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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Bellefonte. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Bellefonte to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bellefonte, please Contact Us.

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 Bellefonte (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 Bellefonte. 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 Bellefonte ...

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.

In past government published Postal Guides, Bellefonte was referred to as Bellefonte Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bellefonte. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bellefonte.

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.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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.

Although our information shows that the community of Bellefonte is historic, it would have been located within present day Jackson 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 Jackson County: DeKalb, Madison, Marshall, Dade (GA), Franklin (TN) & Marion (TN).

Below are the counties that are near Bellefonte. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bellefonte:

  • Jackson County     (The home county of Bellefonte)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Hollywood
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Gray ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Gray is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray
    • Pisgah
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Blackankle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairfield ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairfield is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
    • Scottsboro
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fackler
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Fackler is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fackler
    • Dutton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Ferncliff ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Ferncliff is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferncliff
    • Berrys ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Berrys is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrys
    • Kyles
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Tupelo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Blanche
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Taft
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Henagar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Powell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Sylvania
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sylvania is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvania
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,860 people
    • Snake Creek ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Snake Creek is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snake Creek
    • Beaty Crossroads
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Ider
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Rainsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Gibson Crossroads
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Hix ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Hix is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hix
    • Fyffe
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Shiloh
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Shiloh is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
    • Chavies
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Madison County
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Mid ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Mid is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid
    • Grant
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Columbus City Ferry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Columbus City Ferry is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City Ferry
    • Columbus City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Columbus City is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
    • Peters ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Peters is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peters
    • North ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • North is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North
    • Fort Deposit ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fort Deposit is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Deposit
    • Hustleville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Rayburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Chattooga County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Cloudland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Menlo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Menlo is located in Chattooga County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menlo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 454 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Menlo <2>
  • Dade County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Stewart Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Stewart Town is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart Town
    • Rising Fawn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Cole City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cole City is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cole City
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 127 people
    • Trenton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Walker County (GA)
    • Durham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Durham is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,257 people
  • Franklin County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Anderson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Sal City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Sal City is located in Franklin County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sal City
    • Liberty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Liberty is located in Franklin County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
      • Estimated population in 2014: 318 people
    • Beans Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Huntland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.
    • Orme
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Orme is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Richard City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Richard City is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richard City
    • South Pittsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • New Hope
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • New Hope is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Ketchall ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ketchall is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchall
    • Kimball
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bellefonte, see our County-by-County Page for Bellefonte.

Cemeteries Near Bellefonte ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bellefonte.

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 Bellefonte - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bellefonte covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.

  • Bellefonte Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Hansbrough Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Shipp Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Finnell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Phillips Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Norwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pinehaven Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Gant Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Baptist Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hudgins Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pauper Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (588 more) ...
    • Baker Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Baker Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Henry Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.

Bellefonte itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 12 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Bellefonte, with the one closest to Bellefonte listed first.

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bellefonte. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bellefonte.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bellefonte ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bellefonte.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bellefonte. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bellefonte and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bellefonte.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4> of Bellefonte.

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 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 Bellefonte:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Bellefonte, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bellefonte) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.