Washington County, Alabama genealogy and family history research page. Find links to record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you trace your Washington Co., ancestors.
Washington County Quick Facts
- Government Website: http://www.washingtoncountyalgov.com/
- Created Date / Origin: June 4, 1800, as a county of the Mississippi Territory. Its area originally contained 26,400 square miles. The area of Washington County was later divided into 16 Mississippi counties and 29 Alabama counties.
- County Seat: Chatom (Early county seats included McIntosh’s Bluff, Wakefield and St. Stephens)
- Named After: George Washington (1732–1799), 1st U.S. President
- Bordering Counties: Choctaw County (north), Clarke County (east), Baldwin County (southeast), Mobile County (south), Greene County, Mississippi (southwest), Wayne County, Mississippi (northwest).
- Cities & towns include: Chatom, Deer Park, Fruitdale, Leroy, Saint Stephens, Wagarville, McIntosh, Millry, Vinegar Bend, Tibbie, Hobson.
Washington County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Washington County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Washington County Alabama Historical & Genealogical Society, PO Box 456, Chatom, AL 36518; Publication: Washington County Ancestry
- ALWASHIN. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Washington County, Alabama. To subscribe send "subscribe" to alwashin-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or alwashin-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- AL-GULF-COAST. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in the Alabama gulf coast counties of Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, and Butler. To subscribe send "subscribe" to al-gulf-coast-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or al-gulf-coast-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Washington County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.org) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Washington County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Washington County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Washington County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Washington 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 Washington County court records.
Please call the clerk’s department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. Even if your ancestor is not mentioned in a Court case, consider all of the other procedures which could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Washington county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
- Washington 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 549, Chatom, AL 36518-0146
- Phone: (334) 847-2208
- Court Records: ?
- 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)
- Washington 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 549, Chatom, AL 36518
- Phone: (334) 847-2201
- Marriage Records: 1802 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1820
- Land Records: 1796
- Washington County Revenue Commissioner’s Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Address: ?
- Phone: ?
- Washington County Health Department has Birth Records from 1908, Death records from 1908. You may go to any county health department in 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.
Alabama Historical Records – Databases include Alabama Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Alabama Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Alabama Voter Lists & Census Records; Alabama Immigration & Emigration Records; Alabama Obituary Records; Alabama Military Records; Alabama Family Tree Records; Alabama Pictures; Alabama Stories, Memories & Histories; Alabama Directories & Member Lists and much more….
Washington County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Washington 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.
- Washington 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.
- Washington County, Alabama Books (amazon.com)
- Washington County Newspapers (usgwarchives.org)
- Alabama newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Washington County Obituaries (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Alabama
- Washington 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.
- Washington Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Alabama Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- Washington 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.
- Washington County Land & Deed Records (usgwarchives.org) Includes BLM Index, Slave & Indentured Servant Deeds
- Washington Co. AL Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Alabama
- Washington County, AL Census Records (census-online.com)
- Washington County, AL Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Washington County Census Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington 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.
- Washington Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Alabama
- Washington County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Washington Co., Alabama Graves (findagrave.com)
- Washington Co., Alabama Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Washington County Cemetery Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Washington County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Washington Co., Alabama Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Washington Co. AL Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Alabama
- Washington County Church Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Washington County, Alabama (topozone.com)
- Autauga County Bible Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington County, Alabama Church Books (amazon.com)
- Washington Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Washington County Biographies (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington County Pictures (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington Co. AL General and History Websites
- Washington County Alabama (genealogytrails.com)
- Washington County, Alabama Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Washington Co. Alabama Genealogy (theusgenweb.org)
- Washington Co. Alabama Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Washington County History (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
- Washington County, Alabama (linkpendium.com) Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Alabama – Counties – Washington (cyndislist.com)
- Washington County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Washington Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Washington Co., AL Immigration & Naturalization
- Washington Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Alabama
- Washington County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Washington County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Washington 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.
- Washington County Military Records (usgwarchives.org)
- Washington Co., AL Schools & Directories
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