Franklin County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Franklin County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Franklin County was created on 6 February 1818 and was named for Benjamin Franklin, a famous statesman, scientist, and printer.[1] Its county seat is Russellville.[2] It is located in the northwestern area of the state.
County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse
410 North Jackson Ave.
PO Box 160
Russellville, AL 35653
Phone: 256-332-8861
Franklin County Website
Probate Judge has marriage, probate and land records from 1890;
Clerk Circuit Court has court records from 1923 and divorce records[3]
Franklin 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 |
| 1916 | 1890 | 1890 | 1923 | 1890 | 1890 | 1816 |
Record Loss
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Franklin County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1890. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide page 27 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.[5]
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Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Franklin County:[7]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Bible Records at Franklin County ALGenWeb
- Family Bible Records at Alabama Genealogy Trails
- Franklin County Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Franklin County Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives Project - Alabama
- Napier - Kinnard Bible Record at Alabama Genealogy Trails
Biographies
- Distinguished Men, Women and Families of Franklin County, Alabama. By Robert Leslie James. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company (reprint), n.d. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Memorial Record of Alabama, Franklin County. 1893. Madison, WI: Brant & Fuller, 1893. Pg. 1027. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 4,988 | — |
| 1830 | 11,078 | 122.1% |
| 1840 | 14,270 | 28.8% |
| 1850 | 19,610 | 37.4% |
| 1860 | 18,627 | −5.0% |
| 1870 | 8,006 | −57.0% |
| 1880 | 9,155 | 14.4% |
| 1890 | 10,681 | 16.7% |
| 1900 | 16,511 | 54.6% |
| 1910 | 19,369 | 17.3% |
| 1920 | 22,011 | 13.6% |
| 1930 | 25,372 | 15.3% |
| 1940 | 27,552 | 8.6% |
| 1950 | 25,705 | −6.7% |
| 1960 | 21,988 | −14.5% |
| 1970 | 23,933 | 8.8% |
| 1980 | 28,350 | 18.5% |
| 1990 | 27,814 | −1.9% |
| 2000 | 31,223 | 12.3% |
| 2010 | 31,704 | 1.5% |
| 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
- Franklin 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
- Akins Funeral Home in Russellville
- Pinkard Funeral Homes in Russellville
- Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville
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 Franklin 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.
- Facts and Fables About Franklin County. By Johnny Hester. n.p.: n.p., n.d. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Pg. 102. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- 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
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
- 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 - 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County:
- - 1st Battalion, Alabama Artillery, Company F
- - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
- - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Roddy's), Company E and L
- - 5th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company E
- - 16th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
- - 16th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E and H
- - 27th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A, B and G
- - 35th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B and 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 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
- Honor roll of Franklin County, Alabama men and women serving in the armed forces of the United States of America, October ... 1944.Russellville, Alabama? : Franklin County Times and Franklin County Progress, 1944. FS Library Digital Images
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 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
- 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
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Voter Registration
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index and some images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Franklin County has one book.
Periodicals
- Valley Leaves. 1966–. Published by the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1568, Huntsville, Alabama 35807. FS Library Book 976.19 B2v. Website identifies articles relating to Franklin County (click "Search by County").
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images; coverage may vary
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images; coverage may vary
- 1890-1930 Probate Minutes, 1890-1930; Final Probate Records, 1890-1929(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1890-1943 Inventory and Sales Record, 1890-1918; Will records, 1890-1943(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry$ Franklin County is in District 3.
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, 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 ($)
- 1809-1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collectionindex, and some images
- 1816-1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1818-1936 Alabama County Marriages, 1818-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Death
- 1881-1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at Family Search - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Alabama, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
Franklin County Archives
300 East Limestone St
Russellville, AL 35653
Phone: 256-332-8827
Email: archive@hiwaay.net
Website
Facebook
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
- Florence Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Florence-Lauderdale Public Library - an affiliate library
- Lawrence County Archives - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Franklin County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Russellville Public Library
110 Lawrence St E
Russellville, Alabama 35653
Phone: 256-332-1535
Email: ruslib110@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Museums
Societies
Natchez Trace Genealogical Society
PO Box 420
Florence, AL 35631
Facebook
Website
Publication: Natchez Trace Traveler
Russellville Heritage Preservation Society
PO Box 1095
Russellville, AL 35653
Tennessee Valley Historical Society
PO Box 149
Sheffield, AL 35660
Facebook
Publication: Journal of Muscle Shoals History
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.
- Franklin County ALGenWeb. Record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Franklin 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
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Franklin, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_County,_Alabama 06/05/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Marilyn Davis Barefield, Researching in Alabama: a Genealogical Guide (Birmingham, Alabama : Birmingham Public Library, 1998), 27. 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, "Franklin County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_County,_Alabama, accessed 16 October 2018.