Choctaw County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Choctaw County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for the Choctaw tribe of American Indians.[2]The County is located in the southwest area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Choctaw County Courthouse
117 S. Mulberry Ave Ste 16
Butler, AL 36904
Phone:(205) 459-2155
Choctaw County Website
County Clerk has marriage probate and land records from 1873
Clerk Circuit Cout has court and divorce records. [4]
Choctaw 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 |
1881 | 1873 | 1881 | 1871 | 1873 | 1873 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
Choctaw County had destructive courthouse fires in 1859 and 1871. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide page 26 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.[6] For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Choctaw County:[8]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
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Unincorporated communities | ||
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Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Choctaw County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1850 | 8,389 | — |
1860 | 13,877 | 65.4% |
1870 | 12,676 | −8.7% |
1880 | 15,731 | 24.1% |
1890 | 17,526 | 11.4% |
1900 | 18,136 | 3.5% |
1910 | 18,483 | 1.9% |
1920 | 20,753 | 12.3% |
1930 | 20,513 | −1.2% |
1940 | 20,195 | −1.6% |
1950 | 19,152 | −5.2% |
1960 | 17,870 | −6.7% |
1970 | 16,589 | −7.2% |
1980 | 16,839 | 1.5% |
1990 | 16,018 | −4.9% |
2000 | 15,922 | −0.6% |
2010 | 13,859 | −13.0% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
State Census
- 1855 Alabama State Census, 1855 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1866 Alabama State Census, 1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and 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 and images
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1823-1927 Guardians' Records, 1823-1927, Butler County, Alabama(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories[edit | edit source]
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]
- Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler
- Hayden and Butler Funeral Home in Lisman
- Weatherly-Studdard Memorial Funeral Home in Butler
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.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Choctaw 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.
- Alokoli: The Choctaw County Bicentennial Book. Butler, Ala.: Choctaw County Bicentennial Commission, 1976. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library; FHL Book 976.1395 H2a.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
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[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 and 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 and images
- 1880-1930 Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Regiments. Men in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County:
- - 3rd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company A, Ruffin Dragoons
- - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C "Brownrigg Warriors"
- - 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
- - 32nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F
- - 40th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D, E and F
- - 54th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C (formerly Co. "B", 1st AL, TN, and MS Infantry)
- - 54th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F (formerly Co. "F", 1st AL, TN, and MS Infantry)
World War I
- 1917-1919 Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and 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 and 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]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Registration
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index and some images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Choctaw County has two books:
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- 1823-1927 Guardians' Records, 1823-1927, Butler County, Alabama(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1851-1914 Will Records and Index, 1851-1914, Choctaw County, Alabama(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1853-1915 Estate Files and Index, 1853-1915, Choctaw County, Alabama(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1871-1922 Will Records, 1871-1922(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1871-1932 Probate Minutes, 1871-1932; Index, ca. 1871-1932(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1871-1935 Inventory Records, 1871-1935; Index, ca. 1871-1931(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
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]
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 $
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 $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- Birth and Death Index ALGenWeb
- 1881-1930 Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch — index, and some images- How to Use this Collection; index and some images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at Findmypast$
- 1800-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1802-1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry$. contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
- 1809-1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) 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
- 1936-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $
- Marriage Index at ALGenWeb- free
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $
- 1908-1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $
- 1908-1959 Alabama Deaths,1908-59 at Ancestry $
- 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Birth and Death Index at ALGenWeb- free
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
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
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Choctaw County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Choctaw Choctaw County Public Library
124 N Academy Ave
Butler, Alabama 36904
205-459-2542
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Choctaw County Historical Museum
P O Box 162
40 Melvin Rd
Gilbertown, Alabama 36908
Phone:251-843-2501
Facebook Page
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Choctaw County Genealogical Society
4244 County Rd. 43
Butler, AL 36904
Website
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 ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
- Choctaw County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Choctaw County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Choctaw County, Alabama
- Choctaw Co. AL
- United States Resources: Alabama
- Al Gen Web
- 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); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Choctaw County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/choctaw/ 06/02/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Choctaw, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choctaw_County,_Alabama 06/02/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Marilyn Davis Barefield, Researching in Alabama: a Genealogical Guide (Birmingham, Alabama : Birmingham Public Library, 1998), 25. At various libraries (WorldCat). FHL Book 976.1 D27b 1998.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Choctaw County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choctaw_County,_Alabama, accessed 7 October 2018.