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Coahoma County, Mississippi

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
Coahoma County Mississippi Map
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Coahoma County, an original county of the Choctaw Cession of 1830, was the eleventh county established by the act of February 9, 1836. Formed under Second Constitution (1832-1869), March 1, 1836 {Divided, February 19, 1892 - June 3, 1930} , and is located in the northwestern part of the State in the fertile Yazoo Delta region. The name "Coahoma" is a Choctaw word signifying "red panther." The act creating the county defined its limits as follows:

"Beginning at the point where the line between townships 24 and 25 of the surveys of the late Choctaw cession intersects the Mississippi River, and running thence up the said river to the point where the dividing line between the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes of Indians intersects the same; thence with the dividing line to the point where the line between ranges two and three of the survey of the said Choctaw cession intersects the same; thence with said range line, to the line between townships 24 and 25 aforesaid, and thence with the said township line to the beginning."

The county has a land surface of 530 square miles. It constitutes one of the numerous counties formed from the Choctaw cession of 1830. In 1877 the county relinquished a part of its territory to Quitman. Coahoma County was given a name meaning "red panther", from the Choctaw words `ko-i' ("panther", "wildcat") and `humma' or `homa' ("red"), but it is not known with certainty why this name was given. There is a tradition that the county was named for Princess Coahoma Sheriff, "Sweet Coahoma", who was the daughter of a Choctaw chieftain named Sheriff. This seems improbable, if for no other reason than that Coahoma was a man's name among the Muscogee peoples. Another suggestion is that the county may have been named for a stream called Coahoma. It does seem likely that this name, like several other county names, was suggested by Alexander G. McNutt. Even though the county lies in the Choctaw district, it was formed at the time of the creation of counties in the Chickasaw district. Since other counties formed at the same time were named for Tishomingo and for Itawamba (Levi Colbert), it seems at least reasonable to suppose that Coahoma County may have been named for William McGilvery (sometimes given as McGillivray), whose Indian name is said to have been Coahoma and who, like Levi Colbert, was a mixed-blood Chickasaw district chief during the time between the Treaty of Chickasaw Council House in 1816 and removal during the 1830s.

The following is a list of the county officers two years after the county was established: L. Baker, Henry Weathers, James W. Lunsford, Alfred Holsell, David B. Allen, members of the Board of Police; S. Swearingin, Aaron Shelby, G.B. Warren, Allen Tackett, William Tunstall, John Miller, Justices of the Peace; William M. Cador, Sheriff; Euophilus Huff, Coroner; Aaron Shelby, Judge of Probate; Charles P. Robinson, Ranger; John L. Dabney, Surveyor; Bushrod B. Warner, Circuit Clerk; John D. Shaw, Clerk of the Probate Court; Hector J. Palmerton, Assessor and Collector; John Austin, Ira Piper, Matthew Huff, John R. Jones, Constables.

Port Royal was once the county seat of Coahoma County. It was a rival of Friar’s Point, five miles up the Mississippi River. In the early days the county seats of the Mississippi River counties were always located on the banks of that stream. When Port Royal was cut off from the river in 1848, its fate was sealed and the county seat of justice was located at Friar’s Point, which still remained a river town. It received its name in honor of Robert Friar, one of its earliest settlers. Clarksdale, one of the county seats, is now the largest and most important city in the county. Clarksdale was named for John Clark, a brother-in-law of Governor Alcorn, whose beautiful home, Eagle’s Nest, was in this county. The main line of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railway, together with four branches of the same road, afford the county excellent railroad facilities. From Coahoma in the northeastern part of the county, two branches cross in a southwesterly direction, one of which, branching at Clarksdale, crosses the southeastern part of the county.

Coahoma County is bordered by Tunica County (north), Quitman County (east), Tallahatchie County, Bolivar County (southwest) and Phillips County , Arkansas (west) . Cities and Towns include Clarksdale, Coahoma, Friars Point, Jonestown, Lula, Lyon, Dublin and Rudyard .

The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.clarksdalewebinfo.com/.

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Coahoma County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Mississippi Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Coahoma County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1849/1849 and Court Records from 1839 and is located at P.O. Box 849, Clarksdale, Mississippi 38614 ; Phone: 624-3014, Fax: 624-3075

Duties of the Circuit Clerk include Receivin and fileing all law suits, indictments, motions and other related papers in all Civil and Criminal Cases filed in the Circuit or County Courts and issues all process including summons and subpoenas, Draws Jurors and qualifies Juries, Keeps a record of all Judgments and Executions, Issues marriage licenses and keeps records of marriages.

Coahoma County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1839 and Probate Records from 1856 and is located at P. O. Box 98, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 38614 ; Phone: 624-3000, Fax: 624-3029.

The Chancery Clerk occupies perhaps the most unique and diverse office in all of Mississippi government. The various duties given the Chancery Clerk by statute, or assumed voluntarily by the individual Clerk, cover a wide range of vitally important functions. Some of the duties and functions of the Chancery Clerk are recording the official minutes. As public recorder, the Clerk handles the recording and storage of several types of documents and maintains various indexes that aid people in researching these records. The primary records are deeds and mortgages relating to real property, but the Clerk also records federal tax liens, Lis Pendens ( notices of pending lawsuits ) and military discharges. The Clerk is in charge of the storage and authorized disposal of older land rolls, tax receipts and many other County records after their active use lifespan. As Clerk of the Chancery Court, the Clerk handles a multitude of tasks such as matters of estates, guardianships, conservatorships, divorces, child custody, adoption, property disputes and other matters of equity.

Local county courthouses maintain original tax records, both real and personal. Microfilm copies of the earlier records are found in the Mississippi Department of Archives and History where the collection is extensive, but there are gaps. Although not many, some counties have published selected years of tax rolls.

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

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Coahoma County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Mississippi

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Coahoma County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at P. O. Box 128, 1805 Cheryl Street, Clarksdale, MS 38614 ; Phone: 662-624-8318. You may go to any county health department in the State of Mississippi to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait.

Contact Chancery Clerk for County Divorce Records (See Coahoma County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in the county where divorce was granted, and Contact Clerk of Circuit Court Judge For County Marriage Records (See Coahoma County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in county where license was issued

Mississippi Department of Health is located in the Underwood Building, 571 Stadium Drive, just off North State Street near Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson, Mississippi. The phone number is 601.576.7981. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: The Mississippi Department of Health began filing birth certificates in November of 1912 for persons born in Mississippi. For earlier records, contact the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at (601) 576-6876.The certified copy of the birth certificate is available for $12.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates.
  • Death Certificates: The Mississippi Department of Health began filing death certificates in November of 1912 for persons who died in Mississippi. For earlier records, contact the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at (601) 576-6876. The fee for a certified copy of a death certificate is $10.00. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $2.00. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • Marriage Certificates: The Mississippi Department of Health began filing Marriage records from January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938, and for January 1, 1942 to present. for marriages that occurred in Mississippi. (Information for marriages prior to 1926 must be obtained from the Clerk of Circuit Court office in the county where the marriage license was issued.).The fee for a search of the records and a certified copy is $10.00. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $2.00 each. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates.
  • 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.

Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates or Death Certificates.

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

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Coahoma County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Records for Mississippi

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Federal Population Schedules that exist for Mississippi are 1820, 1830 (Partial), 1840, 1850, 1860 (Partial), 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. In 1817 Mississippi became the twentieth state to enter the union; therefore, the first federal population census available is that of 1820.

Variations of this census appear in three printed forms, none of which include slave or miscellaneous information. Enumerations for Pike County are missing in 1830, but the Gillis index used extant tax records to supplement their index. Transcriptions are subject to error; use these reprints simply as a guide to the original records.

A significant addition to the 1840 census supplies the names and ages of pensioners. Schedules are missing for Hancock, Sunflower, and Washington counties in 1860.

By 1870, with slavery abolished, all blacks, natives, and Chinese were included, along with information regarding citizenship. With the destruction of the 1890 population schedules, only the schedules enumerating Union veterans are available for Mississippi. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms & U.K. Census Extraction Forms

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

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Coahoma County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Mississippi

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

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Coahoma County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Mississippi

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

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Coahoma County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Mississippi Genealogical Addresses

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

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Coahoma County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

There are many churches and cemeteries in Coahoma County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Coahoma County Tombstone Transcription Project. The Mississippi 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 Coahoma County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Coahoma 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 Mississippi

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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

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