Search Bibb County Genealogy

Bibb County genealogy records go back to 1823, one year after this central Georgia county was formed from parts of Houston, Jones, Monroe, and Twiggs counties. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Macon hold marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court records from that era. Bibb County and the City of Macon merged into a consolidated government in 2014, but the courthouse records remain unchanged. The Macon-Bibb Health Department also has birth records from 1891 and death records from 1882, which makes this county especially strong for vital records research before the 1919 state system started.

Bibb County Probate Court Genealogy

The Bibb County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses start in 1823. The court holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship records, and estate inventories going back to the same year. These files are essential for tracing family lines in central Georgia.

The courthouse is at 601 Mulberry Street in Macon. The phone number is 478-803-1000. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses.

Certified copies of birth and death certificates from 1919 forward cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. These fees are set statewide.

Macon-Bibb Health Department Records

Bibb County has a major advantage for genealogy research. The Macon-Bibb County Health Department holds birth records from 1891 and death records from 1882. That is nearly 30 years before Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919. These early records are rare in Georgia. Most counties have nothing before 1919.

The Health Department is at 171 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217. Phone numbers are 478-745-0411 and 478-749-0102. Contact them for copies of these older records. Fees may differ from the standard state rates.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates have fewer limits. For records before 1882, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and family Bibles.

Bibb County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Bibb County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run resource with cemetery records, census data, family trees, and shared research for Bibb County genealogy.

Volunteers post courthouse records, cemetery transcriptions, church records, and old newspaper extracts. This site is a good starting point for connecting with other researchers who have Bibb County family ties.

Bibb County Superior Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court at 601 Mulberry Street holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1823. Land deeds are one of the best genealogy sources. They show property sales, family transfers, and neighbor connections. Divorce records name children and list property.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public. The Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 caps copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents. Tax digests at the Superior Court fill gaps when census data is missing. Georgia lost its 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 federal census records.

Macon was a major railroad hub in the 1800s. Civil case files from that era often name multiple family members in property disputes and estate contests. These records are worth checking.

State Vital Records for Bibb County

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Georgia Department of Public Health handles state-level requests. You can also get copies from the Bibb County Probate Court.

The Georgia Virtual Vault has free death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed at no cost. These free databases are strong starting points for Bibb County genealogy. Remember that the Health Department in Macon has birth records from 1891 and death records from 1882, which predates the state system.

Bibb County Online Genealogy Resources

Search Bibb County genealogy records through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has digitized pages from Macon newspapers. Obituaries and legal notices in old newspapers are excellent genealogy sources. The Macon Telegraph archives are especially useful for Bibb County research.

Research Tips for Bibb County

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work backward. Census records are available from 1830 for Bibb County. The Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260 has census data through 1940. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

• Check the Health Department for pre-1919 birth and death records
• Search cemetery records at Rose Hill and Riverside cemeteries
• Use tax digests when census data is missing
• Review church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at the Macon Telegraph newspaper for obituaries

Bibb County boundary changes matter. The county was formed from Houston, Jones, Monroe, and Twiggs counties. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to help track where your family was counted.

Cities in Bibb County

Macon is the county seat and the only major city in Bibb County. The Macon-Bibb consolidated government handles all county services. All genealogy records are at the courthouse on Mulberry Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bibb County. If your ancestors moved in central Georgia, check neighboring county records too.