Search Barbour County Genealogy Records

Barbour County genealogy records date back to 1832 when the county was formed from Creek cession lands. This southeast Alabama county sits on the Georgia border and has a unique feature: two county seats. Clayton serves as the main county seat, while Eufaula has a second courthouse. The Barbour County Probate Court and the Barbour County Health Department hold birth, death, and marriage records. Researchers can visit either courthouse location for probate matters. The county has a rich history tied to cotton farming and Chattahoochee River commerce, making it a fruitful area for family history research.

What Genealogy Records Are Available

Barbour County has a solid collection of genealogy records. Marriage records at the probate court go back to 1838. Land deeds and estate files date to the same era. Birth and death records from the state system start in 1908. Some older vital records exist in local collections, church files, and family bibles.

Types of genealogy records you can find in Barbour County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present (state system)
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1838 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files
• Military discharge papers

Older birth and death records before 1908 are harder to locate. Alabama did not keep these at the state level back then. Church records from Eufaula and Clayton congregations can fill some gaps. Cemetery records along the Chattahoochee River area are another good source. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery holds some early Barbour County files.

The county lost some records over the years. A fire in the 1800s destroyed part of the collection. But many files survived, and some were later restored from copies held by other offices or private hands. Always check multiple sources when researching this county.

Two Courthouse Locations

Barbour County is one of only two Alabama counties with two county seats. Clayton is the main county seat. Eufaula also has a courthouse that handles county business. This setup dates back to the 1800s when travel was hard and the county wanted to serve residents in both areas.

For genealogy research, both courthouses hold records. The Clayton courthouse has the main probate office. The Eufaula courthouse can also help with some matters. If you plan to visit in person, call ahead to make sure the records you need are at that location. Staff can tell you which office has the files you want.

Most genealogy records are in Clayton. But Eufaula may have copies or can pull records from the main office. The two towns are about 20 miles apart. Some researchers visit both in a single trip to cover all bases.

Barbour County Probate Court

The Barbour County Probate Court is the main source for marriage records, wills, and estate files. The court keeps indexes that go back to 1838. The probate judge handles adoptions, mental health cases, and other court matters beyond genealogy records.

Marriage records at the probate court are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to prove a family link. This makes marriage records one of the best sources for family history work. The court has marriage indexes from 1838 to today.

The probate court may have online record access through a Landmark WEB system or similar tool. Check with the office to see what is available from home. Many Alabama counties let you search marriage and deed indexes online at no cost. You can then request copies by mail or in person.

Barbour County Health Department

The Barbour County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. Through the ViSION network, they can pull any Alabama birth, death, marriage, or divorce record. You do not have to visit the county where the event took place. Any county health office in Alabama can access the state system.

There are rules about who can get vital records. Birth records less than 125 years old have limits. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal guardian can get a certified copy. Death records less than 25 years old also have some limits. After these time periods pass, the records open up for genealogy use by anyone.

Walk-in service is often same day. Staff search the state database and print your record while you wait. Bring a valid ID and know the details of what you need. Mail requests are also accepted with proper ID and payment.

How to Search Records

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Barbour County. Online tools work for basic lookups. In-person visits let you see full documents. Mail requests work when you know what you need.

Start with any online portal the county offers. Check the Barbour County government website for links to record searches. Many Alabama counties use Landmark WEB or a similar system. If online access is not available, you can call or write the probate court to ask about a record.

For vital records, you have three choices:

• Visit the county health department in person
• Mail a request with payment to the health department
• Order online through VitalChek

VitalChek is the state's online ordering partner. You can order birth, death, marriage, and divorce records at vitalchek.com. They add a service fee on top of the state fee. This is a fast way to get records if you cannot visit in person.

In-person visits are best for deep research. Staff can help you search and explain what is available. You may find records that do not show up in online indexes. Bring a notebook and valid ID when you go.

Georgia Border Research

Barbour County sits on the Georgia state line. The Chattahoochee River forms the border. This means many families have ties to both states. If your ancestors lived here, check Georgia records too.

Quitman County and Clay County in Georgia are just across the river. Families often crossed back and forth. Some people were born in Georgia but married in Alabama, or vice versa. Land records may show property on both sides of the river. Church records from border area congregations often list members from both states.

Eufaula was a busy river town in the 1800s. Steamboats moved people and goods up and down the Chattahoochee. Families came from Georgia and other states to settle here. When you hit a dead end in Barbour County records, try looking across the river in Georgia.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow has records for the border counties. FamilySearch and Ancestry have indexed records from both states. A search that covers Barbour County and the Georgia side will catch more family connections.

Online Access Options

Barbour County may have online record access through a web portal. Check the county website or call the probate court to find out. Many Alabama counties now let you search indexes from home. The data shows case numbers and basic info. You then order copies by mail or in person.

Other online resources for Barbour County genealogy:

• AlacourtAccess for court records at pa.alacourt.com
• Alabama Department of Archives digital collection at digital.archives.alabama.gov
• FamilySearch free records at familysearch.org
• Ancestry subscription database at ancestry.com
• USGenWeb Barbour County page for volunteer research

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has free digital records. They have old newspapers, photos, and government files. Some Barbour County records from the 1800s are in their collection. This is a good starting point for older research.

FamilySearch has free records with no subscription. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and church records. Create a free account to use all their tools. The site has a Barbour County wiki page with research tips and links.

Local Genealogy Tips

Barbour County was formed in 1832 from lands ceded by the Creek Nation. The area was part of the Creek territory before white settlement. Some families have mixed Creek and European ancestry. Check both settler records and Native American rolls if this applies to your family.

Eufaula was a wealthy cotton town before the Civil War. Many large plantations were in the area. If your ancestors were enslaved, check estate records and plantation files. The Freedmen's Bureau records after the war list many newly freed people in Barbour County. The Alabama Department of Archives has these files.

The Shorter Mansion in Eufaula is now a museum. It has some local history materials. The Eufaula Heritage Association keeps records about old families in the area. They may have files or leads that are not in the courthouse.

Cemetery records are helpful in Barbour County. Old graveyards dot the rural areas. Some have been transcribed and posted online. Others require a visit. The Fairview Cemetery in Eufaula has graves of many early settlers. Local genealogy volunteers have indexed some of these sites.

Church records fill gaps where courthouse records are missing. Baptist and Methodist churches were common in the 1800s. Some of these congregations still have old record books. Call or write the church to ask about their archives. Many will share records with researchers.

Cities in Barbour County

Barbour County has several towns and communities. All of them use the Barbour County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. There are no cities in Barbour County with a population over 50,000.

The main towns in Barbour County include Eufaula, Clayton, Louisville, and Clio. Eufaula is the largest with about 12,000 people. Clayton has around 1,500 residents. All of these communities use the county offices for genealogy records. There is no city-level vital records office in Alabama.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Barbour County. If your family lived near the county line, check records in both places. County borders have changed over time, so an ancestor may appear in a different county than you expect.

Quitman County and Clay County in Georgia also border Barbour County across the Chattahoochee River. If your family lived near the state line, check Georgia records as well.