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 Bent Creek (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 Bent Creek. 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 Bent Creek ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Bent Creek: Bent Crk. (or less commonly used: Bent Ck. or Bent Cr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bent Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bent Creek.
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 northwest 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 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.
Bent Creek is located in Lee 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 Lee County: Chambers, Macon, Russell, Tallapoosa, Harris (GA) & Muscogee (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Bent Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bent Creek:
- Lee County (The home county of Bent Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Auburn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Gwen Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Opelika
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beauregard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beauregard is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Chewacla
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- The Bottle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Ridgewood Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Salem
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Loachapoka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Marvyn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Marvyn is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvyn
- Prince Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prince Crossroads is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prince Crossroads
- Bleecker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bleecker is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bleecker
- Chambers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Waverly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Boyds
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Boyds is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds
- Cusseta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blackman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Huguley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Huguley is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguley
- Osanippa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Osanippa is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osanippa
- Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- LaFayette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- River View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- River View is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River View
- Eady City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eady City is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eady City
- Plant City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Plant City is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant City
- Lanett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Tallassee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Society Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Society Hill is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Society Hill
- Notasulga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Tuskegee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Franklin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hornady
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Armstrong
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Armstrong is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Fort Davis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Place
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Calebee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Hugley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hugley is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugley
- Crawford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Crawford is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Ladonia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ladonia is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladonia
- Hatchechubbee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hatchechubbee is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchechubbee
- Hurtsboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hurtsboro is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 597 people
- Phenix City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Seale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fontaine Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fontaine Village is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontaine Village
- Rutherford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Rutherford is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
- Fort Mitchell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Camp Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Church Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Agricola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Reeltown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
- Dudleyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dudleyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
- Dadeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tallapoosa City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- East Tallassee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Benson ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Matilda
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Harris County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Mountain Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mountain Hill is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 11,554 people
- Pine Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Lake is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
- Muscogee County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Bibb City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bibb City is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bibb City
- City Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- City Village is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City Village
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Maridale Estates
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Maridale Estates is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maridale Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 60,867 people
- Twin Chapel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Twin Chapel is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Chapel
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,701 people
- Glenns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Glenns is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenns
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,020 people
- Fortson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hilton Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hilton Heights is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Heights
- Estimated population in 2018: 324 people
- Lincoln Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Hills is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 833 people
- Wynnton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wynnton is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynnton
- East Edgewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- East Edgewood is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Edgewood
- Estimated population in 2019: 569 people
- Baker Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Baker Village is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Village
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- West Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- North West Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- North West Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North West Point
- Pioneer Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pioneer Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bent Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Bent Creek.
Cemeteries Near Bent Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bent Creek.
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 Bent Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bent Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Green Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Chamlee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Hills Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rosemere Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Morris Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ross Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Westwood Drive Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (315 more) ...
- Cherry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pierce Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Providence Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Bent Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bent Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bent Creek, with the one closest to Bent Creek listed first.
- Auburn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Opelika
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chewacla
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Gold Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gold Hill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
- Salem
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Oak Bowery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oak Bowery is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Bowery
- Loachapoka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Alliance
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alliance is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alliance
- Tuckersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Tuckersburg is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckersburg
- Society Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Society Hill is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Society Hill
- Waverly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Notasulga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Cusseta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Boyds
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Boyds is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds
- Beulah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beulah is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bent Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bent Creek.
Newspapers Published in Bent Creek ...
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 Bent Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bent Creek, 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 Bent Creek.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Bent Creek:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chambers County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Macon County
- Russell County
- Tallapoosa County
- Harris County
- Muscogee County
- Troup 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 Bent Creek, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bent Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |