Etowah County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Etowah 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 from the Cherokee Indian language, which means "edible tree."[2]The county is located in the northeast area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Etowah County Courthouse
801 Forrest Avenue, Ste 202
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: 256-549-5429
Fax:
256-439-6027
Etowah County Website
Probate Judge has marriage divorce, probate and land records from 1867[4]
Etowah 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 |
| 1894 | 1867 | 1898 | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1816 |
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]
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Etowah County:[7]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Etowah County, Alabama Bible Records at Alabama Genealogy
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Biographies of many notable residents of Etowah County were published in Memorial Record of Alabama (1893). Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Begins on page 1010.
- Etowah County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 4,041 | — |
| 1880 | 5,719 | 41.5% |
| 1890 | 8,666 | 51.5% |
| 1900 | 11,320 | 30.6% |
| 1910 | 18,889 | 66.9% |
| 1920 | 22,464 | 18.9% |
| 1930 | 27,963 | 24.5% |
| 1940 | 30,671 | 9.7% |
| 1950 | 31,443 | 2.5% |
| 1960 | 33,511 | 6.6% |
| 1970 | 34,912 | 4.2% |
| 1980 | 38,440 | 10.1% |
| 1990 | 35,518 | −7.6% |
| 2000 | 38,440 | 8.2% |
| 2010 | 38,319 | −0.3% |
| 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
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Gadsen
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1887 Blaine and Etowah County, Alabama, Minutes, Final Records and Dockets, 1867-1887(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1870-1913 Etowah County, Alabama, Minutes and Final Records, 1870-1913(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1938-1944 Etowah County in Equity, Alabama, Minutes and Final Records, 1938-1944(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1931 Miller's Gadsden City Directory 1931.
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]
- Adams-Buggs Funeral Service in Gadsden
- Alabama Cremation and Funeral Services in Gadsden
- Boaz Carr Funeral Home in Boaz
- Collier-Butler Funeral Home in Gadsden
- Crestwood Funeral Home, Cemetery and Mausoleum in Gadsden
- Etowah Memorial Chapel in Sardis City
- Gadsden Memorial Funeral Home in Gadsden
- Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Home in Glencoe
- House of Solace Funeral Services in Gadsden
- McRae Funeral Home in Boaz
- Morgan Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Attalla
- Prestige Memorial Funeral Home in Gadsden
- Village Chapel Funeral Home in Gadsden
- West Gadsden Funeral Home in Gadsden
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 Etowah 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.
- Barnes, Joe. History of Hokes Bluff, Alabama, and Eastern Etowah County. n.d. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
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
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. 1880-1930s 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
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 ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voter Registration
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index and images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Etowah County has one book.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- 1867-1930 Probate Minutes, 1867-1930; Index, 1867-1898(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1867-1946 Will Record, 1867-1939; Index, 1867-1946; Administrator's Final Record, 1887-1929(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1869-1916 Etowah County, Alabama, Estate and Land Disputes, 1869-1916(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1869-1950 Etowah County, Alabama, Probate Estate Case Files, 1869-1950(*); Probate Court 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.
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
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - 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 $
- 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
- 1860, 1879-1892, 1936-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1867-1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920" at Ancestry $
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $
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 $
- 1908-1974 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 Etowah County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Gadsden Public Library
East Gadsden Branch
809 East Broad Street
Gadsden, AL 35903
256-549-4691
Email: lashunda@gadsdenlibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Gadsden Public Library
Main Branch
254 South College Street
Gadsden, AL 35901
256-549-4699
Email: craig@gadsdenlibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Gadsden Public Library
Warsham/Junkins Alabama City Genealogy Branch
2700 West Meighan Blvd
Gadsden, AL 35904
256-549-4688
Email: gplgen@gadsdenlibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Etowah Heritage Museum
2829 West Meighan Blvd
Gadsden, AL 35904
256-886-6911
Email: info@etowahhistory.org
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Etowah Historical Society
2829 W. Meighan Blvd.
PO Box 8131
Gadsden, AL 35904
256-549-4674
Email: info@etowahhistory.org
Website
Facebook
Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society
One Cabot Avenue
PO Box 8268
Gadsden, AL 35902
Email: neagslib@comcast.net
Website
Facebook
- Publication: Northeast Alabama Settlers
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.
- Etowah County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Etowah County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Etowah County Vital Records at ALGenWeb
- Etowah 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, “Etowah County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/etowah/ 06/05/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Etowah, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etowah_County,_Alabama 06/05/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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, "Etowah County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etowah_County,_Alabama, accessed 15 October 2018.
