Coffee County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Coffee 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 after John R. Coffee, a hero in the Creek War of 1813-14. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Coffee County Courthouse - Elba Division
230 N. Court Ave, #M
Elba, AL 36323
Phone: 334-897-2954
Fax: 334-897-3224
Coffee Circuit Court - Enterprise Division
101 S Edwards St
PO Box 311284
Enterprise, AL 36331
Phone: 334-347-2519
Fax: 334-393-2047
Coffee County Website
Probate Judge has marriage records from 1877 and land records from early 1800s. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records.
Coffee 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 |
| 1907 | 1877 | 1907 | 1811 | 1851 | 1862 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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Coffee County had destructive courthouse fires in 1851, 1863, and 1877. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide page 26 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.[4] 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 Coffee County:[7]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Bible Records at Tracking Your Roots
- Coffee County Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Coffee County Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives Project
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Biographies of many notable residents of Coffee County were published in Memorial Record of Alabama (1893). Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Begins on page 654.
- Coffee County Biographies at USGenWeb Archives Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 5,940 | — |
| 1860 | 9,623 | 62.0% |
| 1870 | 6,171 | −35.9% |
| 1880 | 8,119 | 31.6% |
| 1890 | 12,170 | 49.9% |
| 1900 | 20,972 | 72.3% |
| 1910 | 26,119 | 24.5% |
| 1920 | 30,070 | 15.1% |
| 1930 | 32,556 | 8.3% |
| 1940 | 31,987 | −1.7% |
| 1950 | 30,720 | −4.0% |
| 1960 | 30,583 | −0.4% |
| 1970 | 34,872 | 14.0% |
| 1980 | 38,533 | 10.5% |
| 1990 | 40,240 | 4.4% |
| 2000 | 43,615 | 8.4% |
| 2010 | 49,948 | 14.5% |
| 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]
- 1861-1929 Coffee County, Alabama Court Minutes, 1861-1929(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
- 1924-1953 Divorce Records, 1924-1953(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 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]
- Hammond Funeral Home in Enterprise
- Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory in Enterprise
- Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory in Enterprise
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.
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Coffee County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Barbour County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2010. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.134 E7b.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Coffee County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Coffee County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). 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[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 Coffee 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 Coffee County:
- - 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company F
- - 12th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D "Coffee County Rangers"
- - 18th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A (Bullock Guards)
- - 25th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K
- - 33rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and F
- - 54th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E (formerly Co. "D", 1st AL, TN, and MS Infantry)
- - 61st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and G
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 ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voter Registration
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index and images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Coffee County has one book.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1860-1953 Coffee County, Alabama Wills (1908-1953); Inventories (1860-1906), 1860-1953(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1861-1929 Coffee County, Alabama Court Minutes, 1861-1929(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1945 Coffee County, Alabama, Estate Case Files, 1897-1945(*); Judge of Probate at FamilySearch Catalog — 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 $. Coffee County is in District 1.
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 $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1930 Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Coffee County Births at ALGenWeb
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collectionindex, and some images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 1800-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1809-1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) 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
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $
- 1877-1886, 1888–1901, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $
- 1877-1900 Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920 at Ancestry $
- Coffee County Marriages at ALGenWeb
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $
- 1908-1959 Alabama Deaths, 1908-59 at Ancestry $
- 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Alabama Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Ave
PO Box 300100
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-242-4435
Email: mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov
Website
Facebook
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 Coffee County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Enterprise Public Library
101 E Grubbs St
Enterprise, Alabama 36330
Phone: 334-347-2636
Email: director@enterpriselibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society
108 Main Street
PO Box 310628
Enterprise, AL 36331
334-393-2901
Email: peariverhistorical@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
- Publication: Pea River Trails
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.
- Coffee County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Coffee County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Coffee 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Coffee, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_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.
- ↑ Marilyn Davis Barefield, Researching in Alabama: a Genealogical Guide (Birmingham, Alabama : Birmingham Public Library, 1998), 26. 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.
- ↑ 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, "Coffee County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_County,_Alabama, accessed 8 October 2018.
