Neighboring Counties | Russell County, Alabama

When researching Russell County families, neighboring counties are often just as important as Russell itself. Families crossed county lines for work, marriage, church, land, and schooling. Because Russell County sits along the Chattahoochee River, you may also find key records across the river in Georgia.

Tip: If you are missing a family in a Russell County record set, widen your search to the neighboring counties below. Many communities and cemeteries sit near borders, and some records were created where it was most convenient, not necessarily where the family belonged.

Neighboring Counties in Alabama

Neighboring Counties in Georgia

Across-the-River Research

Check Georgia marriages and cemeteries, especially for families living near Phenix City and the river communities.
Search both sides of the Chattahoochee for church membership lists and obituaries.
When using maps, look for historic communities that may appear under older names or nearby post offices.

Quick Strategies

Use a cluster approach: research friends, neighbors, and witnesses who may appear in nearby counties.
If your ancestor disappears after 1900, expand to Columbus (Muscogee Co., GA) and surrounding Georgia counties.
Look for land and probate activity in the county where the courthouse was easiest to reach.