Cherokee County, North Carolina Genealogy
Guide to Cherokee County, North Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Cherokee County is located in the extreme Southwest corner of North Carolina and shares borders with Georgia and Tennessee. It was named for the Cherokee Indians who inhabited its land before European settlement began[2].
County Courthouse
Cherokee County Courthouse
53 Peachtree
Murphy North Carolina 28906
Phone: 282-837-2613
Cherokee County Website
Clerk Superior Court has divorce records,
Registrar of Deeds has land records[3]
Cherokee County, North Carolina 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 |
| 1913 | 1837 | 1913 | 1846 | 1838 | 1848 | 1784 |
Record Loss
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1865, 1895, 1926--Courthouse fires destroyed many court records.
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Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
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History Timeline
Proud, resourceful people -- many descended from the Cherokee Indians who once lived in the region now known as Cherokee County -- welcome visitors to share their peaceful spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains, if only for a little while. It is no wonder why the Cherokees made the area their home or why they hid in the mountains when the Indian removal took place in 1838.
Hundreds of waterfalls and creeks, forests filled with wildflowers and tall pines wrapped in mountain breezes invite strangers to stay awhile and enjoy one of Mother Nature's finest creations.
Descendants of hearty Scottish and English settlers who married fine young Indian maidens carry on traditions from generations past. Descendants who never lived in Cherokee County venture back "home" to find their roots. Murphy, the county seat, offers a wealth of history at its courthouse, library and the Cherokee County Historical Museum which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Travelers passing through the small communities surrounding the town of Murphy such as Hanging Dog, Culberson and Grape Creek may want to stay and experience the warmth of the people at the spring festival or the Christmas parade in Murphy or the fall festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School in nearby Brasstown.
Resources
Bible Records
- Bible and Cemetery Records from Caswell, Cherokee and Craven Cos., North Carolina(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index & images
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- North Carolina, Historical Records Survey, Cemetery Inscription Card Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images Also at: Ancestry ($)
- TVA Cemetery Listings
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 3,427 | — |
| 1850 | 6,838 | 99.5% |
| 1860 | 9,166 | 34.0% |
| 1870 | 8,080 | −11.8% |
| 1880 | 8,182 | 1.3% |
| 1890 | 9,976 | 21.9% |
| 1900 | 11,860 | 18.9% |
| 1910 | 14,136 | 19.2% |
| 1920 | 15,242 | 7.8% |
| 1930 | 16,151 | 6.0% |
| 1940 | 18,813 | 16.5% |
| 1950 | 18,294 | −2.8% |
| 1960 | 16,335 | −10.7% |
| 1970 | 16,330 | −0.0% |
| 1980 | 18,933 | 15.9% |
| 1990 | 20,170 | 6.5% |
| 2000 | 24,298 | 20.5% |
| 2010 | 27,444 | 12.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
- 1700-1970 North Carolina, Church Records, 1700-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1846-1948 North Carolina, Cherokee County, Civil Action Papers, 1846-1948(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1865-1868 Minutes, 1865-1868(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 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
- 1862-1870 North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1863-1872 North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
Funeral Homes
- Cochran Family of Funeral Service in Murphy.
- Ivie Funeral Home in Andrews and Murphy.
- Townson-Rose Funeral Home, LLC in Murphy.
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
- North Carolina Land Grants at NC Historical Records Online - index, requires free account to view images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Maps and Gazetteers
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
for more resources
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
- 1778-1833 Delamar Transcripts of Revolutionary War Petitions at North Carolina Genealogical Society - index ($)
- 1779-1782 North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers 1779-1782 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Civil War
- 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 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
- 1885-1953 North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1885 and 1901 1885 and 1901 Confederate Pension Applications at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
Regiments. Men in Cherokee County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Cherokee County:
- 39th Regiment, NC Confederate Troops
- 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company A
- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company G
World War I
- 1914-1918 World War I Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
- 1917-1919 North Carolina, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
World War II
- 1939-1945 World Ward II Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
- 1940-1948 North Carolina, Discharge and Statement of Service Records, 1940-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
- 1800s-Current Nebraska, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Voter Registration
- 1868-1898 North Carolina, Voter Registration Records, 1868-1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry ($)
- 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
- 1663-1978 Wills and Estate Papers (Cherokee County, North Carolina), 1663-1978(*); Clerk of the Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1663-1979 North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
- 1720-1960 Will Books A to F and 1 to 8 (1720-1960) at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
- 1735-1970 North Carolina Probate Records 1735-1970 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
- 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
- 1869-1934 Will Books A to B (1869-1934) - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
- 1869-1966 Record of Wills, 1869-1934; Index, 1869-1966(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Images of Wills and Estates, Vol. 1, 1869-1918; Vol. 2, 1918-1934. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Vital Records
- 1800-2000 North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Birth
- 1800-2000 North Carolina Birth Index 1800-2000 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1866-1964 North Carolina Births and Christenings 1866-1964 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1913-1922 North Carolina, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records Unit, County Birth Records, 1913-1922 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Marriage
- 1700-Onward North Carolina Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at Findmypast
- 1741-2004 North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
- 1759-1979 North Carolina Marriages 1759-1979 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1762-1979 - North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1763-1868 North Carolina, Civil Marriages, 1763-1868 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death
- 1898-1994 North Carolina Deaths 1898-1944 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1906-1930 North Carolina Deaths 1906-1930 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection;index & images Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1908-2004 North Carolina Death Indexes 1908-2004 at Ancestry $
- 1909-1975 North Carolina Death Certificates 1909-1975 at Ancestry $
- 1931-1994 North Carolina Deaths 1931-1994 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Divorce
- 1926-1975 North Carolina, County Divorce Records, 1926-1975 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and image
- 1958-2004 -North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Cherokee County. For state-wide archival repositories, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.
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
- Chattanooga Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Franklin North Carolina FamilySearch Center
- Murphy North Carolina FamilySearch Center
- Cleveland Bradley County Public Library History Branch - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Cherokee County. For state-wide library facilities, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Cherokee County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see North Carolina Societies.
Cherokee Historical Association
564 Tsali Blvd
Cherokee, NC 28719
Phone: 828-497-2111
Email: gus@cherokeeadventure.com
Website
NC Cherokee Reservation Genealogy
PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719-0455
Phone: 828-497-7000
Website
Websites
- USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- NCGenWeb Cherokee County - many records of all kinds for the County
- Western NC Genealogy Resource Center - Census, Marriage, Birth & Death records, Cemetery,Military, and various other kinds of records for Cherokee County
- 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), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/Cherokee
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Cherokee County, North Carolina. Page 506-514 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 505-509.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cherokee County, North Carolina," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_County%2C_North_Carolina, accessed 11 February 2020.