Find Genealogy Records in Dothan

Dothan genealogy records include birth, death, marriage, and family history documents held by Houston County and local research centers. The city sits in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama, near the Florida and Georgia borders. Dothan is the largest city in Houston County and serves as the county seat. Researchers can access vital records at the Houston County Probate Court and find local history materials at the Dothan Houston County Library System. The library has a Local History Room with newspapers, family files, and maps that help trace roots in this part of Alabama.

Dothan Houston County Library Local History Room

The Dothan Houston County Library System runs a Local History Room that holds genealogy materials for Dothan and the Wiregrass region. This is a key resource for family history research in the area. The collection includes books, microfilm, maps, and family files that go back many years.

The Local History Room has a strong collection of old newspapers on microfilm. These include the Dothan Eagle and other local papers from the early 1900s. Newspapers help you find death notices, wedding announcements, and other family events. Staff can help you use the microfilm readers and point you to the right sources for your research.

The library also has family files. These are folders that hold notes, clippings, and records that other researchers have gathered about local families. If someone already did research on your family, you may find their work here. You can add your own findings to help future researchers too.

The library is in downtown Dothan near the civic center. Parking is free in the lot next to the building. The Local History Room is on the main floor. You do not need an appointment, but it helps to call ahead if you have a big research project so staff can pull materials for you.

Where to Get Vital Records for Dothan

Dothan residents get vital records from Houston County offices. The type of record you need tells you which office to visit. Birth and death records are at the health department. Marriage records are at the probate court. The county handles all vital records for Dothan and the other towns in Houston County.

The Houston County Health Department is part of the Alabama ViSION network. This means staff can pull up any Alabama vital record from the state database. You do not need to go to the county where the event took place. Walk in and ask for the record you need. Bring a valid photo ID. The office is at 1781 East Cottonwood Road in Dothan.

For marriage records, go to the Houston County Probate Court. The probate judge issued marriage licenses in Alabama until 2019. Now couples file a marriage certificate instead. The probate court has all the old marriage licenses and the new certificates. Some marriage records in Houston County go back to 1903 when the county was formed.

The probate court is in the Houston County Courthouse in downtown Dothan. Street parking is available, and there are pay lots nearby. Security checks all visitors at the door, so leave large bags at home and bring your photo ID.

How to Search Dothan Genealogy Records

You have several ways to search for family history records in Dothan. Online search is the fastest for many types of records. In-person visits work best when you need certified copies or want to use the library collections. Mail requests are an option if you cannot visit in person.

Start online with free databases. FamilySearch has Alabama records that include Houston County. The site has census records, military records, and some vital records. You can search by name and see what comes up. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has digital records at digital.archives.alabama.gov that may include Dothan area materials.

For court records, use AlacourtAccess at pa.alacourt.com. This system covers all Alabama counties, including Houston County. You can search by name or case number. A name search costs a small fee. This works for divorce records, civil cases, and criminal cases that went through the courts in Dothan.

To search genealogy records in Dothan, you need basic info about the person:

• Full name (first, middle, last)
• Approximate year of the event
• Names of parents or spouse if known

In-person research at the Dothan library gives you access to materials that are not online. The Local History Room has items you cannot find anywhere else. Staff know the collection well and can guide you to the right sources. Plan to spend a few hours if you have a lot to look through.

Record Fees in Dothan

Each office sets its own fees for copies and searches. The state has standard rates for vital records, but counties can add small fees for local costs. Here is what you can expect to pay when you search for records in Dothan.

The Houston County Health Department charges the state rate for vital records. A certified birth or death record costs $15 for the first copy. Extra copies in the same order cost $6 each. If you need same-day service, add $15 for rush processing. These fees apply whether you order in person or by mail.

The Houston County Probate Court sets its own fees for marriage records and other documents. Most searches cost between $5 and $15. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call ahead at (334) 677-4700 to ask about current fees before you visit. The probate court accepts cash, check, and sometimes credit cards.

The Dothan library does not charge to use the Local History Room. Research is free. If you need copies, there is a small fee per page. Microfilm printouts have their own rate. Staff can tell you the current copy costs when you visit. The library is one of the best free resources for genealogy research in Dothan.

Houston County Genealogy Records

Dothan is the county seat of Houston County. All vital records for Dothan go through the county offices. Houston County was formed in 1903 from parts of Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties. The county holds records that date back to its founding and has some older records that came from the parent counties.

Houston County is in the 20th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court handles divorce cases, civil lawsuits, and criminal trials. The Circuit Clerk keeps all court records and gives out copies. For probate matters like wills and estates, the Probate Court is the office to visit. Both courts are in the Houston County Courthouse in downtown Dothan.

View Houston County Genealogy Records

Church and Cemetery Records in Dothan

Church records fill in gaps when official records are missing. Many churches kept their own logs of baptisms, marriages, and funerals. These records often have more detail than government documents. Dothan has churches that go back over a hundred years, and some still have their old record books.

The First Baptist Church of Dothan dates to 1893. The First Methodist Church has roots in the late 1800s as well. Catholic, Presbyterian, and other churches also have long histories in the area. Contact each church to ask about their records. Some have given old records to the library or historical society.

Cemetery records help you find death dates and family connections. Dothan City Cemetery is one of the oldest in the area. Memory Hill Cemetery has graves from the early 1900s. The Wiregrass Archives at Troy University in Dothan has some cemetery transcriptions and burial indexes. Find A Grave online has many Dothan area cemeteries with photos and names you can search for free.

Wiregrass Archives at Troy University Dothan

Troy University has a campus in Dothan with a regional archives that holds materials on the Wiregrass area. The Wiregrass Archives collects papers, photos, and records that tell the story of southeast Alabama. Researchers can use these materials for family history work.

The archives has oral histories, maps, and business records. Some collections focus on specific families or communities. Staff can help you find materials that relate to your research. Access is free, but you need to make an appointment before you visit.

The Troy University Dothan campus is on the east side of the city. Free parking is available on campus. The archives is a good second stop after you use the public library. Between the two, you can access most of the local history materials in Dothan.

Wiregrass Museum of Art and Local History

The Wiregrass Museum of Art in Dothan has exhibits on local history and culture. While it is mainly an art museum, some exhibits touch on the region's past. The museum gift shop sometimes has local history books for sale. The museum can point you to other resources for genealogy in the Dothan area.

The Landmark Park living history farm outside Dothan shows how people lived in the Wiregrass region in the 1800s and early 1900s. The park has historic buildings, farm equipment, and interpretive programs. This is not a genealogy resource, but it helps you understand the world your ancestors knew. The park is at 430 Landmark Drive in Dothan.

African American Genealogy in Dothan

African American genealogy in Dothan takes extra work because records were not always kept the same way. The Freedmen's Bureau records from after the Civil War list many Black families in southeast Alabama. These records are at the National Archives and on FamilySearch online.

The 1870 census was the first to name all Black Americans in Alabama. Earlier census records only counted enslaved people by age and sex without names. After 1870, you can trace Black families in Dothan through census records like any other family. The Dothan library has census microfilm that includes Houston County.

Some Black churches in Dothan have records that go back many decades. The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and other historic congregations may have baptism and membership records. Contact these churches to ask about their records. The library staff may know which churches have the oldest record books.

Tips for Dothan Genealogy Research

Houston County is young compared to other Alabama counties. It was formed in 1903 from pieces of Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties. If your family lived in the Dothan area before 1903, check those three parent counties for records. The event may be in a different county than you expect.

The Wiregrass region was frontier land until the late 1800s. Settlement came later here than in north Alabama. Many families moved to Dothan from Georgia or other parts of Alabama in the early 1900s. Look for migration patterns in census records. A family might appear in Georgia in 1900 and in Dothan by 1910.

Call ahead before you visit any office. Hours can change, and some offices close for lunch or training days. Bring cash for fees because not all offices take cards. Make copies of what you find. Take notes on where you found each record so you can cite your sources later.

Dothan is a good base for research in several counties. Henry County to the north, Dale County to the northwest, and Geneva County to the southwest all have records that connect to Dothan families. The Florida border is just 20 miles south, so some families split between Alabama and Florida. Consider searching in Jackson County, Florida if your family crossed the state line.

Dothan Research Contact Info

Here is a summary of the main places to search for genealogy records in Dothan. Save this list for your next research trip.

• Dothan Houston County Library - (334) 793-9767 - 445 N Oates St, Dothan, AL 36303
• Houston County Probate Court - (334) 677-4700 - 462 N Oates St, Suite 1, Dothan, AL 36303
• Houston County Health Department - (334) 678-2800 - 1781 E Cottonwood Rd, Dothan, AL 36301
• Wiregrass Archives, Troy University - (334) 983-6556 - 500 University Dr, Dothan, AL 36303

Plan your visit around office hours. The library has the longest hours and is a good place to start. The county offices close earlier in the afternoon. If you need certified copies, get those first, then spend the rest of your day at the library.