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 Ararat (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 Ararat. 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.
Ararat is located in Choctaw County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Choctaw County: Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, Washington, Clarke (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Wayne (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Ararat. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ararat:
- Choctaw County (The home county of Ararat)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Red Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Womack Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Butler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Toxey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Toxey is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Gilbertown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Needham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Needham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Lavaca
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Souwilpa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Okatuppa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Okatuppa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okatuppa
- Lisman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lisman is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Bladon Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bladon Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bladon Springs
- Bolinger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bolinger is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolinger
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Morvin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- West Bend
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Campbell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Coffeeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Glover
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Thomasville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Salitpa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Salitpa is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salitpa
- Zimco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Zimco is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimco
- Winn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Winn is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Atkeison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Fulton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Putnam
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barrons is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrons
- Nanafalia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Aimwell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Sweet Water
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Half Acre
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Half Acre is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Acre
- Former names for Half Acre:
- Hell's Half Acre
- Luther's Store
- Dixon's Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Moss ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Myrtlewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Kinterbish
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Derby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Whitfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Ward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ward is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Intercourse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Frankville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Frankville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Bigbee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bigbee is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee
- Healing Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Healing Springs is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Millry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mehaffey ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mehaffey is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehaffey
- Barlow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Barlow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Saint Stephen's
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clarke County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Junction City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Gin ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gin is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- Whynot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Wayne County (MS)
- Matherville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ararat, see our County-by-County Page for Ararat.
Cemeteries Near Ararat ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ararat.
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.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Ararat - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ararat covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Bush Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Wesley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sykes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hatchet Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Marvin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lily Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Little Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Moores Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Trotter Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (251 more) ...
- Putnam Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Old Lusk Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stewart Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Ararat had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ararat, with the one closest to Ararat listed first.
- Cunningham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cunningham is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cunningham
- Putnam
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Womack Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Mount Sterling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mount Sterling is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Lusk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lusk is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
- West Bend
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Butler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Morvin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Campbell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Nanafalia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Souwilpa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Coffeeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Nicholsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Nicholsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholsville
- McEntyre
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- McEntyre is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McEntyre
- Tallahatta Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Tallahatta Springs is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallahatta Springs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ararat. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ararat.
Newspapers Published in Ararat ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ararat.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ararat, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ararat.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Ararat:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Choctaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Marengo County
- Sumter County
- Washington County
- Clarke County
- Lauderdale County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
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> | 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 Ararat, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Ararat) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |