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 Belle Vista (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 Belle Vista. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Belle Vista is located in Talladega 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 Talladega County: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Saint Clair & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Belle Vista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belle Vista:
- Talladega County (The home county of Belle Vista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- East Bend
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Logan Martin Dam
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Logan Martin Dam is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Martin Dam
- Alpine
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- Bon Air
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Childersburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Winterboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Winterboro is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterboro
- Rendalia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Zubers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Abihka ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Abihka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
- Comerdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Sycamore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Mignon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Eastaboga
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Eye ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Eye is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Eye
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Bynum
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Boozer ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Boozer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boozer
- Macon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Macon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Eulaton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Chambers Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Hollins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Erin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Millerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Harkins Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Ashland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Stewartville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Mount Olive
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Weogufka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Goodwater
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Leeds
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Lola City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lola City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola City
- McCombs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- McCombs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCombs
- Roper
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roper is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Alton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Breakstone Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Breakstone Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakstone Village
- Cahaba Landing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
- East Trussville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Trussville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trussville
- Irondale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Ridge
- Weems
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Weems is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weems
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Vincent
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Cropwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Glen City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Avondale Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Cook's Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Seddon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Brompton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Moody
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Woodland Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Riverside
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Calcis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Harpersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sterrett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Westover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
- Vandiver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wilsonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dunavant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Dunnavant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dunnavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnavant
- Chelsea
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Shoal Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Bridgeton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Lake Purdy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Columbiana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belle Vista, see our County-by-County Page for Belle Vista.
Cemeteries Near Belle Vista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belle Vista.
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 Belle Vista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belle Vista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bailey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arkwright Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkwright Church Cemetery
- The Arkwright Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Arkwright Cemetery
- Baker Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Old Reynolds Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Glover Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Masters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nicholls Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Vincent Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Davis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kingston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Raley Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (326 more) ...
- Vincent Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Williamson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Chancellor Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
While we didn't find Belle Vista in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Belle Vista.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belle Vista, with the one closest to Belle Vista listed first.
- East Bend
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Vincent
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Alpine
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Harpersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- Childersburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Renfroe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Renfroe is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renfroe
- Lowery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lowery is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowery
- Zubers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Rendalia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Berney's
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Berney's is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berney's
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Sterrett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wolf Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Wolf Creek is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Sycamore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belle Vista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belle Vista.
Newspapers Published in Belle Vista ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belle Vista.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belle Vista, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belle Vista.
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 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 Belle Vista:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Belle Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Belle Vista, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |