Shelby County, Alabama Genealogy

Societies and Family History ResourcesGovernment RecordsGenealogy LinksPublicationsCensus Records
Court, Probate, Land and Tax RecordsBirth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
Cemeteries & GraveyardsChurch & Bible RecordsCounty HistoryMilitary RecordsSchools & Directories

Shelby 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 Shelby Co., ancestors. Get started by constructing a Free Family Tree.

Shelby County was created on February 7, 1818, from former Creek Indian territory ceded in the Treaty of Fort Jackson on August 9, 1814 and from Montgomery County. This particular county was named in honor of Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), first Governor of Kentucky.

Shelbyville was the first county seat. In 1826 the town of Columbia changed its name to Columbiana and became the permanent county seat. In addition the county government website is http://www.shelbyal.com/

Locations adjacent Shelby County happen to be St. Clair County (northeast), Talladega County (east), Coosa County (southeast), Chilton County (south), Bibb County (southwest), Jefferson County (northwest).

Cities and towns found in Shelby County consist of Alabaster, Birmingham, Calera, Chelsea, Childersburg, Columbiana, Harpersville, Helena, Hoover, Indian Springs Village, Inverness, Lake Purdy, Leeds, Meadowbrook, Montevallo, Pelham, Saginaw, Shelby, Sterrett, Vandiver, Vincent, Westover, Wilsonville, Wilton.

Shelby 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. Shelby Co. Slave Schedules can be obtained for 1850 & 1860. Shelby Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Shelby Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Shelby 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.

Shelby County Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Shelby County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

Shelby County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist often overlook the significance of Shelby 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 Shelby 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.

You need to speak to the clerk's office to identify hours, mailing address, fees and other facts prior to visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are available to interested parties, barring private issues. Many staff will guide individuals in locating the materials, however it's up to the person to carry out the research.

The below facts shows exactly what birth, marriage, death, land, probate, and legal records will be in Shelby County. The years pointed out below could be the first widely known documents in this county.

  • Shelby County Clerk of Circuit Court serves as custodian of all county court records, and is responsible for providing access to those court records by court personnel, the legal community and the public.
    • Address: P.O.Box 1810, Columbiana, Ala. 3505l
    • Phone: 205-669-3760, Fax No. 205-669-3786
    • Court Records: 1819
    • Divorce Records: are maintained among the equity records (Divorces issued prior to 1950 are located here. Divorces issued after 1950 can be found  at the Alabama Department of Public Health)
  • Shelby County Clerk of Probate Court maintains following records in the probate office: Plats, Maps, Judgments, Liens, Deeds, Mortgages, Corporations, Lis pendens, Marriage licenses, Military discharges. The Probate Judge presides over all probate court hearings for Probate of Wills, Administrations, Conservators, Guardianships, Adoptions, Legitimations, Name changes, Condemnations, Mental Commitment hearings, and performs marriage ceremonies.
    • Address: P.O. Box 1627, Columbiana, AL 35051-1627
    • Phone: (205) 669-3740
    • Marriage Records: 1819 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
    • Probate Records: 1819
    • Land Records: 1819
  • Shelby County Tax Commissioner's Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
    • Address: ?
    • Phone: ?
  • Shelby County Health Department has Birth Records from N/A, Death records from N/A. You may go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait.
Alabama Historical Records - Databases include Alabama Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Alabama Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Alabama Voter Lists & Census Records; Alabama Immigration & Emigration Records; Alabama Obituary Records; Alabama Military Records; Alabama Family Tree Records; Alabama Pictures; Alabama Stories, Memories & Histories; Alabama Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Shelby County Genealogy Links

The following are web links to Genealogy and family history, Records and Resources relevant to Shelby 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 Shelby County genealogy or family history related sites.

Shelby Co. AL Books, Newspapers & Publications

Shelby Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Shelby Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Shelby Co. AL Census Records

Shelby Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards

Shelby Co. AL Church & Bible Records

Shelby Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Shelby Co. AL General and History Websites

Shelby Co. AL Immigration & Naturalization

Shelby Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Shelby Co. AL Military Records

Shelby Co. AL Schools & Directories

Site Map | Copyright © 2013 GenealogyInc.com,