Alabama Genealogy

Lawrence County Alabama History and Profile:

Lawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey. As of the 2006 census estimates, the population was 34,321, with the most Native American residents of any county in the state. The county seat is Moulton. It is a prohibition or dry county.

For thousands of years, this area was inhabited by differing cultures of indigenous peoples. People of the Copena culture in the Middle Woodland period (1-500 CE) built complex earthworks as part of their religious and political system. Their burial mound and ceremonial platform mound, the largest in the state, are preserved at Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum. The museum includes exhibits on the Cherokee, who inhabited the area at the time of European encounter.

Other historic Native American tribes were Choctaw and Creek. Lawrence County was established by European Americans on February 6, 1818. By the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the US government forced most tribes to go west to Indian Territory on the other side of the Mississippi River, to make way for American settlers and development. Nonetheless, numerous Cherokee and mixed-race European-Cherokee descendants, sometimes called “Black Dutch”, stayed in the Lawrence County area. The county has the highest number of Native Americans in the state.

Lawrence County is home to part of the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Oakville Indian Mounds, and Jesse Owens Memorial Park. The Black Warrior Path, which starts in Cullman County, runs through this county and passes the Oakville Indian Mounds. It was used by Native Americans for hundreds of years, and was later used by pioneer settlers.

Every year Lawrence County hosts numerous events, including the Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival in Moulton, the AHSAA Cross Country state championships at the Oakville Indian Mounds, and the Lawrence County Basketball Tournament in Moulton.

Source: Wikipedia.

Cities and Towns of Lawrence County, Alabama:

* Courtland
* Hillsboro
* Moulton
* North Courtland
* Town Creek

Communities

* Caddo
* Chalybeate
* Five Points
* Hatton
* Landersville
* Langtown
* Mallard Creek
* Mount Hope
* Oakville
* Pittsburg
* Red Bank
* Speake
* Wheeler
* Wren

Lawrence County Government

Lawrence County Government – Official Site

Courtland Public Library
215 College Street
Courtland, AL 35618

Lawrence County Public Library
401 College Street
Moulton, AL 35650

Lawrence County Historic Places

Archeological Site No. 1LA102 (Haleyville)
Bride’s Hill
Courtland Historic District
Goode-Hall House
Thomas Holland House
Ice House (Moulton)
John McMahon House
Moulton Courthouse Square Historic District
Joseph Wheeler Plantation

Lawrence County Genealogy Resources

Lawrence County Alabama USGenWeb Project Site

Lawrence County, Alabama USGenWeb archives

Lawrence County Genealogy page at KindredTrails

Vital Records

If you are outside the state of Alabama and are looking to request copies of vital records you must contact the statewide office of vital records:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
(334) 206-5418
Fax: (334) 262-9563

You can also call (334) 206-5418

There were no birth certificates prior to 1908, some counties may have recorded births in a ledger however. One way to search this centrally is by contacting:

Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Ave
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-4363

Birth and Death Records have been recorded in Alabama since 1908, Marriage Records since August 1936 and Divorces since 1950.

Census

1820 Federal Census Transcription

1850 Federal Census Index

1850 Federal Census Transcription – Agricultural Schedule

1850 Federal Census Transcription – Slave Schedule

1860 Federal Census Transcription – Slave Schedule

Tax Records

Cemeteries

USGS listing of Cemeteries in Lawrence County

Lawrence County Cemetery Transcriptions
Cemetery Transcriptions (Although both are usgenweb this seems a slightly different listing.)

Query Forums

Genealogy Forums can be a great way to find other people that are researching the same ancestors as you are. Even if they may be not be researching the same direct line but related lines you may find information that is useful in your own research. Make sure to verify any other research that you add to your own research and try to document it well. If asking questions in genealogy forums it is good to provide as much information as possible and in the subject of the posting try to give name and a date or range of dates to help make your query more likely to be found. Posts with titles like “looking for family” or “help!” are too generic and something along the lines of “John Smith b. abt 1828 md. Hannah Jones” would be more helpful to get your post read by those that are interested in the John Smith/Hannah Jones family.

Lawrence County, AL at
genforum

News Related to Lawrence County, AL

“Lawrence County” al – Google News

All-Animal Clinic robbed – Moulton Advertiser

All-Animal Clinic robbed Moulton Advertiser 157 just over the Lawrence County line into Colbert County was robbed. According to WAFF-48 media reports, a man walked into the clinic with a shirt over his face, armed with a gun, and left with money bags containing several hundred dollars. and more »

Class 5A softball: St. Paul’s 5, Albertville 0 – al.com

Class 5A softball: St. Paul's 5, Albertville 0 al.com MONTGOMERY, Alabama — St. Paul's got all the runs it would need with one in the first inning to win a Class 5A state softball operner 5-0 Thursday at Lagoon Park. St. Paul's, which outhit Albertville 10-1, advanced to play Lawrence County at 3 pm … Aggies face Saints in stateSand Mountain Reporter all 3 news articles »

Breaking communities – Times Daily

Breaking communities Times Daily Alabama Republicans, who now control the Legislature and the governor's office, are redrawing legislative district lines in ways that will break up community representation and weaken the political clout of northwest Alabama. Every 10 years following … and more »

Thrips action heating up in north Alabama cotton – Southeast Farm Press

Thrips action heating up in north Alabama cotton Southeast Farm Press Many cotton acres in north Alabama are being treated for thrips as large numbers move from grass to cotton plants in the first to second true leaf stage. Thrips collected from a cotton field in Lawrence county on May 15 were mainly tobacco thrips …

Hornets are team to beat in tourney – Times Daily

Hornets are team to beat in tourney Times Daily The addition of two transfers from area-rival Lexington have also helped anchor a team that has consistently been ranked atop the Alabama Sportswriters Association Class 2A rankings throughout the season. “We are blessed to have a lot of talented … and more »

As population grows, so does influence in Montgomery for North Alabama – al.com (blog)

al.com (blog)

As population grows, so does influence in Montgomery for North Alabama al.com (blog) By Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times APAlabama State House HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Four additional lawmakers to represent parts of Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties will give North Alabama a stronger voice under proposed new legislative districts, … and more »

Popularity: 31% [?]

Popularity: 31% [?]