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 Ashford (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 Ashford. 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 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.
Ashford is located in Houston 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 Houston County: Dale, Geneva, Henry, Jackson (FL), Early (GA) & Seminole (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Ashford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ashford:
- Houston County (The home county of Ashford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Avon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Avon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Barber
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Barber is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Cowarts
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Webb
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gordon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gordon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Parish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Williams
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williams is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
- Kinsey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kinsey is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,293 people
- Cottonwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Keyton's
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Dothan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Columbia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hodgesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hodgesville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Grimes
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Grimes is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
- Napier Field
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Napier Field is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier Field
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Midland City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pinckard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Newton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Ewell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Bertha
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bertha is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
- Mabson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mabson is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabson
- Clayhatchee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Daleville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ozark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Rucker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Geneva County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Malvern
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Slocomb
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dundee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Hartford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Headland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Haleburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Haleburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Newville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Newville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Oakey Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oakey Grove is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
- Capps
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Capps is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
- Abbeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Graball
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Graball is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
- Former names for Graball:
- Hart's Crossroads
- Hudspeth's Crossroads
- Shorterville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Shorterville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorterville
- Holmes County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Noma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Esto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Esto is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Malone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Campbellton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bascom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Greenwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Graceville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jacob City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jacob City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Two Egg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Two Egg is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Egg
- Parramore ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Parramore is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parramore
- Cottondale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Marianna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Early County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Cedar Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sawhatchee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sawhatchee is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
- Rock Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Hill is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
- Jakin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Springfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Springfield is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
- Centerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Blakely
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hentown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hentown is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hentown
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,944 people
- Bancroft
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bancroft is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Miller County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Mayhaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mayhaw is located in Miller County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
- Floydtown ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Floydtown is located in Miller County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floydtown
- Colquitt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Seminole County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Steam Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Steam Mill is located in Seminole County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
- Donalsonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Iron City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ashford, see our County-by-County Page for Ashford.
Cemeteries Near Ashford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ashford.
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 Ashford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ashford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Ashford City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bluff Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Antioch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Crestlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cowarts Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cedar Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cowarts Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Poplar Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rocky Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hunters Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (205 more) ...
- Webb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Stephens Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hurts Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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, Ashford had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Ashford had a population of 2,202 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ashford, with the one closest to Ashford listed first.
- Barber
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Barber is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Keyton's
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Cedar Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Tidwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Headland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Big Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Big Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Jakin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Balkum
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Balkum is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balkum
- Midland City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Campbellton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bascom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fadette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fadette is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fadette
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Mayhaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mayhaw is located in Miller County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
- Graceville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ashford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ashford.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Ashford ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ashford.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Ashford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Ashford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Ashford.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3> of Ashford.
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 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 Ashford:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dale County
- Geneva County
- Henry County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Early County
- Miller County
- Seminole 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 Ashford, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ashford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |