Walton County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Walton County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Colonel George Walton, who was Secretary of West Florida during the territorial governorship of Andrew Jackson. He was the son of George Walton, a former Governor of Georgia, who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence.[2] The county is located in the northwest area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Walton County Courthouse
571 East Nelson Ave
PO Box 1260
De Funiak Springs, FL 32433-0000
Phone: 850-892-8118
Walton County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1885, probate records from 1882, divorce, court and land records, newspaper records from 1905
County Health Department has birth and death records[4]
Walton County, Florida Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1899 | 1885 | 1899 | 1905 | 1905 | 1882 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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Loss of marriage and probate records; causes unknown.
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Walton County, Florida Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 1,207 | — |
| 1840 | 1,461 | 21.0% |
| 1850 | 1,817 | 24.4% |
| 1860 | 3,037 | 67.1% |
| 1870 | 3,041 | 0.1% |
| 1880 | 4,201 | 38.1% |
| 1890 | 4,816 | 14.6% |
| 1900 | 9,346 | 94.1% |
| 1910 | 16,460 | 76.1% |
| 1920 | 12,119 | −26.4% |
| 1930 | 14,576 | 20.3% |
| 1940 | 14,246 | −2.3% |
| 1950 | 14,725 | 3.4% |
| 1960 | 15,576 | 5.8% |
| 1970 | 16,087 | 3.3% |
| 1980 | 21,300 | 32.4% |
| 1990 | 27,760 | 30.3% |
| 2000 | 40,601 | 46.3% |
| 2010 | 55,043 | 35.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- 1783 - Spanish Census USGenWeb
- 1821 - Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1823 - Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1880 - Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
- Federal Census Information from National Archives USGenWeb
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives USGenWeb
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service USGenWeb
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- NARA Ships Passenger Lists - These passenger lists cover:
- 1834-1897 - Immigration of Russians to the United States
- 1/12/1846-12/31/1851 - Irish Famine
- 1850-1897 - Germans to the United States
- 1855-1900 - Italians to the United States
- 1834-1897 - Immigration of Russians to the United States
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- USGenWeb Florida African American Griots Project
- Afrigeneas - African Genealogy
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Clary-Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory in DeFuniak Springs and Freeport
- Davis-Watkins Cremation Center and Funeral Service in DeFuniak Springs and Miramar Beach
- Jerry Evans Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs
- Park Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Davis Land Records, Walton County USGenWeb Archives Project
- Florida Territorial Land Records USGenWeb Archives Project
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
- Walton County Biographies USGenWeb Archives Project
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1821-1997 Maps of Florida
- 1870 - Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- 1882 - Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- Exploring Florida, FCIT Maps University of South Florida
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Florida State Military Files USGenWeb
- Florida state pension records from various wars Pension Transcriptions USGenWeb
War of 1812
- Military Land Grants In Walton Co. FL For Soldiers Of The War Of 1812 USGenWeb Archives Project
Indian Wars
- Military Land Grants In Walton Co. FL For Soldiers Of The Indian Wars USGenWeb Archives Project
Mexican War
- Military Land Grants In Walton Co. FL For Soldiers Of The Mexican War USGenWeb Archives Project
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1885-1955 Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War I
- 1917-1920 Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- 1940-1945 Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Korean War
- Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict distantcousin.com
Vietnam War
- Distantcousin.com Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Florida, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- USGenWeb Obituaries Project Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Records
[edit | edit source]
- 1845 - Voters in First Florida Election 1845 USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1880-Onward Florida, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
- 1882-1894 Probate Records, v. C-D, 1882-1894(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1937 Will Books, v. A-B, 1897-1937(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1937 Wills, 1897-1937(*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1919-1960 Foreign Wills, v. 1, 1919-1960(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Letters of Testamentary, Letters of Administration and Petitions to Sell Realties(*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1880-1935 Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-1998 Florida, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927 - 2001 Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1957 Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1939 Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1927-1950 Florida Divorce, 1927-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1927-2001 Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Walton County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Walton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
West Florida Genealogical Society/The West Florida Genealogy Library
5740 N 9th Avenue
Pensacola, Florida 32502
Phone: 850-494-7373
Email genealogy@mywfpl.com
Website
Facebook
- This library houses a non-circulating collection of local history and genealogical resources.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Walton County Heritage Association, Museum and Genealogy Society
1140 Circle Drive
DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435
Phone: 850-401-2060
Email: HeritageMuseum@brighthouse.com
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Walton County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Walton County Heritage Association, Museum and Genealogy Society
1140 Circle Drive
DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435
Phone: 850-401-2060
Email: HeritageMuseum@brighthouse.com
Website
Facebook
West Florida Genealogical Society
PO Box 10217
Pensacola, FL 32524-0217
Phone: 850-494-7373
Email info@wfgsi.org
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Walton County FLGenWeb
- USGenWeb Select the state, then the county.
- Walton County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Walton County (FLGenWeb Project, Inc.)
- USGenWeb Archives Project
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Walton County, Florida Genealogy and History”, genealogy trails accessed 04/27/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Walton County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/27/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Walton County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 16 February 2019.