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Yazoo 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
Yazoo County Mississippi Map
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Yazoo County was established January 21, 1823. It is situated in the West-central part of the State, in the fertile valley of the Yazoo River, and was created at the same time as the county of Copiah, out of the large county of Hinds. It formed part of the territory acquired from the Choctaws in 1820, long known as the “New Purchase.” The original act defined its boundaries as follows:

“Beginning at a point on Big Black River, where the northern boundary line of township seven intersects the same; thence due east along said line to where it strikes Pearl River; thence up said river to where the Choctaw boundary line crosses the same; thence along said boundary line to where it strikes the Mississippi River; thence down said river to the northern boundary line of Warren County; thence along said boundary line to Big Black River; thence with the same to the beginning.”

It thus included within its original limits the present counties of Washington, Holmes, Issaquena, and Sharkey, and parts of the counties of Madison and Sunflower. In 1918 it made its last donation of territory to the new county of Humphreys.

When Yazoo County was first established, the seat of justice was located at Beattie’s Bluff, on the Big Black River, twelve or fifteen miles northwest of Canton. The first courthouse and the other buildings of the settlement were made of hewn logs. When, in 1829, the county seat was moved to Benton, the town dwindled away, and its site is now a cultivated field. In 1828, William Y. Gadberry of South Carolina entered the tract of land on which Benton was built. It was a place of importance in the early days and was incorporated in 1836. Its first log courthouse was replaced by a fine two story brick building, and it contained a school house, churches and many elegant residences. Its early lawyers were R.S. Holt, J.R. Burrus, Ronan Harden, Spencer M. Grayson, Jno. W. Battle and W.R. Miles; its physicians, J.W. Morough, Ben Hagerman, J.B. Wilkinson, Wm. Yandell; and its merchants James Rawlins, E. and N. O’Reilly, Geo. Fisher, R.T. Jennings, Alex. McGaughey, and Jas. Blundell. When Yazoo City became the seat of justice in 1849, the place declined, and it is now a village going to ruin. The rich region embraced in Yazoo County was rapidly settled after its organization, by a splendid body of pioneers, who poured into the region from the older parts of Mississippi, and from the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. By 1830 the county had attained a population of 6,500, and by 1837 it had acquired a population of 11,884, including slaves. Since 1850, its population has been as follows, the noticeable decrease from 1910 to 1920 being due to its territorial reduction in the formation of Humphreys County: 1850, 14,418; 1860, 22,373; 1870, 17,279; 1880, 33,845; 1890, 36,394; 1900, 43,948; 1910, 46,672; 1920, 37,149.

Yazoo City, the county seat, one of the finest small cities of the State, was known as Manchester until 1838, and is the largest and most important town in the county. It is located on the left bank of the Yazoo River, near the center of the county, and in 1920 had a population of 5,244. It suffered a disastrous fire in 1904, but has since been rebuilt and is now larger than before. It was also burned by General Arthur in 1864, and rebuilt soon after the war. Yazoo is the home county of John Sharp Williams, so long the brilliant Democratic leader in both houses of congress. Bentonia, Satartia and Vaughan are among the more important villages in the county. Besides the Yazoo River, which traverses the county in a winding course for about 140 miles, and the Big Black River, which forms its southeastern boundary, there are numerous tributary creeks of these streams and Lakes George and Wolf.

Yazoo City, Queen City of the Delta, became the county seat by an election in 1849 but was not the functioning county seat until sometime in 1851 when the courthouse was completed. The US Census population schedules are available beginning in 1830. The County Clerk has marriage records dating from 1845

Yazoo County is bordered by Humphreys County (north), Holmes County (northeast), Madison County (east), Hinds County (south), Warren County (southwest) and Issaquena County (west), Sharkey County (northwest) . Cities and Towns include Benton, Bentonia, Eden, Satartia, Vaughan, Yazoo City (county seat)

The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.co.yazoo.ms.us/ .

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County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Mississippi Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Yazoo County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1845 and Court Records from 1867 and is located at P. O. Box 108, Yazoo City, Mississippi 39194; Phone: 746-1872, Fax: 746-3890 .

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.

Yazoo County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1824 and Probate Records from 1834 and is located at P. O. Box 68, Yazoo City, Mississippi 39194; Phone: 746-2661.

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 Yazoo County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Yazoo ounty Court Records by clicking the link below:

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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.

Yazoo County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at 230 East Broadway Street, Yazoo City, Mississippi 39194; Phone: 662-746-3713 . 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 Yazoo 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 Yazoo 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 Yazoo County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Yazoo County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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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 Yazoo County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Yazoo County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Mississippi

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

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County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Mississippi

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

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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Mississippi Genealogical Addresses

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

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County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

There are many churches and cemeteries in Yazoo County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Yazoo 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 Yazoo County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Yazoo 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 Yazoo County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Yazoo County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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