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 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.
Bethel is located in Cullman 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 Cullman County: Blount, Lawrence, Marshall, Morgan, Walker & Winston.
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:
- Cullman County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Central
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Central is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- West Point
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Logan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chances Crossroad
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Chances Crossroad is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chances Crossroad
- Jones' Chapel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- South Vinemont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- South Vinemont is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vinemont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 636 people
- Vinemont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Trimble
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Cullman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Good Hope
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Good Hope is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,393 people
- Crane Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- East Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Bangor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Gum Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gum Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Springs
- Blount Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Mountain Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mountain Grove is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Reid's
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Blountsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Red Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Hayden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Birdie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Birdie is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdie
- Nectar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nectar is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nectar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Cleveland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Trafford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Oakville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Wren
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wren is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Moulton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chalybeate Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Muck City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Mountain Home
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Swancott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Westlake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Mooresville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Madison County
- Triana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Hog Jaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Pine Lake Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pine Lake Village is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake Village
- Ruth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Arab
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Askea Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Askea Grove is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askea Grove
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Lacon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lacon is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
- Cedar Plains
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Falkville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leesdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Leesdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesdale
- Eva
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Danville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hartselle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Somerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Somerville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Burningtree Mountain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Flint City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Florette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Florette is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florette
- Hulaco
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Marylee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- Powellville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Burrows Crossroads
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Red Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Red Rock is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- South Lowell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- South Lowell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lowell
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Creel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Empire
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Sipsey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Camak Mills ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Camak Mills is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camak Mills
- Edgil
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edgil is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgil
- Gamble
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gamble is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamble
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Upshaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Addison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Arley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Houston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Slick Ford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Ellaville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Grayson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Double Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Ashridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
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.
- Pilgrims Rest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Emeus Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Crosses Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Central Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pullen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spitznagl Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Baldwin Heights Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Baldwin Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Missionary Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chances Cross Roads Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (575 more) ...
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Logan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Crossroads Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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.
- Baldwin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Baldwin is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Logan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jones' Chapel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- Nesmith
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Nesmith is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesmith
- Trimble
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Battleground
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Battleground is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battleground
- Crane Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cullman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Clifty
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clifty is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Wilhites
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wilhites is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhites
- Phelan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Phelan is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelan
- Cedar Plains
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Upshaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Addison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Massey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Massey is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massey
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 22 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 20 miles [32.2 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 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 Cullman County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Madison County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Walker County
- Winston 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 from Point A (ie- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |