Alachua County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Alachua County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Chua (Timucuan word for "sinkhole"). The County is located in the North central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Alachua County Courthouse
201 E University Ave PO Box 600
Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: 352-374-3636
Alachua County Website
County Clerk has incomplete marriage records from 1837, probate records from 1840, land records from 1848 and court records[3]
Alachua County, Florida 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 | 1837 | 1899 | 1850 | 1848 | 1840 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
|
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
|
|
|
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Miscellaneous Records Collected in Alachua County, Florida(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Index to Alachua County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Alachua County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Alachua County Biographical Sketches (FLGenWeb Project)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 2,204 | — |
| 1840 | 2,282 | 3.5% |
| 1850 | 2,524 | 10.6% |
| 1860 | 8,232 | 226.1% |
| 1870 | 17,328 | 110.5% |
| 1880 | 16,462 | −5.0% |
| 1890 | 22,934 | 39.3% |
| 1900 | 32,245 | 40.6% |
| 1910 | 34,305 | 6.4% |
| 1920 | 31,689 | −7.6% |
| 1930 | 34,365 | 8.4% |
| 1940 | 38,607 | 12.3% |
| 1950 | 57,026 | 47.7% |
| 1960 | 74,074 | 29.9% |
| 1970 | 104,764 | 41.4% |
| 1980 | 151,348 | 44.5% |
| 1990 | 181,596 | 20.0% |
| 2000 | 217,955 | 20.0% |
| 2010 | 247,336 | 13.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- 1783 Spanish CensusUSGenWeb Archives Project
- 1821 Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1823 Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1850 and 1860 Census Indexes - Alachua County FLGenWeb
- 1880 Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
- Federal Census Information from National Archives USGenWeb
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives USGenWeb
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service USGenWeb
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 Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1825-1835 Court Minutes, Book 1, 1825-1835(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1840-1974 Wills Alachua County Will Record Books
- 1847-1992 Alachua County Commissioners Minutes
- Misc. Records from Alachua County Courts
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- USGenWeb Florida African American Griots Project
- Afrigeneas - African Genealogy
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- A Cremation Affordable Alternative in Gainesville
- A.M. White Mortuary in Gainesville
- Chestnut Funeral Home in Gainesville
- Cremation Service of Florida in Gainesville
- Cremations Only in Gainesville
- Crevasse’s Simple Cremation in Gainesville
- D. Williams Mortuary Services in Gainesville
- Evans Carter Funeral Home in High Springs
- Forest Meadows Funeral Home in Gainesville
- Milam Funeral and Cremation Services in Gainesville
- Phillip & Sons The Funeral Directors, Inc in Melrose
- Pinkney-Smith Funeral Homes in Gainesville
- Signature Memorial Funeral & Cremation Services in Gainesville
- Williams-Thomas Funeral Home in Gainesville
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 Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
- 1826-1916Alachua County Partial Deed Index
- 1847-1869 Alachua County Mortgage Index
- Alachua County Index to Deed Records
- Florida Territorial Land Records
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1821-1997 Maps of Florida
- 1870 Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of State USGenWeb
- 1882 Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of State USGenWeb
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- USGenWeb Archives Project Florida State Military Files
- Alachua County, Florida Military Files (USGenWeb Archives)
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1883 Alachua County, Florida Pensioners on the Roll as of January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1885-1955 - Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Florida State Archives Florida, Confederate Pension Applications Files
- Florida State Archives A Guide to Civil War Records at the State Archives of Florida
World War I
- 1917-1920 - Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- Alachua County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
- 1940-1945 - Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Korean War
- Distantcousin.com Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict
- Korean War Casualty List, Alachua County (Genealogy Trails)
Vietnam War
- Distantcousin.com Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War
- Vietnam War Casualty List, Alachua County (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties - USGenWeb Obituaries Project Florida Obituaries
- WorldCat listings for Alachua, Florida obituaries are here
- Alachua County and Gainesville, FL Obituaries are listed here from Newspaper.net
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Indexes and Records
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
- 1828-1948 Probate Records, 1828-1948(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Alachua County Probate Records Search at Alachua County Clerk
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
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 Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
- Selected Alachua County Vital Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1880-1935 - Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-1998 - Florida, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 - Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1957 - Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 - Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1843 - Marriages - 1837-1843 at Southeasterngenealogy.com $
- 1837-1973 - Alachua County Marriage Licenses - search licenses from 1837- May 1973
- 1837-1974 - Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1970-1999 - Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1939 - Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 - Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 - Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1927-2001 - Florida, Divorce Index at Ancestry ($)
- 1970-1999 - Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Voter Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Alachua County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History 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 family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Gainesville Florida Family History Center
- Lake Butler Florida Family History Center
- Starke Florida Family History Center
- Jacksonville Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Southern Genealogists Exchange Society - SGES - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Alachua County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Alachua County Library District
14913 NW 140 Street
Alachua, FL 32615
Phone: 386-462-2592
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Archer Historical Society Railroad Museum
16994 SW 134th Avenue
PO Box 654
Archer, FL 32618
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Alachua County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Alachua County Genealogical Society
PO Box 12078
Gainesville, FL 32604
Email: acgs401@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Archer Historical Society
PO Box 654
Archer, FL 32618
Phone: 352-374-8240
Email:archerhistorical@gmail.com
Facebook
Website
Micanopy Historical Society
706 NE Cholokka Blvd.
PO Box 462
Micanopy, FL 32667
Phone: 352-466-3200
Email: MHS@MicanopyHistoricalSociety.com
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
|
- Alachua Clerk of the County Court
- The Alachua County FLGenWeb Project, a member of The FLGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- Alachua County, Florida USGenWeb Archives
- Alachua County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Alachua County, FLGenWeb Project, Inc.
- Alachua County, Florida Genealogy Trails
- Alachua County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- 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), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Alachua County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/21/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Alachua County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 1 August 2016.
