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 Belmont (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 Belmont. 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 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.
Belmont is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Choctaw, Greene, Marengo, Pickens, Kemper (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Noxubee (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Belmont. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belmont:
- Sumter County (The home county of Belmont)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- McDowell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Coatopa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Brewersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Moore Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Arrington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Bellamy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Epes
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Epes is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Livingston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Whitfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Derby
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Intercourse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Sumterville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sumterville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumterville
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Pelham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Tompkinsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Choctaw City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Choctaw City is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw City
- Pennington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pennington is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Jachin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Lavaca
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Cromwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cromwell is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- Forkland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Miller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Boligee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lizzieville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Eutaw
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- West Greene
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- Arcola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Gallion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Cedarville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Sawyerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rosemary
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Greensboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Akron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- Aigleville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Aigleville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aigleville
- Demopolis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pin Hook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Providence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Linden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Faunsdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Myrtlewood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Siddonsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- Uniontown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ellawhite
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Freetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belmont, see our County-by-County Page for Belmont.
Cemeteries Near Belmont ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belmont.
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 Belmont - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belmont covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- Davidson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Palestine Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Houpt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pinetop Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Phares Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Arrington Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Springhill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bird Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bird Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the southwest of Forkland.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #21638 <2>
- Hard Bargain Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (348 more) ...
- Dug Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Old Green Oak Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Belmont had a population of 82 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belmont, with the one closest to Belmont listed first.
- McDowell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Tishabee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tishabee is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tishabee
- Demopolis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Forkland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Coatopa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Arcola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Jefferson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jefferson is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Old Spring Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Spring Hill is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Spring Hill
- Gallion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Miller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Boligee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Livingston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Cedarville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Sawyerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Linden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belmont. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belmont.
Newspapers Published in Belmont ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belmont.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belmont, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belmont.
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 helpful 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 Belmont:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Sumter County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Perry 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> | 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- Belmont) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Belmont, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |