Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy

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

Description
Cherokee County was created on 9 January 1836 and named for the Cherokee tribe of American Indians. Its county seat is Lafayette. It is located in the northeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Cherokee County Courthouse 100 Main Street Centre, AL 35960 Phone: 256-927-3637 Cherokee County Website Probate Judge has marriage, probate, land and military discharge records from 1882.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.

Bible Records

 * Cherokee County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
 * Cherokee County, Alabama Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives

Biographies

 * History and Heritage Articles on Cherokee County Alabama. n.d. n.p.: Cherokee County Historical Museum. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Memorial Record of Alabama, Cherokee County. Madison, WI: Brant & Fuller, 1893. P. 635. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Cherokee County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project

Census Records
State Census


 * 1855   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1866  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * 1831-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1855-1916 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1856-1929 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1882-1892 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

 * 1865-1872  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only

Funeral Homes

 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Perry Funeral Home in Centre

Land and Property Records
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Cherokee County see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Cherokee 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..

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

 * History and Heritage Articles on Cherokee County Alabama. n.d. n.p.: Cherokee County Historical Museum. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Family Maps of Cherokee County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Alabama Maps and Blueprints Collection at Alabama Department of Archives and History – maps can be browsed by location or subject

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * ca.1918-ca.1962  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
 * 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  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1930  at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection; ndex and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History


 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company B
 * - 7th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D (Jake Curry Guards)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E (Cherokee Guards)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F (Davis Guards)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G (Cherokee Mountaineers)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H (Cherokees)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I (Cherokee Rangers)
 * - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D
 * - 31st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and C
 * - 47th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 48th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H

World War I
 * 1917-1919  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 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 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1940-1966 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images

Newspapers

 * Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Other Records
 Voting Registration 
 * 1834-1981: at FamilySearch] - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Cherokee County has one book.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1809-1985 (*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1830-1976 (*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1882-1902 Apprentice Bonds 1882-1902 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014  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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

 * 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Cherokee County is in District 3.

Birth

 * 1881-1930  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1881-1930  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images

Marriage

 * 1800-1969 Alabama, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1969 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1802-1825 Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1825 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1809-1920 Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages from Selected Counties, 1809-1920 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1809-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
 * 1816-1957  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1818-1936  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1882-1930 Cherokee County Marriage Books A and C thru G Index 1882-1930 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Death

 * 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1881-1974 Alabama, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1959 Alabama, U.S., Death Index, 1908-1959 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Archives
Alabama Department of Archives and History 624 Washington Ave PO Box 300100 Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-242-4435 Email: [mailto:mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov] Website Facebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Fort Payne Alabama FamilySearch Center
 * Gadsden Alabama FamilySearch Center
 * Centre Alabama Library - an affiliate library
 * Cherokee County Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Gadsden Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library
 * Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Rainsville Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Cherokee County Public Library 935 Coleman Street Heflin, AL 36264 Phone: 256-463-7125 Email: [mailto:cheaharegionallibrary@yahoo.com cheaharegionallibrary@yahoo.com] Website Facebook

Museums
Cherokee County Historical Museum 101 E Main Street Centre, AL 35960 Phone: 256-927-7835 Email: [mailto:museumatcentre@gmail.com museumatcentre@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Societies
Historical Preservation Society of Cherokee County, Alabama PO Box 94 Centre, AL 35960 Email: [mailto:preserving.cherokeeco.history@gmail.com preserving.cherokeeco.history@gmail.com] Facebook Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library 1 Cabot Ave Gadsden, AL 35902 Email: [mailto:neagslib@comcast.net neagslib@comcast.net] Website Facebook Piedmont Historical Society Phone: 256-239-6580 Email: [mailto:dan.phsoc@gmail.com dan.phsoc@gmail.com] Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project. Record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – 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.