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Rabun County, Georgia
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records
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In the Treaty of Washington signed Feb. 27, 1819, the Cherokees ceded a large area of extreme northeast Georgia. In an act of Dec. 21, 1819, the General Assembly used this cession to create Rabun County, as well as transfer some of the land to Hall and Habersham counties.

In an act of Dec. 21, 1819, the legislature organized Rabun County and provided for election of county officials. In 1828, the legislature transferred a portion of Habersham County to Rabun County. In 1838, the legislature redefined the Rabun-Habersham county line. In 1856, the legislature used portions of Rabun and Union counties to create Towns County.

Georgia's 47th county was named for Gov. William Rabun (1771-1819), who had died in office two months earlier.

The legislation creating Rabun County authorized the justices of the county's first inferior court to select the site of the county seat. However, on Dec. 15, 1821, the legislature designated land lot 20 in the second district as the county seat, named it Claytonsville, and incorporated it as a town. Subsequently, some citizens of Rabun County petitioned the General Assembly to change the location of the county seat, so in an act of Dec. 13, 1823, the legislature changed the county seat to land lot 21, named it Clayton, and incorporated it as a town. The county purchased 67 acres in land lot 21 from Solomon Beck and proceeded to lay out the town of Clayton.

The 1819 act organizing Rabun County authorized the justices of the county's first inferior court to select a site for the county seat, to purchase land, and to provide for construction of a courthouse and jail. Until this was done, the act directed that courts and elections be conducted at the house of Daniel Love. In 1823, the legislature moved the county seat from land lot 20 to lot 21 in the second district, and the county began laying out the town of Clayton, Sufficient lots were sold so that by 1824, the county had raised enough money to construct Rabun County's first courthouse -- a two-story log building completed in 1824. That structure was replaced by a new two-story log courthouse in 1838. In 1878, the courthouse walls and floor began to collapse, so the superior court judge closed the courthouse and directed that court be held in the nearby Masonic Lodge. What served as courthouse for the following 30 years is unclear, but in 1908 a new two-story brick or stone courthouse with central clock tower was constructed This building served until 1967, when a new one-story courthouse of modern design was completed. More recently, a second floor, new entrance, and a cupola were added to the 1967 structure.

Cities and Towns Includes the cities of Clayton, Dillard, Mountain City, Sky Valley, Tiger and Tallulah Falls. The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.rabuncountygov.com/

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Rabun County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Georgia Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records and Marriage Records

Rabun County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1829 and Land Records from 1821 and is located at 25 Courthouse Square, Suite 105, Clayton, GA 30525; 706-782-3615 Voice. The Superior Court, Georgia's general jurisdiction trial court, has exclusive constitutional authority over felony cases, cases regarding title to land and equity, declaratory judgments, habeas corpus, mandamus, adoptions, name changes, divorces, child custody, and child support enforcement. The clerk is responsible for recording deeds and maintaining the chain of title to all property in the county.

Rabun County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1820 , Probate Records from 1826 and is located at 25 Courthouse Square, Box 15, Clayton, GA 30525; 706-782-3614 / FAX 782-7588 . The jurisdiction of Probate Court are all legal proceedings that deal with Wills, Estates, Guardianships of minor children, Involuntary Committals Hearings, Filing of Wills for saf, Issuance of Marriage License, ect... The office of the probate judge is the county office where the most significant genealogical records are created and maintained in Georgia.

None of Georgia's colonial tax records have survived. Surviving Georgia tax records begin on a county basis in the late 1780s. By 1783 Georgia tax laws provided for taxing land according to its quality and quantity, and male polls were white males over twenty-one. Other taxes were imposed on town lots, slaves, and free persons of color, buildings and improvements, merchandise, lawyers, and doctors. The poll tax on all adult males made Georgia tax digests good census substitutes and supplements.

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Rabun County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Rabun County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Vital Records in Georgia

Rabun County Health Department has Birth and Death Records since January 1919 and is located at 19 Library Circle, Clayton, Georgia 30525; (706) 212-0289. You may go to any county health department in the State of Georgia to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait. Contact Clerk of Superior Court For County Divorce Records (See Rabun County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in the county where divorce was granted, and Contact Probate Judge For County Marriage Records (See Rabun County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in county where license was issued.

Georgia State Vital Records, Center for Health Statistics Office is located at State Dept of Human Resources, 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319-3640 (404) 679-4730 info, (877) 572-6343; Fax: (404) 524-4278. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: Birth records are available from 1919 to the present. For earlier records in Atlanta or Savannah or other cities or counties, write to the Vital Records Office (see above) in county where event occurred. Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates.
  • Death Certificates: Certified copies of death records are available from 1919 to the present. Death certificates are available to the general public. For earlier records in Atlanta or Savannah or other cities or counties, write to the Vital Records Office (see above) in county where event occurred. Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • Marriage Certificates: Centralized State records since June 9, 1952. Certified copies of marriage documents up to 1966 are issued at State office. Contact the Rabun County Probate office for marriages in Rabun County occurring before June 9, 1952, and all other counties will be forwarded to appropriate Probate Judge in county where license was issued.The state office does no record marriage license or applications after July 1, 1997.

Ordering Vital Records - You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail. Order Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records or Death Records.

Ordering Vital Records by Mail -The fee to search for a birth, Marriage or Death certificate is $10.00, which includes one certified copy of the certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $5.00. Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Vital Records, GA. DHR". Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to:Vital Records, 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319-3640. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates.

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Rabun County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Rabun County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for Georgia

Federal Population Schedules that exist for Georgia are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The 1820 census is the earliest enumeration of Georgia's population to have survived, making it necessary to substitute other lists for the missing censuses. Land lottery, military and tax lists, and other records, are available as census substitutes and supplements for the 1820 and earlier censuses.

The first three census schedules for Georgia (1790, 1800 & 1810) are missing. A total of seventeen volumes of 1790-1820 censuses were lost by the federal government, evidently before 1895, and the cause is unknown. Tax lists for various years for a few of the counties have been published.. These can be used as a substitution for the first three census schedules. Additionally, Wills, deeds, tax digests, court minutes, voter lists, and newspapers can be searched to locate ancestors during this period The 1820 schedules for Franklin, Rabun, and Twiggs Counties are missing.

Georgia conducted state censuses for various years from 1787 to 1866. Only a relatively few of these returns survive, and they are only lists of heads of households with some minor statistical information. The returns prior to 1852 have been published in various sources. Later census returns, when they survive, are almost all on microfilm at the Georgia Department of Archives and History . The Georgia Census, 1790-1890 contains the following indexes: 1790 Tax Substitute Index; 1792-1819 Tax Lists Index; 1800 Oglethorpe County Territorial Census Index; 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860 & 1870 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1838 & 1845 State Census Index; ,1860 Slave Schedule; 1890 Veterans Schedule.

There are many other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in the state of Georgia. There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Rabun County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Rabun County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Georgia

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Rabun County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Rabun County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Georgia Genealogical Addresses

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Rabun County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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Rabun County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Georgia

There are many churches and cemeteries in Rabun County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Rabun County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Rabun County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Georgia

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Rabun County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Rabun County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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