Shelby County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Shelby County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Shelby County Courthouse
112 N. Main St #128
PO Box 1810
Columbiana, AL 35051
Phone: 205-669-3760
Fax:205-669-3786
Shelby County Website
Probate Judge has marriage probate and land records from 1824 [3]
Shelby 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 |
| 1902 | 1824 | 1902 | 1819 | 1824 | 1824 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
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 Shelby County:[6]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
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| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site has additional information on Shelby county cemeteries.
- Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.
- Additional Shelby County cemeteries maybe included in Alabama Cemetery Records FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 1.
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 2,416 | — |
| 1830 | 5,704 | 136.1% |
| 1840 | 6,112 | 7.2% |
| 1850 | 9,536 | 56.0% |
| 1860 | 12,618 | 32.3% |
| 1870 | 12,218 | −3.2% |
| 1880 | 17,236 | 41.1% |
| 1890 | 20,886 | 21.2% |
| 1900 | 23,684 | 13.4% |
| 1910 | 26,949 | 13.8% |
| 1920 | 27,097 | 0.5% |
| 1930 | 27,576 | 1.8% |
| 1940 | 28,962 | 5.0% |
| 1950 | 30,362 | 4.8% |
| 1960 | 32,132 | 5.8% |
| 1970 | 38,037 | 18.4% |
| 1980 | 66,298 | 74.3% |
| 1990 | 99,358 | 49.9% |
| 2000 | 143,293 | 44.2% |
| 2010 | 195,085 | 36.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
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.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
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 Shelby County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Shelby 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 ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.179 E7b.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Shelby County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Shelby County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 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
- 1880-1930 Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Regiments. Men in Shelby 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 Shelby County:
- - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company B
- - 7th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company E
- - 10th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C "Cahaba Valley Boys"
- - 18th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I (Curry Guards)
- - 20th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
- - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H "Steele Guards"
- - 25th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
- - 30th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and K
- - 31st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G and K
- - 44th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and E
World War I
- 1917-1919 Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 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 — index and images - How to Use this Collection
- 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]
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1834-1981: Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index and images
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate 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
- 1818-1841 Index to Will Book B at USGenWeb.org
- 1818-1915 Probate Estate Files Index at USGenWeb.org
- 1821-1856 Images of Estates, Book B, 1821-1839; 1828-1841 (and index); Vol. D, 1841-1856 (and index) at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- 1841-1846 Index to Will Book D at USGenWeb.org
- 1846-1851 Index to Will Book E at USGenWeb.org
- 1856-1867 Index to Will Book H at USGenWeb.org
- 1849-1854 Index to Will Book K at USGenWeb.org
- 1896-1925 Index to Will book I at USGenWeb.org
- 1871-1899 Index to Record of Estates and Incorporations Book A at USGenWeb.org
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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 ($). Shelby County is in District 2.
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.org - How to Use this Collection
- 1881-1930 - Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch — index, and some images - How to Use this Collection
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.org - How to Use this Collection
- 1816–1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection
- 1811, 1818-1827, 1833-1834, 1837-1869, 1876, 1888, 1893, 1898 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry– ($); . This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1824-1876 - Shelby County Marriage Index 1824-1876. Batch M594701 at FamilySearch
- 1824-1868 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920" at Ancestry– ($); . This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.
- 1876-1895 Shelby County Marriage Index 1876-1895. Batch M594702 at FamilySearch
- 1890-1898 Hageness, MariLee Beatty. Marriages 1890-1898 Shelby County, Alabama. Anniston, Ala.: MLH Research, 2000.
- 1900-1905 Thompson, Don and Mary Thompson. Marriage Records of Shelby County Alabama 1900-1905. Columbiana, Ala.: Shelby County Historical Society, Inc., n.d.
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry– ($); . contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881–1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection
- 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry– ($); . Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
- 1902-1914 - Shelby County Death Index 1902-1914 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[7]
- 1908-1959 Index to Deaths Recorded by the State of Alabama at Ancestry– ($); . The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
- 1908-1974 - Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
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 Shelby County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Shelby County Public Library
Mildred B. Harrison Regional Library – System Headquarters
50 Lester Street
Columbiana, Alabama 35051
205-669-3910
Website
- Albert L. Scott Library
100 9th Street NW
Alabaster, AL 35007
Phone (205) 664-6822
- Roy Downs Memorial Library
9700 Hwy 25
Calera AL 35040
Phone: 205-668-7200
- Chelsea Public Library
16623 Highway 280
Chelsea AL 35043
Phone: 205-847-5750
- Columbiana Public Library
50 Lester Street
Columbiana AL 35051
Phone: 205-669-5812
- Harpersville Public Library
PO Box 370
39321 Hwy 25
Harpersville AL 35078
Phone: 205-644-6331
- Jane B. Holmes Library
PO Box 262
230 Tucker Road
Helena AL 35080
Phone: 205-664-8308
- Mt. Laurel Library
111 Olmsted Street
Birmingham AL 35242
Phone: 205-991-1660
- North Shelby Library
5521 Cahaba Valley Rd
Birmingham AL 35242
Phone: 205-439-5500
- Parnell Memorial Library
277 Park Drive
Montevallo AL 35115
Phone: 205-665-9207
- Pelham Public Library
PO Box 1627
2000 Ball Park Road
Pelham AL 35124
Phone: 205-620-6418
- Vincent McGraw Public Library
PO Box 3
42850 Hwy 25
Vincent AL 35178
Phone: 205-672-2749
- Westover Public Library
3312 Westover Rd
Westover AL 35147
Phone: 205-678-3375
- Vernice Stoudenmire Public Library
9905 N. Main Street
Wilsonville AL 35186
Phone: 205-669-6180
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Shelby County Historical Society
1854 Old Courthouse
P.O. Box 457
Columbiana, Alabama 35051
205-669-3912
Website
- Collections include the old county courthouse records, books, periodicals, family folders, Museum & Archives.
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.
- Shelby County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Shelby 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[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.
- ↑ "List of Counties in Tennessee," Wikipedia.
- ↑ 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), Shelby County, Alabama. Page 37 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 33.
- ↑ 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, "Shelby County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_County,_Alabama, accessed 26 October 2018.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/c/cf/Igialabamals.pdf.
