Monroe County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Monroe 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 James Monroe, fifth President of the United States.[2]The county is located in the southwest area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Monroe County Courthouse Square
65 North Alabama Avenue
Monroeville, AL 36460
Phone: 251-743-2283
Fax: 251-575-5933
Monroe County Website
Courthouse Fire destroyed all records prior to 1833
Probate Judge has marriage probate and land record from 1832[4]
Monroe 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 | 1832 | 1908 | 1833 | 1832 | 1832 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
Monroe County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1833. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide page 28 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss. 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 Monroe County:[7]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
Cities | ||
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Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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Census-designated places | ||
Ghost towns | ||
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 Monroe county cemeteries.
- Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1820 | 8,838 | — |
1830 | 8,782 | −0.6% |
1840 | 10,680 | 21.6% |
1850 | 12,013 | 12.5% |
1860 | 15,667 | 30.4% |
1870 | 14,214 | −9.3% |
1880 | 17,091 | 20.2% |
1890 | 18,990 | 11.1% |
1900 | 23,666 | 24.6% |
1910 | 27,155 | 14.7% |
1920 | 28,884 | 6.4% |
1930 | 30,070 | 4.1% |
1940 | 29,465 | −2.0% |
1950 | 25,732 | −12.7% |
1960 | 22,372 | −13.1% |
1970 | 20,883 | −6.7% |
1980 | 22,651 | 8.5% |
1990 | 23,968 | 5.8% |
2000 | 24,324 | 1.5% |
2010 | 23,068 | −5.2% |
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]
- See obituary abstracts from the African-American newspaper, The Eagle, in the Newspaper section below. Section below also contains community news, marriage and birth announcements.
- Slaves and owners recorded in the Philadelphia Baptist Church Minutes, Tunnel Springs, Monroe Co, AL - 1840-1899.
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 Monroe County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Monroe County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2009. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.125 E7b.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Monroe County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
Early Settlers Along the Old Federal Road in Monroe Conecuh Counties This book includes Monroe county genealogy and history, and Conecuh county genealogy.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Monroe County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
Regiments. Men in Monroe 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 Monroe County:
- - 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company E "J. Powell's Dragoons"
- - 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company H "Sandy Williams' Guards"
- - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company H
- - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
- - 3rd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company B [formerly, Co. "M", Wirt Adams' Cavalry]
- - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company A [formerly 3rd TN Cavalry]
- - 5th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D "Monroe Guards"
- - 17th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H
- - 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
- - 36th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F and G
- - 42nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and H
- - 42nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- 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
- 1880-1930 - Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch
World War I
- 1917-1919 - Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch
World War II
- 1940-1945 - Alabama, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both and pay-to-access websites.
- Obituaries & Death Notices published in The Eagle, 1891-1914 - an African-American newspaper of the county. Provided via Afrigeneas.com
- Community News published in The Eagle, 1891-1914 - an African American newspaper.Also marriage announcements and birth announcements.
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
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1816 Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Includes Monroe County.
- 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Monroe 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.org
- 1881-1930 - Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
- Monroe County Births at ALGenWeb
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
- 1800–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1809–1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch.org
- 1816–1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch.org
- 1825, 1833-1838, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry– ($); . This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1833-1838 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920" at Ancestry – ($); . 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.
- 1833-1895 - Monroe County Marriage Books A and B Index 1833-1895. Batch M593381 at FamilySearch
- 1881-1895 - Monroe County Marriage Books C and D Index 1881-1895. Batch M593382 at FamilySearch
- Marriages at ALGenWeb
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry– ($); . contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry– ($); . 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.
- 1881 – 1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch.org
- 1908 – 1974 Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch.org
- 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 Collections. Deaths at ALGenWeb
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 Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Monroe County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Monroe County Public Library
121 Pineville Road
Monroeville, Alabama 36460
Phone: 251-743-3818
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Monroe County Heritage Museum
31 N. Alabama Ave.
Monroeville, AL 36460
251-575-7433
Website
Monroe County Heritage Museums
P. O. Box 1637
31 North Alabama Avenue
Monroeville, Alabama 36460
Phone: 344-575-7433
Website
- Publication: Quarterly Newsletter
- Publication: Quarterly Newsletter
Societies[edit | edit source]
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Monroe County, ALGenWebe genealogical resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project
- Monroe Co. AL
- 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.
- Monroe 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.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, "Monroe County, Alabama Genealogy and History", http://genealogytrails.com/ala/monroe/ 6/13/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Monroe, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Alabama 6/013/2017.
- ↑ 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), Monroe County, Alabama. Page 39 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), 34.
- ↑ 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, "Monroe County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Alabama, accessed 23 October 2018.