Sumter County, Alabama Genealogy

∣ Societies and Family History Resources ∣ Government Records ∣ Genealogy Links ∣ Publications ∣ Census Records ∣
∣ Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records ∣ Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records ∣
∣ Cemeteries & Graveyards ∣ Church & Bible Records ∣ County History ∣ Military Records ∣ Schools & Directories ∣

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

Sumter County was created on Dec. 18, 1832, from former Choctaw Indian territory by the Choctaw Cession of 1832.. This particular county was named in honor of Thomas Sumter (1734–1832), U.S. Congressman from South Carolina.

Currently the Sumter County Seat is located in Livingston (established in 1833) and in addition the county government website is http://www.alabama.gov/

Locations adjacent Sumter County happen to be Pickens County (north), Greene County (northeast), Marengo County (southeast), Choctaw County (south), Lauderdale County, Mississippi (southwest), Kemper County, Mississippi (west), Noxubee County, Mississippi (northwest).

Cities and towns found in Sumter County consist of Cuba, Emelle, Epes, Gainesville, Geiger, Livingston, York, Panola, Payneville.

Sumter County includes Federal Census Schedules to assist in looking into your family tree. Government Population Schedules can be found for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Sumter Co. Slave Schedules can be obtained for 1850 & 1860. Sumter Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Sumter Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Sumter 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.

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Sumter County Societies and Family History Resources

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

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Sumter County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist often overlook the significance of Sumter 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 Sumter 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.

Livingston was named the Sumter County seat in 1832, and the first county courthouse was completed in 1833. The current courthouse was built in 1903. There was record loss due to a courthouse fire in 1901. The below facts shows exactly what birth, marriage, death, land, probate, and legal records will be in Sumter County. The years pointed out below could be the first widely known documents in this county.

  • Sumter 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 1040, Livingston, AL 35470
    • Phone: (205) 652-7281
    • Court Records: 1876
    • 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)
  • Sumter 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 936, Livingston, AL 35470-0936,
    • Phone: (205) 652-7281
    • Marriage Records: 1833 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
    • Probate Records: 1828
    • Land Records: 1825
  • Sumter County Revenue Commissioner's Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
    • Address: ?
    • Phone: ?
  • Sumter County Health Department has Birth Records from 1888 , Death records from 1881. 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....
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Sumter County Genealogy Links

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

Sumter Co. AL Books, Newspapers & Publications

Sumter Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Sumter Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Sumter Co. AL Census Records

Sumter Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards

Sumter Co. AL Church & Bible Records

Sumter Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

  • Sumter Co. AL General and History Websites

    Sumter Co. AL Immigration & Naturalization

    Sumter Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

    Sumter Co. AL Military Records

    Sumter Co. AL Schools & Directories

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