Walker County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Walker County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County Information
Description
Walker County was created on 26 December 1823[2] and named after Senator John Walker, who represented the state of Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1819 until 1822.[3] Its county seat is Jasper.[4] It is located in the west-central area of the state.
County Courthouse
Walker County Courthouse
1801 3rd Avenue, #205
Jasper, AL 35501
Phone: 205-384-7268
Fax: 205-384-7271
Walker County Website
Records burned 1877
Probate Judge has marriage and probate records [5]
Walker 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 |
| 1929 | 1877 | 1890 | 1877 | 1877 | 1877 | 1816 |
Record Loss
|
Walker County had destructive courthouse fires in 1865, 1877, 1886, and 1932. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide page 29 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.[7] For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
|
Boundary Changes
|
Populated Places
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Walker County:[9]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Walker County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Walker County, Alabama Bible Records at Alabama Genealogy
- Walker County Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives Project
- Palmer Family Bible at Rootsweb
Biographies
- Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Pg. 171. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
| |
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 2,202 | — |
| 1840 | 4,032 | 83.1% |
| 1850 | 5,124 | 27.1% |
| 1860 | 7,980 | 55.7% |
| 1870 | 6,543 | −18.0% |
| 1880 | 9,479 | 44.9% |
| 1890 | 16,078 | 69.6% |
| 1900 | 25,162 | 56.5% |
| 1910 | 37,013 | 47.1% |
| 1920 | 50,593 | 36.7% |
| 1930 | 59,445 | 17.5% |
| 1940 | 64,201 | 8.0% |
| 1950 | 63,769 | −0.7% |
| 1960 | 54,211 | −15.0% |
| 1970 | 56,246 | 3.8% |
| 1980 | 68,660 | 22.1% |
| 1990 | 67,670 | −1.4% |
| 2000 | 70,713 | 4.5% |
| 2010 | 67,023 | −5.2% |
| 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
- Walking Back in Time, v.15 ; (Walker County Genealogical Society : Alabama). 2004. By Walker County Genealogical Society (Jasper, Alabama). Jasper, Alabama : Walker County Genealogical Society, Inc. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Walking Back in Time, v.16 ; (Walker County Genealogical Society : Alabama). 2005. By Walker County Genealogical Society (Jasper, Alabama). Jasper, Alabama : Walker County Genealogical Society, Inc. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Walker 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
- Collins-Burke Funeral Home in Jasper
- Freeman Hood Funeral Services in Jasper
- Kilgore Green Funeral Home in Jasper
- New Horizon Memorial Funeral Home and Garden in Dora
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.
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Walker County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Walker 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 ($). Website includes surname index. FS Library Book 976.176 E7b.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Walker County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
- History of Walker County: Its Towns and Its People. By John Martin Dombhart. Thornton, Ark.: Cayce Pub. Co., 1937. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Walker 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
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 - 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 Walker 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 Walker County:
- - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Roddy's), Company K
- - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
- - 28th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E, F and L
- - 43rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H, I and K
- - 50th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K, formerly Co. "?", 5th Battalion
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
- 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 ($)
- 1916-1921 Walker County Messenger, 1916-1921. n.d. by Jeannette Holland Austin. Riverdale, GA: J.H. Austin. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Obituaries
Other Records
Voter Registration
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Walker County has two books:
Periodicals
- Walking Back in Time. Publication of the Walker County Genealogical Society. Digital versions at: FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 15, FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 16.
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753–1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1847 1840's Walker County tax record, digitized at FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 15.
- 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Walker 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 $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth
- 1881-1930 Alabama, Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch — index, and some images - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- Walker County Births at ALGenWeb.
Marriage
- 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 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 ($)
- 1809–1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- 1816-1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1818-1936 Alabama County Marriages, 1818-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1875–1895 Walker County Marriage Index 1875-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[10]
- Walker County Marriages at ALGenWeb
Death
- 1881–1952 Alabama, Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Alabama, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- Walker County Deaths at ALGenWeb
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
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
- Birmingham Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Gardendale Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Jasper Alabama FamilySearch Center
- Birmingham Public Library - an affiliate library
- Wallace State College - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Walker County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Carl Elliott Regional Library
98 18th St East
Jasper, AL 35501
Phone: 205-221-2584
Email: contact@carlelliottregionallibrary.com
Website
Facebook
Includes the following branch locations, among others:
- Carbon Hill Public Library
215 2nd Street NW
PO Box 116
Carbon Hill, AL 35549
Phone: 205-924-4254
Facebook - Jasper Public Library
98 18th Street East
Jasper, AL 35501
Phone: 205-221-2584
Facebook - Sumiton Public Library
416 State Street
PO Box 10
Sumiton, AL 35148
Phone: 205-648-7451
Facebook
Museums
Societies
Walker County Genealogical Society
PO Box 3408
Jasper, AL 35502-3408
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.
- Walker County ALGenWeb. Record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Walker 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Walker, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_County,_Alabama 6/27/2017.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, "Walker County, Alabama Genealogy and History", http://genealogytrails.com/ala/walker/ 6/27/2017.
- ↑ 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), 29. 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, "Walker County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_County,_Alabama, accessed 26 October 2018.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/4/4d/Igialabamatz.pdf.