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 Bethel (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 Bethel. 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 doctors 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.
Bethel is located in Colbert 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 Colbert County: Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence & Tishomingo (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel:
- Colbert County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Ford City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Leighton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Nitrate City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Muscle Shoals
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Wilson Dam
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Spring Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- South Florence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Tuscumbia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Russellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Churntown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Rockwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Belgreen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Spruce Pine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Elgin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Killen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Dells Vista Shores
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Rogersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rogersville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,293 people
- Former name for Rogersville:
- Rodgersville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogersville <1>
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Bailey Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Comer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Cedar Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hill
- Arnot
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Red Bank
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Wheeler Dam Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Town Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Courtland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Hatton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Concord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mountain Home
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Hillsboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Lentzville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Poplar Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Cairo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Lester
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lester is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Clifton ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clifton is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Athens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tanner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Harris Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Hay's Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hay's Mill is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay's Mill
- Country Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Trinity
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Moulton Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Austinville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Simpson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Decatur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Decatur is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54,381 people
- Former names for Decatur:
- Albany
- New Decatur
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Decatur <1>
- Russell Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Minor Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Stella
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stella is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Rascal Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Iron City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Appleton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Busby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Westpoint
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Leoma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Fall River
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Corning ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Cypress Inn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for Bethel.
Cemeteries Near Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel.
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 Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hennigan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shaw Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Midway Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Stanley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Madding Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dillahunty Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Davenport Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Childers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Foster Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (761 more) ...
- Faircloth Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brickhouse Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Bethel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Leighton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Town Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bingham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bingham is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Edmond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Courtland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rogersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rogersville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,293 people
- Former name for Rogersville:
- Rodgersville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogersville <1>
- Spring Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Bailey Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Comer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Saint Florian
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Florence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- South Florence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel.
Newspapers Published in Bethel ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Morgan County
- Giles County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |