Chilton County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Clerk Circuit Court has probate and divorce records, Court Records from 1868 Probate Judge has marriage and land records

Description
The County was named in honor of William Parish Chilton, Sr. (1810-1871) who was a lawyer who became Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and later represented Montgomery County in the Congress of the Confederate States of America. On February 4, 1861, Wm. Chilton gaveled the Confederacy into existence, as acting leader of the Provisional Congress. The County has Grantville as its seat and the County was created December 30, 1868. The County is located in the center area of the state.

History
Chilton County was originally known as Baker County, renamed Chilton County on 17 December 1874.

Parent County
1868--Chilton County was created 30 December 1868 from part of Bibb, Autauga, Perry, and Shelby Counties. County seat: Clanton

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
Baker County (later known as Chilton County) had a destructive courthouse fire in 1870.

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



 * Autauga
 * Bibb
 * Coosa
 * Dallas
 * Elmore
 * Perry
 * Shelby

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


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Local Histories

 * Wyatt, Thomas Eugene. Chilton County and Her People: A Brief History. Clanton, Ala.: The Union-Banner, 1960. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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

 * 1830-1976 - Probate Records, 1830-1976 at  - free.
 * 1880-1920 Chilton County, Alabama Index of Wills (Book) Record II

Online Probate Records


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

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth

 * 1881 – 1930 at FamilySearch

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $  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.


 * 1870-1936 - Chilton County Marriage Books 2-10 Index 1870-1936 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1870-1930 - in "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950," at FamilySearch.org - free.


 * 1933, 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.


 * 1809 – 1950 at FamilySearch— index/images


 * 1816 – 1957 at FamilySearch — index


 * 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $


 * 1809 – 1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry $

Death

 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $. 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 $. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).


 * 1908-1910 - Chilton County Death Index 1908-1910. Batch at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1908-1974 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881 – 1952 at FamilySearch


 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch


 * 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $


 * 1908 – 1959 Alabama Deaths, 1908-59 at Ancestry $

Voting Registers

 * Chilton County was not yet established for the 1867 Voting Registers.

Societies and Libraries
CHILTON COUNTY GENEALOGY SOCIETY P.O. Box 703 Thorsby, Al 35171 Website

Chilton County Historical Society P. O. Box 644 Clanton, AL 35046 205-755-1768 Publication: Chiltonian Facebook Website

Chilton Chilton-Clanton Public Library 205-755-1768 Website


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





Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Centre Locator

Websites

 * Alabama Counties: Chilton County Chilton 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.
 * Chilton County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Chilton County Alabama site part of The Heart Of Dixie Project
 * Chiton County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * United States Resources: Alabama