Search Calhoun County Genealogy Records

Calhoun County genealogy records date back to 1833 when the county was first formed. The county seat is Anniston, where the probate court and health department hold vital records for family history research. This northeast Alabama county sits in the 7th Judicial Circuit and was named for John C. Calhoun. The Calhoun County Probate Court keeps marriage records, wills, and estate files. The county health department handles birth and death records through the ViSION network. Local libraries and the Anniston Carnegie Library have materials that help fill gaps in official records.

What Genealogy Records Are Available

Calhoun County has a solid set of records for family history work. The probate court holds marriage records going back to the 1830s. Birth and death records from the state system start in 1908. Older vital records exist in local collections, church files, and cemetery logs.

Types of genealogy records you can find in Calhoun County:

• Birth records from 1908 to present (state system)
• Death records from 1908 to present
• Marriage records from 1833 to present
• Divorce records from Circuit Court
• Probate and estate files from 1833
• Land and deed records
• Tax records and voter rolls
• Court case files
• Military discharge papers

Birth and death records before 1908 are harder to track down. Alabama did not keep these at the state level back then. Church records, cemetery logs, and family bibles can fill in some gaps. The Anniston Carnegie Library has local history files that may help. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery also holds old Calhoun County files.

The county was first called Benton County when it was formed in 1833. The name changed to Calhoun County in 1858. If you search records from 1833 to 1858, look for both names. Some indexes use the old Benton County name for early records.

Calhoun County Probate Court

The Calhoun County Probate Court is the main place for genealogy records. The court keeps marriage licenses, wills, and estate records. Files go back to 1833, when the county was first formed. The probate judge also handles adoptions and mental health matters. The office sits in the Calhoun County Administration Building in downtown Anniston.

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 genealogy. The court has marriage indexes from 1833 to today. Some of these early records are from when the county was still called Benton County.

The probate court uses a computer system for record searches. Staff can look up records by name and date range. The system shows index data and case numbers. Once you find a record, you can order a copy or view the original file. Call ahead if you plan to visit so staff can pull what you need.

Calhoun County Health Department

The Calhoun County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. Through the ViSION network, staff 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 for 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 copy. Death records less than 25 years old also have some limits. After these time periods, 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. If you are not the person named on the record, bring proof of your right to get it. Mail requests are also accepted but take longer.

Anniston Carnegie Library

The Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County has a local history and genealogy room. The Anniston Carnegie Library branch holds old newspapers, city directories, and family files. Staff know the area and can point you to sources you might miss on your own.

The library has resources you will not find online:

• Anniston newspapers on microfilm from the 1880s
• Family files with research done by other genealogists
• Old city directories listing residents and jobs
• Cemetery records and grave transcriptions
• Church records from local congregations
• Maps and plats from the county's early years

The library also has free access to Ancestry and other paid databases. You can use these sites at no cost while in the building. Staff can help you get started if you are new to genealogy research. The library partners with local genealogy groups who meet there.

How to Search Records

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Calhoun County. Online searches work for basic lookups. In-person visits let you see full documents. Mail requests work when you know what you need. Each method has its place.

Start with the AlacourtAccess portal for court records. Go to pa.alacourt.com and search by name or case number. The system covers all 67 Alabama counties, including Calhoun. It shows civil, criminal, and domestic case data. This is a good place to find divorce records and other court files.

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 their website. They add a service fee on top of the state fee. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888 to place an order. This is fast if you cannot visit in person.

The genealogy room at the Anniston Carnegie Library is the best spot for deep research. Staff can help you find sources that are not online. The room has old newspapers, family files, and local history books. Plan to spend a few hours if you are doing serious genealogy work.

Online Access Options

Calhoun County has decent online access for genealogy records. The AlacourtAccess system covers court records. VitalChek works for ordering vital records from home. Free databases have indexed many Calhoun County files.

Online resources for Calhoun 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
• FindAGrave for cemetery records at findagrave.com

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has free digital records. They have old newspapers, photos, and government files. Many Calhoun 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 needed. They have indexed Alabama vital records, census data, and church records. Their collection grows as volunteers add new data. Create a free account to use all their tools.

In-Person Access

Visiting in person is the best way to see full records. Staff can help you search and explain what is available. You may find things that do not show up in online indexes. Bring a notebook and a valid ID.

The Calhoun County Probate Court is in the Administration Building on Noble Street in downtown Anniston. Go to Suite 103 and ask for help. Staff can search the index and pull files for you to view. You can take notes or order copies. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots.

The Anniston Carnegie Library genealogy room is a must for local research. It sits on East 10th Street, a short drive from the courthouse. The room has books, microfilm, and family files that cover all of Calhoun County. Staff are helpful and know the local sources well.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth a trip for older records. Their research room has the best collection of early Alabama files. Some Calhoun County probate records from the 1800s are stored there. The drive from Anniston takes about ninety minutes on I-20.

Local Genealogy Tips

Calhoun County has ties to early Alabama settlement. The area was Creek Indian land until the 1830s. Many early settlers came after the Creek War. If your family lived here in the early 1800s, check military records and land grants. These show where settlers came from.

Remember that the county was called Benton County from 1833 to 1858. Old records use both names. The name change happened due to politics at the time. If you search records from 1833 to 1858, try both Benton County and Calhoun County.

Anniston was not founded until 1872. It was a company town built by the Woodstock Iron Company. If your family lived in Anniston, check company records and local newspapers. The Anniston Star has been published since 1882. The library has these papers on microfilm.

Fort McClellan was a major Army base in the county from 1917 to 1999. Many families have ties to the base. If your relatives served there, check military records at the National Archives. The local library also has some Fort McClellan materials.

African American genealogy in Calhoun County often involves checking Freedmen's Bureau records. The Alabama Department of Archives has many of these files. Church records from Black congregations are another key source. Some of these go back to the years right after the Civil War.

Cities in Calhoun County

Calhoun County has several cities and towns. All of them use the Calhoun County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. The main office in Anniston serves the whole county.

Major places in Calhoun County include Anniston, Oxford, Jacksonville, Piedmont, Hobson City, and Weaver. Anniston is the largest city and serves as the county seat. Jacksonville is home to Jacksonville State University. All of these cities use the county offices for genealogy records. There is no city-level vital records office in Alabama, so all requests go through the county.

Nearby Counties

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

Cleburne County was carved out of Calhoun and Randolph counties in 1866. If your family lived in the eastern part of Calhoun County before 1866, some records may be in Cleburne County files now.