Russell County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Health Department has birth and death records Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records Judge of Probate has marriage probate and land records.

Description
The County was named in honor of Colonel Gilbert C. Russell, who fought in the wars against the Creek Indians. The County has Phenix City as its seat and the County was created December 18, 1832. The County is located in the east central area of the state.

Parent County
1832--Russell County was created 18 December 1832 from the Creek Cession of 1832. County seat: Phenix City

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 this county:

Neighboring Counties

 * Barbour
 * Bullock
 * Chattahoochee County, Georgia
 * Lee
 * Macon
 * Muscogee County, Georgia
 * Stewart County, Georgia

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


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.


 * Cemetery Records of Jefferson and Walker Counties, Alabama. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Society?, 1945. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes Pine Grove Cemetery (Phenix City, Ala.).

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Land and Property
The FamilySearch Catalog has a collection of images of Russell County land records entitled, "Deed and mortgage records, 1833-1904; general index, 1836-1908."

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Russell County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Russell County.


 * - 6th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H [subsequently, Company C]
 * - 6th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company J "Russell Volunteers" [subsequently, Company F]
 * - 15th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A (Cantey Rifles)
 * - 17th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
 * - 33rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K
 * - 34th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I and K
 * - 37th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D
 * - 39th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 45th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and F

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)
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

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
 * Images of Wills 1828-1839; 1850-1873 Southeastern Genealogy ($)

Taxation

 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Russell County is in District 2.

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 Alabama, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1825 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.


 * 1834-1895 - Russell County Marriage Index 1834-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1844-1850, 1859, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Index, 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.


 * 1845-1850 "Alabama, Compiled Marriages from Selected Counties, 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


 * 1805-1967 Alabama, County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 at Ancestry — index and images ($).

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
Genealogical Society of East Alabama P. O. Box 2892 Opelika, AL 36803 Publication: Tap Roots Website


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

Societies
Russell County Historical Commission 801 Dillingham Street Seale, Alabama 36875

Libraries
Phenix City-Russell County Library 1501 17th Avenue Phenix City, Alabama, 36867 334-298-8452 Website

Chattahoochee Valley Community College

2602 College Drive

Phenix City, Alabama,36869

334-291-4900

Family History Centers
Family History Centre Locator
 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Russell County Alabama Genealogy Websites

 * Russell County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Russell County ALGenWeb
 * 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.
 * Russell County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Russell County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Russell County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)