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 Backems Crossroads (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 Backems Crossroads. 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.
Name Variations for Backems Crossroads ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Backems Crossroads: Backems Xrds.
- While the name of this community is Backems Crossroads, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Backems Crossroads may originally have been Backem's Crossroads.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Backems Crossroads might be written as Backem Crossroads.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 northeast 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 north.
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 north 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.
Backems Crossroads 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 Backems Crossroads. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Backems Crossroads:
- Houston County (The home county of Backems Crossroads)
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Parker Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Parker Village is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Village
- Taylor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,440 people
- Tidwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Merritts Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Merritts Crossroads is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritts Crossroads
- Rehobeth
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rehobeth is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehobeth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,699 people
- Dothan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Parish
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Kinsey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Kinsey is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,293 people
- Keyton's
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Hodgesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hodgesville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
- Cowarts
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Madrid
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Madrid is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 293 people
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Elamville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Elamville is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamville
- Blue Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Blue Springs is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Enterprise
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Battens Crossroads
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
- Central City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Central City is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Clintonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- New Brockton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Goodman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Goodman is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodman
- Mixson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mixson is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixson
- Java
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Java is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Roeton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Roeton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roeton
- Elba
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Frisco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Frisco is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Alberton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Alberton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberton
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Daleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Clayhatchee
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Newton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Pinckard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Rucker
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Midland City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Level Plains
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Holiday Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Holiday Village is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Grimes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Grimes is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
- Napier Field
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Napier Field is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier Field
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Ewell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Ozark
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Geneva County
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Dundee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Slocomb
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Malvern
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hartford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bellwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bellwood is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Scranton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Scranton is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Chancellor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Chancellor is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
- Black
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Black is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Costilla ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Costilla is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
- Coffee Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Eunola ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Eunola is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
- Geneva
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Headland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Newville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Capps
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Capps is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
- Oakey Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakey Grove is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
- Pike County
- Tennille
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tennille is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennille
- Holmes County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Esto
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Esto is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Noma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Izagora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Izagora is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Graceville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Campbellton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jacob City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jacob City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Backems Crossroads, see our County-by-County Page for Backems Crossroads.
Cemeteries Near Backems Crossroads ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Backems Crossroads.
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 Backems Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Backems Crossroads covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- New Corinth Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Daleville Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Whaley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bay Springs Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pinckard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Cemetery
- The Newton Cemetery has also been known as:
- Newton City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #24991 <3>
- Macedonia Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (264 more) ...
- Providence Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Purvis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Backems Crossroads in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Backems Crossroads.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Backems Crossroads, with the one closest to Backems Crossroads listed first.
- Daleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Clayhatchee
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Newton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- High Bluff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- High Bluff is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bluff
- Dundee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Midland City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Level Plains
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Tidwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Ewell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Highfalls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Highfalls is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfalls
- Fadette
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fadette is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fadette
- Enterprise
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Ozark
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Warwick ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Warwick is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Big Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Big Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Backems Crossroads. See our List of 1890's Communities around Backems Crossroads.
Newspapers Published in Backems Crossroads ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Backems Crossroads.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Backems Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Backems Crossroads.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Backems Crossroads:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Coffee County
- Dale County
- Geneva County
- Henry County
- Pike County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Backems Crossroads, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Backems Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |