Welcome to the "Mother County"

Be sure to check out the Research Guide for some great information on how to do research in Henry County.  You may also find the Tips for Research page helpful especially if you are new to genealogy.  I've included a lot of wonderful information I've found during my own family research.  Don't miss the Order Records page if you need a copy of a vital record.

I hope you find my efforts helpful in your research of your Henry County roots.  I am unable to do additional research on your family as I do not live in Alabama and do not have direct access to county records.  I post everything I have for everyone to use.

Please check the About This Site page for important information about using this site and about the USGenWeb and ALGenWeb projects.

Many thanks to Sue Webb, the former coordinator for all her hard work!

A Little County History

In early 1819, when the county was being considered for creation by the Alabama Territorial Legislature, the first name considered for the proposed new county was "Choctawhatchee". This name was being used by local residents and was in reference to the river by that name that ran through the area west of the present day town of Newville. However, in the final "Act of Creation" by the Alabama Territorial Legislature, the name chosen was "Henry", in honor of the Revolutionary War patriot, Patrick Henry of Virginia. Henry County was created by an act of the Legislature December 13, 1819; one day earlier than when Alabama became a state. Henry County was carved from Conecuh County, which had been a part of Monroe County, which was formed from Washington County, the oldest county in the state. Washington County was created by the proclamation of Governor Winthrop Sergeant of the Mississippi Territory on June 4, 1800. The Act of Creation named William C. Watson, John Fannin, Joel T. McClendon, Johnson Wright, Captain S. Smith as commissioners for the location of the seat of justice and establishment of the boundaries of Henry County.

Henry County has been called "The Cradle of the Wiregrass". She is The Mother of nine other counties. When the county was formed December 1819, it encompassed a vast land area that now includes the Southeast Alabama Wiregrass Region and beyond.

December 7, 1821 - The first two counties created, in part, from Old Henry were Covington and Pike counties.

December 29, 1824 - The third county was Dale which was carved, in whole, from Old Henry.

December 18, 1832 - The fourth county to be created from what was once Old Henry was Barbour County which was formed, in part, from Pike County. When Barbour County was created Henry County actually gained a small parcel of land from the White Oak Creek area.

December 29, 1841 - The fifth county to be created from what was once Old Henry was Coffee County which was formed in part from Dale County.

December 6, 1866 - The sixth was Bullock County which was created with the southern tip of the county indirectly coming from Old Henry.

December 24, 1866 - The seventh county to be created from what was once Old Henry was Crenshaw County which was formed, in part, from Coffee, Covington and Pike counties.

December 28, 1868 - The eighth county to be created from what was once Old Henry was Geneva County which was formed, in part, from Henry, Dale and Coffee counties.

February 9, 1903 - The last county was Houston County which 72% of it's land area was carved from Henry. The balance came from Dale and Geneva counties.

In 84 years the county went from being the biggest in the state to one of the smallest. Henry County is located in the southeastern corner of the state, bounded to the east by the State of Georgia and the Chattahoochee River. It encompasses 557 square miles. It is identified as part of the coastal plain or Wiregrass region. The county seat is located in Abbeville.

Source: "The Heritage of Henry County, Alabama" by The Henry Co Heritage Book Comm 2002. and Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Chicago; S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921.

Counties Bordering Henry County

ALABAMA: Barbour (ALGenWeb), Dale (ALGenWeb), Houston (ALGenWeb)
GEORGIA: Clay (GAGenWeb), Early (GAGenWeb), Seminole (GAGenWeb)

Thanks For Stopping By!

This Site is Dedicated to the Memory of:
James D. Allen, John Steven Elliott and Homer Jones
Much of the wonderful information here is due to their years of hard work.
We Miss Them.