Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Bera. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Bera to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bera, 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 Bera (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 Bera. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Bera is historic, it would have been located within present day Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Bera. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bera:
- Calhoun County (The home county of Bera)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Leatherwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Leatherwood is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Peaceburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Peaceburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaceburg
- Morrisville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Morrisville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
- Saks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saks is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saks
- Clark ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Clark is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Beasley ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beasley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Eulaton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Blue Mountain
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Blue Mountain is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
- Chigger Ridge ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Chigger Ridge is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chigger Ridge
- Alexandria
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb Town
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cobb Town is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Anniston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Straight Mountain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Straight Mountain is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Mountain
- Appalachian
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Appalachian is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appalachian
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Ball Flat
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ball Flat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Flat
- Ricks ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ricks is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricks
- Spring Garden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Elder
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Haynes Crossroad
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Delta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Erin
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Barfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Chambers Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Lineville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ashland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Abel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Heflin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hollis Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Edwardsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Edwardsville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Grantley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grantley is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantley
- Micaville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Micaville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micaville
- Ai
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ai is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ai
- Oak Level
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Oak Level is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
- Fruithurst
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fruithurst is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruithurst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Borden Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Borden Springs is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Springs
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Markton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Markton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markton
- Brannon Springs ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brannon Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brannon Springs
- Cobb City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cobb City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb City
- Pilgrims Rest
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pilgrims Rest is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrims Rest
- Glencoe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Burns Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Burns Park is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns Park
- Rainbow City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hokes Bluff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- East Gadsden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- East Gadsden is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gadsden
- Gadsden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Alabama City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Alabama City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama City
- Banner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Banner is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner
- Attalla
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Christiana
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Christiana is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christiana
- Milner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Milner is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Ragland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Seddon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Coal City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Coal City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Wattsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wattsville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Ashville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Steele
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cropwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Glen City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Whitney Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Whitney Junction is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney Junction
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Coldwater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Silver Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Grant Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Grant Town is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Munford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Kentuck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Lincoln
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- McElderry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Colony
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Colony is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Ironaton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Windsong Island
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- Talladega
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Waldo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Chandler Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Chandler Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Springs
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bera, see our County-by-County Page for Bera.
Cemeteries Near Bera ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bera.
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 Bera - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bera covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- New Bethel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lloyds Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Mt. Sellers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hampton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Eden Hills Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Westview Gardens Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Anniston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gladden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Edgemont Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Halls Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Alexandria Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (276 more) ...
- Middleton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Crooks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Prisoner of War 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.
Bera itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bera, with the one closest to Bera listed first.
- Leatherwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Leatherwood is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Peaceburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Peaceburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaceburg
- Morrisville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Morrisville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
- Eulaton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Blue Mountain
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Blue Mountain is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
- Alexandria
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bynum
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Grayton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Grayton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayton
- Oxanna
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oxanna is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxanna
- Anniston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Francis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Francis is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Eastaboga
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Coldwater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Oxford
(8 miles [12.9 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 Bera. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bera.
Newspapers Published in Bera ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bera.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bera, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bera.
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 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 Bera:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Calhoun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- Etowah County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Talladega County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
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 Bera, 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' (or 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- Bera) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |