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 Bel Air (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 Bel Air. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Bel Air 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 Bel Air. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bel Air:
- Houston County (The home county of Bel Air)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Tidwell
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Dothan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Parish
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Taylor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,440 people
- Parker Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parker Village is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Village
- Cowarts
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kinsey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kinsey is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,293 people
- Rehobeth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rehobeth is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehobeth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,699 people
- Webb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Keyton's
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Avon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Avon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Hodgesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hodgesville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
- Merritts Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Merritts Crossroads is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritts Crossroads
- Barbour County
- 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 Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Enterprise
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Battens Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
- Central City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Central City is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Clintonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- New Brockton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Grimes
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Grimes is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
- Napier Field
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Napier Field is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier Field
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Midland City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pinckard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Newton
(11 miles [17.7 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Clayhatchee
(16 miles [25.7 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Mabson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mabson is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabson
- Fort Rucker
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ozark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Holiday Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Holiday Village is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Level Plains
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Geneva County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Malvern
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Slocomb
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dundee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Hartford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bellwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bellwood is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Black
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Black is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Scranton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Scranton is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Chancellor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Chancellor is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
- Eunola ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eunola is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
- Costilla ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Costilla is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
- Coffee Springs
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Geneva
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Headland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Newville
(14 miles [22.5 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Capps is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
- Oakey Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oakey Grove is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
- Haleburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Haleburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Abbeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Graball
(26 miles [41.8 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shorterville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorterville
- Holmes County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Noma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Esto
(21 miles [33.8 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 Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Campbellton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Graceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jacob City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jacob City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Malone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bascom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cottondale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Early County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Cedar Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rock Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rock Hill is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
- Sawhatchee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sawhatchee is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
- Jakin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Springfield
(29 miles [46.7 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bel Air, see our County-by-County Page for Bel Air.
Cemeteries Near Bel Air ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bel Air.
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 Bel Air - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bel Air covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Little Vine Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Memory Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Clark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Selma Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma Cemetery
- The Selma Cemetery has also been known as:
- Selma Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2594112 <2>
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dothan City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sunset Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hurts Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gates of Heaven Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (221 more) ...
- Beulah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bay Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Bel Air in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bel Air.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bel Air, with the one closest to Bel Air listed first.
- Tidwell
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Midland City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Keyton's
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Headland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Big Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Big Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Barber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Barber is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Newton
(11 miles [17.7 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
- Ashford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fadette
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fadette is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fadette
- Dundee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Ewell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Echo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Echo is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Daleville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clayhatchee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Balkum
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Balkum is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balkum
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bel Air. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bel Air.
Newspapers Published in Bel Air ...
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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bel Air.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bel Air, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bel Air.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Bel Air:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Coffee County
- Dale County
- Geneva County
- Henry County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Early 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Bel Air, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Bel Air) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |