Benton County AL

Benton County, established in Alabama on December 18, 1832, underwent a name change to Calhoun County on January 29, 1858, to honor John C. Calhoun, the prominent South Carolina statesman and Vice President of the United States. This region holds significant genealogical interest, particularly for researchers investigating the early European-American settlement period and the complex dynamics of the Civil War era. The county seat is Anniston, which became a vital industrial center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, further diversifying the county’s historical and genealogical records. Calhoun County’s geographic features, including its location in the northeastern part of the state and inclusion in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, have influenced its development and settlement patterns. The area was originally inhabited by Creek Native American tribes before their removal, and the land played a crucial role in the cotton economy, contributing to the county’s demographic shifts and economic development. For genealogy researchers, Calhoun County offers a wealth of records, including land transactions, military records from the Civil War, and vital statistics that are essential for tracing family histories and understanding the broader historical context of the region.