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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Foster's (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Foster's. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Foster's is located in Tuscaloosa County.

To see how the shape of Alabama's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Tuscaloosa County: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson & Pickens.

Below are the counties that are near Foster's. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Foster's:

  • Tuscaloosa County     (The home county of Foster's)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.
    • Ralph
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ingleside Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ingleside Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside Village
      • Ingleside Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Sahama Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sahama Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sahama Village
      • Sahama Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Coker
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coker have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coker
      • Coker is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coker <1>
    • Tuscaloosa
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Buhl
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buhl have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhl
      • Buhl is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Northport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • University
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for University. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
      • University is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Alberta City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alberta City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
      • Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Elrod
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elrod have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
      • Elrod is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Duncanville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duncanville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
      • Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Wood Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wood Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
      • Wood Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.
    • Egypt ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Egypt have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
      • Egypt is located in Bibb County
    • Scottsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Scottsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
      • Scottsville is located in Bibb County
    • Fikestown ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fikestown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
      • Fikestown is located in Bibb County
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.
    • Knoxville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Knoxville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
      • Knoxville is located in Greene County
    • Union
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Union have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Greene County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
    • Lewiston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lewiston have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
      • Lewiston is located in Greene County
    • Clinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
      • Clinton is located in Greene County
    • Eutaw
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Greene
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
      • West Greene is located in Greene County
    • Lizzieville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
      • Lizzieville is located in Greene County
    • Boligee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.
    • Moundville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Moundville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moundville
      • Moundville is located in Hale County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,497 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moundville <1>
    • Powers
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powers have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
      • Powers is located in Hale County
    • Oak Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
      • Oak Village is located in Hale County
    • Akron
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Phipps ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phipps have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
      • Phipps is located in Hale County
    • Sawyerville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sawyerville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyerville
      • Sawyerville is located in Hale County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sawyerville <1>
    • Greensboro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Pickens County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.
    • Benevola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Benevola have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
      • Benevola is located in Pickens County
    • Gordo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gordo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordo
      • Gordo is located in Pickens County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,594 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gordo <1>
    • Olney
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Olney have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Olney is located in Pickens County
    • Bell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bell have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
      • Bell is located in Pickens County
    • Stansel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stansel
      • Stansel is located in Pickens County
    • Carrollton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carrollton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
      • Carrollton is located in Pickens County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
    • Reform
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reform have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reform
      • Reform is located in Pickens County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reform <1>
    • Aliceville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • McMullen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McMullen have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMullen
      • McMullen is located in Pickens County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9 people
    • Garden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden
      • Garden is located in Pickens County
    • Beaver Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beaver Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Town
      • Beaver Town is located in Pickens County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Foster's, see our County-by-County Page for Foster's.

Newspapers Published in Foster's ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foster's.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Foster's, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Foster's.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Foster's:

Cemeteries Near Foster's ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foster's.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Foster's covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.

  • Foster Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Foster Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Foster Cemetery
  • Beale Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Beale Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beale Cemetery
  • Sylvan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Foster Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Foster Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Foster Cemetery
  • Zion Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion Hill Cemetery
  • Dry Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dry Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dry Creek Cemetery
  • Grants Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grants Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grants Creek Cemetery
  • Jones - Townsend Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jones - Townsend Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jones - Townsend Cemetery
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Zion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Zion Cemetery
  • Wells Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wells Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wells Cemetery
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Zion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Zion Cemetery
  • Holly Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holly Springs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holly Springs Cemetery
  • Continue List   (485 more) ...
    • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wesley Chapel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wesley Chapel Cemetery
    • Parham Ridge Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Parham Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Parham Ridge Cemetery
    • Robertson Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Robertson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Robertson Cemetery

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Foster's had a population of 62 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Foster's, with the one closest to Foster's listed first.

  • Sylvan
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sylvan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Sylvan is located in Tuscaloosa County
  • Romulus
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Romulus have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romulus
    • Romulus is located in Tuscaloosa County
  • Hull
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hull have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
    • Hull is located in Tuscaloosa County
  • Englewood
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Englewood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
    • Englewood is located in Tuscaloosa County
  • Knoxville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Knoxville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
    • Knoxville is located in Greene County
  • Powers
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powers have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
    • Powers is located in Hale County
  • Tuscaloosa
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Coker
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coker have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coker
    • Coker is located in Tuscaloosa County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 953 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coker <1>
  • University
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for University. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
    • University is located in Tuscaloosa County
  • Northport
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mantua
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mantua have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
    • Mantua is located in Greene County
  • Union
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Union have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Union is located in Greene County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Havana
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Havana have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havana
      • Havana is located in Hale County
    • Pleasant Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pleasant Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
      • Pleasant Grove is located in Pickens County
    • Phipps ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Phipps have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
      • Phipps is located in Hale County

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Foster's. See our List of 1890's Communities around Foster's.

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Foster's. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Tuscaloosa County: www.co.tuscaloosa.al.us/

The official website for State of Alabama: https://www.alabama.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Foster's) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Foster's. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.0947, Longitude: -87.6862    
<5>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<6>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Foster's, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024