Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy

United States

Alabama

Colbert County

Guide to Colbert County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Alabama Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Tuscumbia Organized: February 6, 1867 Parent County(s): Franklin Neighboring Counties Franklin  • Lauderdale  • Lawrence  • Tishomingo (MS) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

The County was named in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs.The county is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse

Colbert County Courthouse
201 N Main St, Civil Office
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
Phone: 256-386-8511
Fax: 256-386-8505
Colbert County Website

Probate Judge has marriage records from 1877 land records from about 1867
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records

Colbert County, Alabama Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1881	1867	1881	1867	1867	1861	1816
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1908. General compliance for births by 1927 and for deaths 1925.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

1867--Colbert County was created 6 February 1867 from part of Franklin County. County seat: Tuscumbia Interactive Map of Alabama County Formation History (1799-1980) - animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes Alabama Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Populated Places

The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Colbert County:

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.

Cities
Muscle Shoals Sheffield	Tuscumbia (county seat)
Towns
Cherokee Leighton	Littleville
Unincorporated communities
Alabama Shores Allsboro Barton Bear Creek Bethel Bingham Bishop Burnstown Buzzard Roost Cave Spring Cedar Hills Estates Chisca Colbert Heights Cottontown Crooked Oak Emco-Listerhill Junction Flatwoods Ford City Fosters Mill Georgetown	Hatton Hawk Pride Hobgood James La Grange Lane Springs Ligon Springs Lime Kiln Lime Rock Listerhill Malone Margerum Maud Melrose Mhoontown Midway Milk Springs Mountain Mills Mount Hester Mynot	New Bethel Newsome Springs Nitrate City Norala Junction Old Bethel Paradise Points Peytona Points Pride Red Rock Riverton Rock Creek Spring Valley Underwood Crossroads Underwood Heights Valdosta Valley Grove Village Number 1 White House Springs Whiteoak Wilson Lake Shores

Resources

Biographies

• Biographies of many notable residents of Colbert County were published in Memorial Record of Alabama (1893). Digital version at [ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/381418-memorial-record-of-alabama-a-concise-account-of-the-state-s-political-military-professional-and-industrial-progress-together-with-the-personal-memoirs-of-many-of-its-people-vol-1?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], begins on page 686.
• Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Colbert County begins on page 103.
• Colbert County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Colbert, Alabama online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com ALGenWeb ALGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Alabama Gravestones Billion Graves
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Billion Graves Alabama Cemeteries FamilySearch Places
See Alabama Cemeteries for more information

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 FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 1 and FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 4.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	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%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1855 Alabama State Census, 1855 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1866 Alabama State Census, 1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

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.

• 1831-1994 Alabama, Church Records, 1831-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Directories

Colbert County, Alabama Online Historical Directories - identifies historical city, county, business and other directories available online on both and pay-to-access websites.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

• 1865-1872 Alabama, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only

Land and Property Records

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

Local histories are available for Colbert County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.

• 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 and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
• Alabama Maps and Blueprints Collection at Alabama Department of Archives and History – maps can be browsed by location or subject

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• ca.1918-ca.1962 Alabama, Military Discharge Records, ca.1918 - ca.1962 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War

• 1861-1865 Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
• 1861-1865 Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
• 1861-1865 Civil War Service Database at Alabama Department of Archives and History - index
  
• 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry $
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry $
• 1871-1880 Alabama, Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1880-1930 Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History

Regiments. Men in Colbert County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a large regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Colbert County:

- 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Roddy's), Company C

World War I

• 1917-1919 Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Service Records at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
  
• 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Gold Star Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
  

World War II

• 1940-1945 Alabama, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1940-1966 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
  

Newspapers

• Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
• Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both and pay-to-access websites.

Other Records

Voter Registration

• 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index and some images

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.

Book 1

Periodicals

• 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 (click "Search by County").

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry $
• 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

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

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.

Birth

• 1881-1930 Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images

Marriage

• 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
• 1800-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
• 1809-1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry $
• 1809-1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
• 1816-1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1818-1936 Alabama County Marriages, 1818-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1870-1872, 1936-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $
• To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $

Death

• 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $
• 1881-1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1881-1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $
• 1908-1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $
• 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Research Facilities

Family History Centers

Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Colbert County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.

• In Colbert County there are five public libraries, bookmobiles, and library research services. These public libraries are located in Colbert County, Alabama. Choose a Colbert County County Library to see find the services provided, contact information as well as directions to the location.

• Cherokee Public Library
  118 Church Street
  Cherokee, AL 35616
  Phone:256-359-4384
  website

• Colbert Florence/Lauderdale Public Library
  350 N. Wood Ave
  Florence, AL 35630
  Phone: 256-764-6564
  Website

• Leighton Public Library
  8740 Main Street
  Leighton, AL 35646
  Phone:256-446-5380
  website

• Muscle Shoals Public Library
  1918 East Avalon Avenue
  Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
  Phone: 256-386-9212
  website

• Sheffield Public Library
  316 North Montgomery Avenue
  Sheffield, AL 35660
  Phone: 256-386-5633
  website

• Tuscumbia - Helen Keller Public Library
  511 North Main Street
  Tuscumbia, AL 35674
  Phone: 256-383-7065
  website

Societies

Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 1568
Huntsville, Alabama
35807
Publication: Valley Leaves
Email: tvgsvalleyleaves@gmail.com
Facebook

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

Websites

• 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.
• Colbert County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
• COLBERT COUNTY ALABAMA
• Colbert Co. AL
• United States Resources: Alabama
• Al Gen Web

Research Guides

• Inventory of the County Archives of Alabama: Colbert County. Birmingham, Ala.: The Survey, 1939. Digital version at Ancestry $