Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Colbert County, Alabama ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Colbert County, Alabama | |
| Map | |
 Location of Alabama in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | February 6, 1867 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Tuscumbia |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Colbert County Courthouse 201 North Main Street Tuscumbia, AL 35674 Phone:(205) 386-8512 Colbert County Website |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 History
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 6 Societies and Libraries
- 7 Websites
- 8 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Colbert County, Alabama Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Census | Land | Probate |
| 1881 | 1867 | 1881 | 1830 | 1867 | 1867 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Probate Judge has marriage records from 1877 land records from early 1800s
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records [2]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named named in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. The County has Tuscumbia as it's seat and the County was created February 6, 1867. [3]The County is located in the northwest area of the state.[4]
History[edit | edit source]
Colbert County was created on 6 February 1867, out of part of Franklin County. It was abolished 29 November of 1867, re-established 24 January 1870.
Parent County[edit | edit source]
1867--Colbert County was created 6 February 1867 from part of Franklin County.
County seat: Tuscumbia [5]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy begins on page 103.
- Colbert County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project - free.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site has additional information on Colbert county cemeteries.
- Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.
- Pickwick Landing Reservoir Cemeteries Douthat, James L. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press.
- Additional Colbert County cemeteries are included in Alabama Cemetery Records Vol. 1 and Vol. 4 at FamilySearch Books Online - free.
Census[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy census records online, see: Alabama Census.
| Colbert County, Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 12,537 | — |
| 1880 | 16,153 | 28.8% |
| 1890 | 20,189 | 25.0% |
| 1900 | 22,341 | 10.7% |
| 1910 | 24,802 | 11.0% |
| 1920 | 31,997 | 29.0% |
| 1930 | 29,860 | −6.7% |
| 1940 | 34,093 | 14.2% |
| 1950 | 39,561 | 16.0% |
| 1960 | 46,506 | 17.6% |
| 1970 | 49,632 | 6.7% |
| 1980 | 54,519 | 9.8% |
| 1990 | 51,666 | −5.2% |
| 2000 | 54,984 | 6.4% |
| 2010 | 54,428 | −1.0% |
| Sources: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. through 1960 | ||
State Census
- 1866 - Alabama State Census, 1866 at FamilySearch — index
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Alabama denominations, view the Alabama Church Records wiki page.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Colbert County, Alabama Online Historical Directories - identifies historical city, county, business and other directories available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Alabama Land and Property for additional information about early Alabama land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Clary, Martin. The Facts about Muscle Shoals. New York: Ocean Pub. Co., 1924. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
- Leftwich, Nina. Two Hundred Years at Muscle Shoals: Being an Authentic History of Colbert County, 1700-1900: With Special Emphasis on the Stirring Events of the Early Times. Tuscumbia, Ala., 1935. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Maps[edit | edit source]
Military [edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Civil War service men from Colbert County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Colbert County.
- - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Roddy's), Company C
Online Records
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1907, 1921, 1927 - Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch — images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Finding More Alabama Newspapers[edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
- Valley Leaves. 1966–. Published by the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1568, Huntsville, Alabama 35807. FHL Book 976.19 B2v. Website identifies articles relating to Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy (click "Search by County").
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry $
- 1809 – 1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985 at FamilySearch
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
- Inventory of the County Archives of Alabama: Colbert County. Birmingham, Ala.: The Survey, 1939. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Taxation[edit | edit source]
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Alabama State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama. See also How to order Alabama Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1881 – 1930 Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
- 1870-1872, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1870-1872, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1809 – 1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch
- 1816 – 1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch
- 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1809 – 1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry $
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $ Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
- 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $ Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
- 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
- 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
- 1908-1974 - Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free
- 1881 – 1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch
- 1908 – 1974 Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch
- 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $
- 1908 – 1959 Alabama Deaths, 1908-59 at Ancestry $
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Colbert County has two books listed, but only Book 1 is accessible at this time.
Societies and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 1568
Huntsville, Alabama
35807
Publication: Valley Leaves
Website
Natchez Trace Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 420
Florence, AL
35631
Publication: Natchez Trace Traveler
Website
Tennessee Valley Historical Society
P. O. Box 149
Sheffield, AL
35660
Publication: Journal of Muscle Shoals History
Website
Colbert Florence/Lauderdale Public Library
256-764-6564
Website
Sheffield Public Library
256-386-5633
Family History Centers
[edit | edit source]
Family history centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Colbert County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
- Colbert County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, Revised ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992), 13-28. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 1992
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Colbert County p. 36. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/colbert/ 06/02/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Colbert, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colbert_County,_Alabama 06/02/2017.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
