Find Genealogy Records in Bibb County

Bibb County genealogy records are held at the Probate Court in Centreville. County records date back to 1818, earlier than the state vital records system that began in 1908.

What Records Are Available

Bibb County has a strong collection of genealogy records. The county was formed early in Alabama history, so records go back a long way. Most are held at the probate court in Centreville. Some older records are also at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery.

Types of records you can find in Bibb County:

• Marriage records from 1820 to present
• Probate and estate files from 1830 to present
• Land deeds and property records from 1818 to present
• Birth records from 1908 to present (state vital records)
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Guardianship records from 1823 forward
• Administrators records from 1821 forward
• Court case files from the circuit court

Birth and death records before 1908 are harder to find. Alabama did not require vital records registration until that year. For earlier births and deaths, check church records, cemetery logs, or family bibles. The Alabama Department of Archives has some of these older sources.

The county has not had any major courthouse fires. This means the record collection is fairly complete going back to the early days. This is good news for genealogy researchers. Many Alabama counties lost records to fires, but Bibb County avoided that fate.

Bibb County Probate Court

The Bibb County Probate Court is your main source for genealogy records. The court is in the Court House Annex building on the Centreville Court Square. Staff can help you find records, but they do not do research for you. You must search the records yourself or hire someone to do it.

The probate court keeps marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and land records. Marriage records are public in Alabama. Anyone can request a copy. You do not need to prove you are related to the people named. This makes marriage records a great starting point for family research.

Probate records include wills and estate files. When someone died and owned property, the estate went through probate. The court files show who inherited what. They often list family members by name. Sale bills from estate sales can show what a person owned. These records help prove family connections.

The probate office has an online system for searching case records. You can access probate case records from 1996 to the present. You must register for an account to use it. For older records, you will need to visit in person or request copies by mail.

Bibb County Health Department

The Bibb County Health Department issues vital records. Through the ViSION network, staff can pull birth, death, marriage, and divorce records from anywhere in Alabama. You do not have to visit the county where the event took place. Any county health office can access the state database.

There are rules about who can get vital records. Birth certificates 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, records open up for genealogy use.

Walk-in service is often same day. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of the record you need. Staff will search the database and print your record. If you are not the person on the record, bring proof of your relationship. The office also takes mail requests if you cannot visit in person.

How to Search Records

There are several ways to search Bibb County genealogy records. Online searches work for some records. In-person visits let you see more. Mail requests work when you know what you need.

Start with free online resources. FamilySearch has indexed many Bibb County records at no cost. Their collection includes probate court indexes, guardianship records from 1823 to 1916, and administrators records from 1821 to 1942. These are viewable as digital images. Create a free account to access them.

The Bibb County Probate Court has online access to recent records. Go to the court website and register for an account. You can search case records from 1996 forward. This is free to use. For older records, contact the court directly.

For vital records, you have three options:

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

VitalChek is the state's online ordering partner. They can process requests for birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. There is a service fee on top of the state fee. Go to vitalchek.com to place an order. This is the fastest way to get records if you cannot visit.

Bibb County Circuit Court

The Bibb County Circuit Court handles civil and criminal cases. It is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit. The circuit court has divorce records, lawsuits, and criminal case files. These can be useful for genealogy research.

Divorce records often contain family details. They may show maiden names, ages, and children's names. The circuit court has the full case files. The health department has an index of divorces but not the full details.

You can search some court records online through Alacourt. Go to pa.alacourt.com and select Bibb County. The system shows case index data. For full documents, contact the court or visit in person.

Online Resources

Several websites have Bibb County genealogy records. Some are free. Others require a subscription or fee. Here are the key sites to check.

FamilySearch at familysearch.org is free. They have probate court records, guardianship files, and administrators records from Bibb County. Their collection includes digital images of original documents. You need a free account to view them.

The Alabama Department of Archives at digital.archives.alabama.gov has old newspapers and records. Search for Bibb County to see what is available. Old newspapers often have birth, marriage, and death notices that can fill gaps in official records.

Ancestry at ancestry.com has a large collection of Alabama records. It requires a subscription. Many public libraries offer free access. Check with local libraries in the area.

Additional online resources:

• Alacourt for court records at pa.alacourt.com
• Find A Grave for cemetery records at findagrave.com
• USGenWeb Bibb County page for free lookups and transcribed records
• BillionGraves for additional cemetery photos and data

In-Person Research

Visiting Bibb County in person gives you access to records not online. Staff can point you to sources. Plan your trip for a weekday when offices are open.

The Bibb County Courthouse is on the square in downtown Centreville. The probate court and circuit clerk are in the annex building. Arrive early for the best service. Bring a notebook and your research notes. Staff can help you find files but will not do the research for you.

The Bibb County Public Library may have local history materials. Call ahead to ask what they have. Libraries sometimes have books and files not found elsewhere. Staff can also help you access online databases for free.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is about an hour from Centreville. Their research room has the best collection of old Alabama records. Some Bibb County probate records and other files are there. Plan to spend a full day if you visit. Staff can help you find what you need.

Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park is in Bibb County. If your ancestors worked in the iron industry, the park may have historical information. The ironworks operated during the Civil War and employed many local residents.

Historical Context for Research

Understanding Bibb County history helps with genealogy research. The county was rich in iron ore, coal, clay, and timber. These industries shaped who lived here and what records exist.

Before settlers arrived, Creek Indians lived along the Cahaba River. Non-Indian settlers began moving in around 1815. By 1818, the area had about 1,280 residents. The population grew to 3,876 by 1820 and reached 6,306 by 1830. Early residents included farmers, lawyers, doctors, blacksmiths, and mill workers.

Iron production was big in Bibb County. Oxmoor Furnace in Blocton was the first to make pig iron in Alabama. By the 1850s, Bibb County ranked third in the state for iron output. During the Civil War, the Confederate government bought Brierfield Ironworks to make iron for military use. If your family worked in iron, check records related to these operations.

In the late 1800s, coal mining and lumber brought new workers. Immigrant families from Belgium, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria settled here. If you have ancestors from these countries, they may have come to Bibb County for work. Check church records from ethnic congregations and naturalization files.

The county avoided courthouse fires that destroyed records in other Alabama counties. This means the record collection is more complete. You have a better chance of finding what you need here than in some neighboring areas.

Research Tips

Here are tips from experienced researchers who have worked with Bibb County records.

Start with what you know. Write down every fact about your ancestor. Then work backward one generation at a time. Do not skip ahead. Prove each generation before moving to the next.

Use the census records. Federal census records exist for Bibb County from 1820 forward. The 1850 and later censuses list each person by name with age and birthplace. Earlier censuses list only heads of household. Census records are free at FamilySearch.

Check neighboring counties too. Families moved around. County lines changed over time. Bibb County borders Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton, Perry, Hale, and Tuscaloosa counties. An ancestor might appear in records from more than one county.

Look at land records. Land deeds show property transfers and often name family members. Bibb County has land records from 1818. These can prove relationships and show where families lived.

Join local genealogy groups. The Alabama Genealogical Society and local history groups can help. Members may have already researched your family. They can answer questions and suggest sources you might miss on your own.

Cities and Towns in Bibb County

Bibb County has several small towns and communities. None have populations over 50,000. All residents use the Bibb County Probate Court in Centreville for marriage licenses and the county health department for vital records.

Towns in Bibb County include Centreville, Brent, West Blocton, and Woodstock. Centreville is the county seat and largest town. Brent is in the southern part of the county. West Blocton has ties to the old coal mining industry. All genealogy records are centralized at the county level in Centreville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bibb County. If your family lived near a county line, check records in both places. People often crossed county lines for work, church, or marriage. Some ancestors may appear in records from neighboring counties.