autauga County Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell County, Alabama Church Books (amazon.com)
- Russell Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Russell County Biographies (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell County Pictures (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell Co. AL General and History Websites
- Russell County Alabama (genealogytrails.com)
- Russell County, Alabama Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Russell Co. Alabama Genealogy (genlady.com)
- Russell Co. Alabama Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Russell County History (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
- Russell County, Alabama (linkpendium.com) Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Alabama – Counties – Russell (cyndislist.com)
- Russell County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Russell Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Russell Co., AL Immigration & Naturalization
- Russell Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Alabama
- Russell County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Russell County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Russell 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.
- Russell County Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Russell Co., AL Schools & Directories
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