CARROLL COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Carroll County, Mississippi: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the north-central hills of Mississippi, Carroll County is a historically significant region known for its rich agricultural past and its unique status as a county with two judicial districts. Formed from lands ceded by the Choctaw Nation, its history reflects the rapid expansion of the cotton kingdom in the antebellum South. For genealogists, its role as a “mother county” to several surrounding counties and its dual-seat court system are critical factors in conducting successful research.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Carroll County’s formation from Native American territory, its subsequent division into new counties, and its internal split into two judicial districts is essential for locating ancestors within its historical boundaries.
- 1833: County Formed: Carroll County was established on December 23, 1833, by an act of the Mississippi Legislature.
- Parent Entity: It was created from a vast territory ceded by the Choctaw Nation in the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. This land was opened for American settlement following the forced removal of the Choctaw people.
- Subsequent County Formations: Carroll County was later partitioned significantly to create three new counties. Researchers with ancestors in these areas must consult Carroll County records for the period before their formation.
- Grenada County was formed in 1870 from parts of Carroll and other counties.
- Montgomery County was formed in 1871 from a large eastern portion of Carroll County.
- Leflore County was formed in 1871 from a western portion of Carroll County and other lands.
- Name Origin: The county is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, who had died in 1832.
- County Seat History: Originally, Carrollton was the sole county seat. After the creation of Montgomery County in 1871 made travel to Carrollton difficult for many residents, the county was divided into two judicial districts in 1874. Carrollton remained the seat of the First Judicial District, and Vaiden was established as the seat of the Second Judicial District. This dual-seat system persists today.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The region was the historical homeland of the Choctaw people for centuries. The main route through the area was the Choctaw trading path that later became known as the Jackson Military Road.
- American Settlement and Economy: Following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, a flood of settlers, primarily from the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, arrived in the 1830s. The economy was overwhelmingly based on cotton cultivation in the plantation system, which depended on the labor of enslaved African Americans. The county’s population and wealth grew rapidly during this “Flush Times” era of Mississippi’s history.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, paying close attention to the county’s dual-district structure. Researchers must determine which district an ancestor lived in.
- Courthouses: Carroll County has two Circuit Clerk offices where land, probate, court, and marriage records are held.
- First Judicial District: Carroll County Courthouse, 600 Lexington St, Carrollton, MS 38917.
- Second Judicial District: Carroll County Courthouse, 803 Front St, Vaiden, MS 39176.
- Note: Researchers should be aware of past courthouse fires which may have resulted in some record loss, though many important record books have survived.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration of births and deaths in Mississippi began in November 1912. These records are held by the Mississippi State Department of Health. No official county-level birth or death certificates exist prior to this date. Researchers must rely on census records, church records, family Bibles, and cemetery inscriptions.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records have been kept by the county since its formation in 1833 and are a vital resource. They are held by the Circuit Clerk in the appropriate judicial district (Carrollton or Vaiden).
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Carroll County Public Library System: Branches in Carrollton and Vaiden have collections on local history and families.
- Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH): Located in Jackson, MDAH is the state’s premier genealogical repository. It holds microfilm copies of Carroll County records (marriages, wills, deeds), newspapers, and an extensive collection of statewide resources.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Grenada County
- Montgomery County
- Attala County
- Holmes County
- Leflore County