Chambers County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Chambers County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County Information
Description
Chambers County was created on 18 December 1832 and named for Henry H. Chambers, who served as a senator from Alabama.[2] Its county seat is Lafayette.[3] It is located in the east-central area of the state.[4]
County Courthouse
Chambers County Courthouse
2 LaFayette Street
LaFayette, AL 36862
Phone: 334-864-4341 or 334-864-4329
Fax: 334-864-9702
Email: commission.info@chamberscountyal.gov
District Court Phone: 334-864-4323
Chambers County Website
Chambers County Courthouse Annex
610 South Gilmer Avenue
Lanett, AL 36863
Probate office has marriage records from 1833 and probate and land records from 1843.
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records.[5]
Chambers 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.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1908 | 1833 | 1908 | 1833 | 1843 | 1843 | 1816 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
|
Populated Places
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Chambers County:[8]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
|
|
|
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Chambers County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Chambers County, Alabama Bible Records at Alabama Genealogy
- Chambers County Bible and Church Records at USGenWeb Project
- Chambers County Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives Project
Biographies
- Memorial Record of Alabama, Chambers County. Madison, WI: Brant & Fuller, 1893. P. 624. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Chambers County Biographies at USGenWeb Archives Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 17,333 | — |
| 1850 | 23,960 | 38.2% |
| 1860 | 23,214 | −3.1% |
| 1870 | 17,562 | −24.3% |
| 1880 | 23,440 | 33.5% |
| 1890 | 26,319 | 12.3% |
| 1900 | 32,554 | 23.7% |
| 1910 | 36,056 | 10.8% |
| 1920 | 41,201 | 14.3% |
| 1930 | 39,313 | −4.6% |
| 1940 | 42,146 | 7.2% |
| 1950 | 39,528 | −6.2% |
| 1960 | 37,828 | −4.3% |
| 1970 | 36,356 | −3.9% |
| 1980 | 39,191 | 7.8% |
| 1990 | 36,876 | −5.9% |
| 2000 | 36,583 | −0.8% |
| 2010 | 34,215 | −6.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1855 Alabama State Census, 1855 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1866 Alabama State Census, 1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & 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 & images
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- Chambers County, Alabama Loose Papers at Alabama Genealogical Society – index; links to FamilySearch images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
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
Funeral Homes
- Jeff Jones Funeral Home in LaFayette
- Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Lanett and Valley
- Silmon-Seroyer Funeral Home in LaFayette
- Unity Mortuary in Valley
- Vines Funeral Home in LaFayette
- Ward's Funeral Home in Valley
Genealogies
Guardianship
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.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Chambers 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.
- Reminiscenses of the Early Days in Chambers County. By Evan Goodwin Richards. n.p.: County Commissioners of Chambers County, c1890. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
- Valley Historical Scrapbook. West Point, GA: Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society, 1970. Online at: Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- 1799-1980 Maps of Alabama (1799-1980) at Maps of US
- Alabama Maps and Blueprints Collection at Alabama Department of Archives and History – maps can be browsed by location or subject
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Multiple Wars
- ca.1918-ca.1962 Alabama, Military Discharge Records, ca.1918 - ca.1962 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & 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 & images
- 1880-1930 Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Regiments. Men in Chambers 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 Chambers County:
- - 7th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
- - 14th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A "Cusseta Grays"
- - 14th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C "Tom Watt's Grays"
- - 14th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D "Yancey Grays"
- - 14th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E "Gilmore's Greys"
- - 14th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F "Billy Gilmer Grays"
- - 23rd Battalion, Alabama, Company E
- - 37th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G and I
- - 47th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and I
- - 60th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K
World War I
- 1917-1919 Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & 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 & images
- 1940-1966 [https:/ WWII/digital.archives.alabama.gov/digital/collection/p17217coll16 Alabama Active Military Service Reports] at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Alabama, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Current Newspapers
- The Valley Times News is located at 220 N 12th St. Lanett, Alabama. Phone # is 334-644-1101
- The LaFayette Sun is located 116 LaFayette St., LaFayette, Alabama. Phone # is 334-864-8885
Obituaries
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. See Chambers County at Register.
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images; coverage may vary
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1833-1856 Images of Wills 1833-1856 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- Chambers County Probate Records - Estate and Wills at USGenWeb.org. Includes a list of wills recorded in Will Book 3 1856/1872, wills at Chambers Co. AL Archives, and a few other transcripts of wills.
- Miscellaneous Records of Alabama : Cemetery and Bible Records(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Chambers County is in District 2.
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 $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth
- 1881-1930 Alabama, Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, and some images
Marriage
- 1800-1969 Alabama, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1969 at Ancestry ($)
- 1802-1825 Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1825 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1920 Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages from Selected Counties, 1809-1920 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- 1833-1925 Chambers County Marriage Books 1-11 and C thru G Index 1833-1925 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[9]
Death
- 1881-1952 Alabama, Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Alabama, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1959 Alabama, U.S., Death Index, 1908-1959 at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Alabama Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Ave
PO Box 300100
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 334-242-4435
Email: mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov
Website
Facebook
Cobb Memorial Archives
3419 20th Avenue
Valley, AL 36854
Phone: 334-768-2050
Website
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Auburn Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Harris County Public Library - Georgia - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Chambers County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Chambers County Library
3419 20th Avenue
Valley, AL 36854
Phone: 334-768-2061
Website
Facebook
H. Grady Bradshaw Library
3419 20th Avenue
Valley, AL 36854
Phone: 334-768-2161
Email: askus@chamberscountylibrary.org
Website
LaFayette Library
198 1st Street SE
LaFayette, AL 36862
Phone: 334-864-0012
Email: lafayette@chamberscountylibrary.org
Website
Museums
Societies
Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society
3419 20th Avenue
Valley, AL 36854
Phone: 334-768-2050
Email: cvhs@cvhistoricalsociety.org
Website
Facebook
Genealogy Society of East Alabama
Lee County Meeting Center
205 South 10th Street
PO Box 2892
Opelika, AL 36803-2892
Email: gsofea@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Websites
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- USGenWeb Archives Project. Record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
- Chambers County ALGenWeb. Record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Chambers 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.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Chambers County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/chambers/ 05/30/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Chambers, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambers_County,_Alabama 05/30/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Chambers County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambers_County,_Alabama, accessed 4 October 2018.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/8/8d/Igialabama.pdf.