Alabama Genealogy and History Guide

Alabama Genealogy Resources:

FIRST NAME

LAST NAME

LOCALITY

Bible Records Index

 

Alabama quick facts:

  • Statehood:
    December 14, 1819
  • State Capital:
    Montgomery
  • State Nickname:
    the Yellowhammer State
  • State Bird:
    the Yellowhammer
  • State Song:
    "Alabama"
  • State Flower:
    the Camellia
  • State Motto:
    "Audemus jura nostra defendere"
    "We Dare Defend Our Rights"

 

 

Alabama Genealogy Research Guide:

Alabama Census Records:

Alabama became a territory in 1817.  Prior to this, it was part of Mississippi Territory.  In 1819, Alabama became a state.  The first Federal census taken in Alabama occurred in 1820, however, much of this first census was lost, leaving only Baldwin County, Conecuh County, Franklin County, Limestone County, Shelby County and St. Clair County.  Federal censuses were taken every ten years thereafter.

Alabama Federal Census Years:

  • 1820 AL census is the first Federal census available and it is only partial.
  • 1830
  • 1840
  • 1850
  • 1860
  • 1870
  • 1880
  • 1890 Census was lost in a warehouse fire, with only a few remnants surviving.  Alabama census remnants are for portions of Perry County.  They are Perryville - Beat 11 and Severe - Beat 8.
  • 1900
  • 1910
  • 1920
  • 1930

Other Alabama Censuses

  • There are some early Spanish census records for Mobile, Alabama for years: 1786, 1787, 1789 and 1805.
  • Alabama took some state census enumerations.  More information about these can be found at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH).

Alabama Military Records:

US Military service records can be obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Alabama Civil War Cards are searchable online at the Alabama Archives.  This Alabama Civil War database is a work in progress but will ultimately contain over 250,000 cards. 

Alabama Confederate pension records can also be obtained from the Alabama archives.  These Civil War pensions were granted as early as 1867 to soldiers who were injured.

Alabama Department of Archives and History

624 Washington Avenue

Montgomery, AL 36130-0100

Telephone: 334-242-4363

 

United States Civil War Prisons has some prisoner lists online.

Alabama Vital Records:

Alabama began officially recording birth and death records in 1908.  Alabama birth and death certificates are on file at the Alabama Center for Health Statistics.  Alabama marriage and divorce records are on file at the county clerk's office of each individual county.  Some early marriages are online at Alabama Marriages Before 1825.

  • For information on how and where to obtain both old or recent vital records see: Alabama Vital Records.

Alabama Genealogy Subscriptions Online:

Many websites with genealogy resources for Alabama are available online. Some offer free AL genealogy databases and other information for the online researcher, but the subscription websites hold a more consistent amount of quality data and offer free trials to that data.

1. Alabama Genealogy Databases at Ancestry.com

          Get the Ancestry.com Free Trial when you register!

2. Genealogy.com offers genealogy databases, a library and U.S. Census Collection.

         FREE TRIAL of Genealogy.com

Condensed History of Alabama

Alabama was first discovered by Hernando De Soto, a Spanish explorer in 1540.  The explorers were met by Native Indians, including the Coosas, the Mobilians, the Tallases, the Choctaws, the Chickasaws and the Alabamas.  Many bloody battles ensued and resulted in the death of many Indians.

In 1701, the French became established at Mobile and made peace with the Alabama and Muscogee tribes.  In 1729, the Natchez massacred the French at Fort Rosalie.  That site is now the city of Natchez.

The Native Indians of Alabama lands had many tribes and towns before being forced to leave their homes and move westward.

In 1798 Mississippi Territory was formed from Western Georgia land claims and included Alabama.

The Creek Indian Wars (1813-1814), fought mostly on present-day Alabama soil against the Red Stick Creeks, ended on August 9, 1814 ceding 23 million acres of Creek lands to the United States.

On March 3rd, 1817, Mississippi Territory was divided and Alabama Territory was created as Mississippi entered statehood.  Less than 2 years passed before Alabama was admitted into the United States on December 14, 1819, becoming the 22nd state.

Alabama History Resources Online:

 

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