Lee County, Alabama Genealogy

Guide to Lee County, Alabama ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Probate Judge has marriage and land records from 1867, military discharge records from 1919 and probate records from 1861

Description
The County was named is in honor of Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the Confederate Army. The County has Opelika as its seat and the County was created December 5, 1866. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

Parent County
1866--Lee County was created 5 December 1866 from Chambers, Macon, Russell, and Tallapoosa Counties. County seat: Opelika

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Lee County:

Neighboring Counties



 * Chambers
 * Harris County, Georgia
 * Macon
 * Muscogee County, Georgia
 * Russell
 * Tallapoosa

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Lee county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.


 * Lee County cemeteries are included in Alabama Cemetery Records at FamilySearch Books Online - free.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1871-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1880-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch — images

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth Records

 * 1881 – 1930 at FamilySearch.org — index

Marriage Records

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry – ($); Index. 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.


 * 1788, 1797, 1874–1880, 1882–1883, 1886–1907, 1933, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry – ($); Index. 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.


 * 1867-1931 - Lee County Marriage Books A-L Index 1867-1931 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1874–1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920" at Ancestry – ($); Index. 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.


 * 1809 – 1950 at FamilySearch.org — index/images


 * 1816 – 1957 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1809 – 1920 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4192 Alabama Marriages,


 * 1809-1920 (Selected Counties)] at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records

 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry – ($); Index. 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.


 * 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry – ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).


 * 1908-1974 - at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881 – 1952 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1908 – 1959 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5188 Alabama Deaths,


 * 1908-59] at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
East Alabama Genealogical Society P. O. Box 2892 Opelika, AL 36801 Publication: Tap Roots Link

Auburn Heritage Association P. O. Box 2248 Auburn, AL 36830 Link

Lee County Historical Society P. O. Box 206 Loachapoka, AL 36865 Publication: Trails in History Link


 * List of Alabama Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Libraries
Auburn Public Library 749 East Thach Ave. Auburn, Alabama 36830 Telephone: 334-501-3190


 * Offers family history subscription databases to library patrons

Lee Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library 334-705-5380

Family History Center
Family History Centre Locator
 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Opelika Alabama
 * 510 Groce St Opelika, Lee, Alabama, United States Phone: 334-745-2140 Hours: T-W: 9am-12pm, 6pm-8pm; Th-F 6pm-8pm Closed: Closed for Holidays &amp; General Conference. Attention: Also open by appt.

Lee County Alabama Genealogy Websites

 * Lee County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy


 * 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.
 * Lee County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.


 * Lee County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)


 * United States Resources: Alabama


 * Lee Co. AL