
NC RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
SPONSORS
Cherokee County,
North Carolina History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Cherokee County, North Carolina History
When was Cherokee County, NC Created?
Cherokee County was created on January 4, 1839 from Macon County.
What is the County Seat of Cherokee County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Murphy also, the county government website is www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov.
What counties are adjacent to Cherokee County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Graham County, Macon County, Clay County, Union County, Georgia, Fannin County, Georgia, Polk County, Tennessee, Monroe County, Tennessee .
Cherokee County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Cherokee County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Cherokee County vital records can be found at the North Carolina Department of Health which has copies of birth records after 1913 and death records after 1930, copies of marriage since Jan 1962 and a Divorce records since 1958. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in North Carolina for current fees and application process.
Birth, death and marriage certificates also may be obtained at the Cherokee County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Cherokee County clerk of court.
You can search online for Cherokee County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for North Carolina Birth Certificate, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificate Application to mail.
The North Carolina State Archives has the following vital records: Death Certificates, 1913-1975 (Statewide Index: 1913-1979); microfilmed Indexes to Births and Deaths (except Wake, Durham); Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 (not required by law); Cohabitation Records, 1866-1867; microfilmed Marriage Registers and Indexes; microfilmed Marriage Licenses for many of the counties See Also North Carolina Vital Records Research Guide
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Births & Deaths Records
- Social Security Death Index
- North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
- North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
- North Carolina, Death Collection, 1908-2004
Cherokee County, NC Census Records
What Cherokee County, NC census records are available?
County census records consists of Federal Census Schedules which can guide in looking into your family tree. Federal Population Schedules can be found for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Cherokee Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Cherokee Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Cherokee Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Cherokee County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Cherokee County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Cherokee County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in North Carolina courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless North Carolina residents. The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Cherokee County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also North Carolina Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Cherokee County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 75 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC 28906
- Phone: (828) 837-2522
- Cherokee County Register of Deeds
- Address: 53 Peachtree Street, Murphy, NC 28906
- Phone: (828) 837-2613
- Birth Records: 1913
- Marriage Records: 1837
- Death Records: 1913
- Land Records: 1838
- Cherokee County Clerk of Court
- Phone: (828) 837-2522
- Probate Records: 1848
- Court Records: 1846
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Cherokee County Tax Assessor / Collector
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Cherokee County Records
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Cherokee County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Cherokee County, NC?
A list of Cherokee County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2122, Asheville, NC 28802-2122
- North Carolina State Archives, Office of Archives and History—State Library Building; Public Services Branch, Mail Service Center 4614, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614 ; Phone: (919) 807-7310
- State Library of North Carolina, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807; (919) 733-7222, (919) 733-3270
- North Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Greenville, NC 27835
Where can I connect with other Cherokee County, NC Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- North Carolina Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of North Carolina Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Cherokee County
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Cherokee County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Cherokee County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a payment. This is merely a directory that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.
Cherokee Co. NC Books, Newspapers & Publications
- North Carolina Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- North Carolina historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 – 1977) (genealogybank.com)
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Cherokee Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Cherokee Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Cherokee County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Cherokee Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Cherokee Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Cherokee Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Cherokee Co. NC General and History Websites
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- A History of Cherokee County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Cherokee County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Cherokee Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Cherokee County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Cherokee (cyndislist.com)
- Cherokee County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Cherokee Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Cherokee County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Cherokee County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Cherokee Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Cherokee Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Cherokee Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2] – [Map 3] – [Thumbnail of Sheet Key]
- Map of Cherokee County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Cherokee County Map (livgenmi.com)
Cherokee Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Cherokee Co., NC GenWeb Archives Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- North Carolina Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the North Carolina women and men who served. Perfect for Cherokee County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Cherokee Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)