Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Cherokee County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Cherokee County was created on 9 January 1836 and named for the Cherokee tribe of American Indians.[2] Its county seat is Lafayette.[3] It is located in the northeastern area of the state.[4]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Cherokee County Courthouse
100 Main Street
Centre, AL 35960
Phone: 256-927-3637
Cherokee County Website
Probate Judge has marriage, probate, land and military discharge records from 1882.[5]
Cherokee County, Alabama Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 |
| 1899 | 1882 | 1908 | 1882 | 1882 | 1882 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
Cherokee County had destructive courthouse fires in 1882 and 1895. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide page 25 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.[7] For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
|
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
|
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Cherokee County:[9]
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[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Cherokee County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Cherokee County, Alabama Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- History and Heritage Articles on Cherokee County Alabama. n.d. n.p.: Cherokee County Historical Museum. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Memorial Record of Alabama, Cherokee County. Madison, WI: Brant & Fuller, 1893. P. 635. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Cherokee County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 8,773 | — |
| 1850 | 13,884 | 58.3% |
| 1860 | 18,360 | 32.2% |
| 1870 | 11,132 | −39.4% |
| 1880 | 19,108 | 71.6% |
| 1890 | 20,459 | 7.1% |
| 1900 | 21,096 | 3.1% |
| 1910 | 20,226 | −4.1% |
| 1920 | 20,862 | 3.1% |
| 1930 | 20,219 | −3.1% |
| 1940 | 19,928 | −1.4% |
| 1950 | 17,634 | −11.5% |
| 1960 | 16,303 | −7.5% |
| 1970 | 15,606 | −4.3% |
| 1980 | 18,760 | 20.2% |
| 1990 | 19,543 | 4.2% |
| 2000 | 23,988 | 22.7% |
| 2010 | 25,989 | 8.3% |
| 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[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.
- 1831-1994 Alabama, Church Records, 1831-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1855-1916 Cherokee County, Alabama, Chancery Court Minutes, 1855-1916(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1856-1929 Cherokee County, Alabama, Circuit Court Minutes, 1856-1929(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1882-1892 Cherokee County, Alabama, Court Minutes, 1882-1892(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Cherokee County, Alabama Loose Papers at Alabama Genealogical Society – index; links to FamilySearch images
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
- 1865-1872 Alabama, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Perry Funeral Home(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Perry Funeral Home in Centre
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[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.
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Cherokee County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Cherokee County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index. FS Library Book 976.165 E7bg.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Cherokee County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
- History and Heritage Articles on Cherokee County Alabama. n.d. n.p.: Cherokee County Historical Museum. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Cherokee County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - 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
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
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; ndex and 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County:
- - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company B
- - 7th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D (Jake Curry Guards)
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E (Cherokee Guards)
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F (Davis Guards)
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G (Cherokee Mountaineers)
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H (Cherokees)
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I (Cherokee Rangers)
- - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D
- - 31st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and C
- - 47th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
- - 48th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H
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 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1855-1969 Alabama, U.S. District Court Naturalization Records, 1855-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Northern and Southern Districts of Alabama
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Alabama, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Registration
- 1834-1981: Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch] - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Cherokee County has one book.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images; coverage may vary
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images; coverage may vary
- 1882-1902 Apprentice Bonds 1882-1902 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry - index ($). Cherokee County is in District 3.
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 $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1930 Alabama, Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1969 Alabama, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1969 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- 1882-1930 Cherokee County Marriage Books A and C thru G Index 1882-1930 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[10]
Death[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
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
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
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
- Fort Payne Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Gadsden Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Cherokee County Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library
- Gadsden Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library
- Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library - an affiliate library
- Rainsville Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Cherokee County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Cherokee County Public Library
935 Coleman Street
Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: 256-463-7125
Email: cheaharegionallibrary@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Cherokee County Historical Museum
101 E Main Street
Centre, AL 35960
Phone: 256-927-7835
Email: museumatcentre@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Historical Preservation Society of Cherokee County, Alabama
PO Box 94
Centre, AL 35960
Email: preserving.cherokeeco.history@gmail.com
Facebook
Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society
Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library
1 Cabot Ave
Gadsden, AL 35902
Email: neagslib@comcast.net
Website
Facebook
Piedmont Historical Society
Phone: 256-239-6580
Email: dan.phsoc@gmail.com
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- 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.
- Cherokee 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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 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, “Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/cherokee/ 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, "Cherokee, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_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.
- ↑ Marilyn Davis Barefield, Researching in Alabama: a Genealogical Guide (Birmingham, Alabama : Birmingham Public Library, 1998), 25. At various libraries (WorldCat). FS Library Book 976.1 D27b 1998.
- ↑ 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, "Cherokee County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_County,_Alabama, accessed 6 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.