Monroe County, Alabama genealogy and family tree research page. Discover links to record collections, history, and genealogy sources to assist you to you track your personal Monroe Co., ancestors. Get started by constructing a Free Family Tree.
Monroe County was created on June 29, 1815. It comprised all the Creek Indian lands ceded by the Treaty of Fort Jackson in 1814. It was reduced in size by the creation of the Alabama counties of Montgomery County, Conecuh County and Wilcox County. This particular county was named in honor of James Monroe (1758–1831), 5th U.S. President.
The Monroe County Seat was established at Fort Clairborne; it was moved to Monroeville in 1832. and in addition the county government website is http://www.monroecountyal.com/
Locations adjacent Monroe County happen to be Wilcox County (north), Butler County (east-northeast), Conecuh County (east), Escambia County (southeast), Baldwin County (southwest), Clarke County (west)
Cities and towns found in Monroe County consist of Monroeville, Beatrice, Excel, Frisco City, Vredenburgh.
Monroe County includes Federal Census Schedules to assist in looking into your family tree. Government Population Schedules can be found for 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Monroe Co. Slave Schedules can be obtained for 1850 & 1860. Monroe Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Monroe Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Monroe Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. Two State censuses for confederate veterans exist for 1907 and 1921. You can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms that can help with your research.
A list of Monroe County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
Genealogist often overlook the significance of Monroe County court, probate, and land documents as a source of genealogy and family history details. Buried away in Alabama courthouses and archives just about everywhere are often the hopes and dreams and frustrations of countless Alabama people. The odds are excellent that your ancestors and forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least several aspects of their lives in the Monroe County court records. Even if your forebears is not discussed in a Court case, take into consideration all of the other methods which could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.
The first courthouse in Monroe County was built in 1824 at Fort Claiborne. It is the oldest public building in the county. It served as the Monroe County Court House from 1824-32, when the county seat was moved to Monroeville. The structure was moved to Perdue Hill in 1884. The county seat of Monroe County moved to Monroeville in 1832, and a year later the courthouse was destroyed by fire. A brick courthouse replaced it in, later to be converted to the first bank in the county, and in 1903 the Old Courthouse (as it is known today) was built. The Hollywood set of the 1962 film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird was modeled after the courtroom in the Old Courthouse. The current Monroe County courthouse, known as the New Courthouse, was built in 1963. The Old Courthouse, which housed the county court for 60 years, was made part of the Monroe County Heritage Museum.
Courthouse destroyed by fire in 1832, nearly all probate records destroyed. The below facts shows exactly what birth, marriage, death, land, probate, and legal records will be in Monroe County. The years pointed out below could be the first widely known documents in this county.
The following are web links to Genealogy and family history, Records and Resources relevant to Monroe County. Each of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is basically a directory that has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to present your own favorite Monroe County genealogy or family history related sites.