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 Conecuh 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 Conecuh County: Butler, Covington, Escambia & Monroe.
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:
- Conecuh County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Mixonville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Commerce
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Owassa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Wilcox
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Ramah
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Evergreen
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rabb
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Old Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Old Town is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Centerville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Belleville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Bermuda
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Mount Union
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mount Union is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Starlington
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Shacklesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Georgiana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Forest Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Garland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Bolling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Chapman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- McKenzie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Industry
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Greenville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oaky Streak
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Covington County
- Red Level
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Level is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Minter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Carlowville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Richmond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Bragg's
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Fort Deposit
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Pine Orchard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Pineville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Burnt Corn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Beatrice
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Tunnel Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Buena Vista
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Peterman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Vredenburgh
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Monroeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hybart
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Franklin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Awin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Pine Apple
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- McWilliams
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Schuster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Caledonia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Oak Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Furman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Snow Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Ackerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Estelle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Camden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nellie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
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.
- Old Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bethel West Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Middleton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Concord Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Stamps Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Joyner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olive West Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Little Pine Level Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (231 more) ...
- Shacklesville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Butler Springs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jenkins Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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.
- Commerce
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Starlington
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Shacklesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Butler Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Butler Springs is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Springs
- Skinnerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Skinnerton is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnerton
- Awin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Bowles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bowles is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowles
- Garland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Georgiana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Herbert
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Herbert is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Forest Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pine Apple
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Chapman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Bolling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Riley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Riley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
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 45 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 27 miles [43.5 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 begin with 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Conecuh County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Covington County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Wilcox 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 'straight-line' (or 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'. |