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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Bethel is located in Walker 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 Walker County: Blount, Cullman, Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Tuscaloosa & 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:
- Walker County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Oakman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oakman is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Former names for Oakman:
- Day's Gap
- Marietta
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oakman <1>
- Patton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Patton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
- Patton Junction ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Patton Junction is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Junction
- Coal Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
- Corona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Corona is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corona
- Goodsprings
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Parrish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Parrish is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Population from the 2020 Census: 929 people
- America
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- America is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for America
- Townley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Townley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townley
- Barney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Cordova
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dovertown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
- Blount County
- Red Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Ardell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Arkadelphia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Alta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Berry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bankston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bankston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- Rossland City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rossland City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossland City
- Bazemore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bazemore is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazemore
- Fayette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Old Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Old Town is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Glen Allen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Allen is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Ashcraft Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ashcraft Corner is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcraft Corner
- Belk
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Belk is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Kirkland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kirkland is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkland
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Black Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Toadvine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Short Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- West Jefferson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Oak Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Media
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Media is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Ezra
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Rock Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Sylvan Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Maytown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Maytown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Alden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Alden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Graysville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Marion County
- Rock City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Pickens County
- Lubbub
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- New Lexington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- New Lexington is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Bull City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Samantha
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Samantha is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samantha
- Kellerman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Lake Front Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lake Front Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Front Village
- Abernant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Wood Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wood Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
- Brookwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Holt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
- Peterson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Lake View
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Alberta City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Echola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Echola is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echola
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Farriss
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Farriss is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farriss
- Lynn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lynn is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
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.
- Woods Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Gilchrist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Flatwoods Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Earnest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Flatwoods Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods Cemetery
- The Flatwoods Cemetery has also been known as:
- Flatwoods Baptist Church Cemetery
- Flatwoods Community Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #22809 <2>
- Lower Sulpher Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whitson Place Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Key Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Field Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Infant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (490 more) ...
- Day Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oakman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Swindle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
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.
- Patton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Patton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
- Corona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Corona is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corona
- Coal Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
- Alta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Wiley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wiley is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiley
- Parrish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Parrish is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Population from the 2020 Census: 929 people
- Berry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Townley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Townley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townley
- Cordova
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Lexington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- New Lexington is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Bankston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bankston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gamble
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Gamble is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamble
- Toadvine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Saragossa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Saragossa is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saragossa
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 36 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 18 miles [29 km]<4>. 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 start 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Walker County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cullman County
- Fayette County
- Jefferson County
- Marion County
- Pickens County
- Tuscaloosa 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> | 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 Bethel, 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 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'. |