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 Bethlehem (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 Bethlehem. 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.
Bethlehem is located in Talladega 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 Talladega County: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Saint Clair & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Bethlehem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethlehem:
- Talladega County (The home county of Bethlehem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Munford
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- McElderry
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Grant Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Grant Town is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Silver Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Ironaton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Coldwater
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Kentuck
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Waldo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Talladega
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chandler Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chandler Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Springs
- Windsong Island
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Bynum
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Eastaboga
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hobson City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hobson City is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Blue Eye ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Blue Eye is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Eye
- Eulaton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
- Chinnabee ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chinnabee is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinnabee
- Cobb Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb Town is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Oxford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Friendship
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Friendship is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Oxanna
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oxanna is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxanna
- Anniston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bera ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bera is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bera
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Erin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Elder
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Haynes Crossroad
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Chambers Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Delta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ashland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Barfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Lineville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harkins Crossroads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Millerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Cragford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mellow Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Abel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Hollis Crossroads
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Heflin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Micaville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Micaville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micaville
- Edwardsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Edwardsville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Coosa County
- Goodwater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Brannon Springs ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brannon Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brannon Springs
- Markton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Markton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markton
- Cobb City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cobb City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb City
- Pilgrims Rest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Pilgrims Rest is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrims Rest
- Glencoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Christiana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Christiana is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christiana
- Ofelia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ofelia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ofelia
- Milner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Milner is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- Morrison Crossroad
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Morrison Crossroad is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Crossroad
- Rockdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rockdale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Cambridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cambridge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Newell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Malone Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- Wedowee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Riverside
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seddon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Cropwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ragland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Glen City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Coal City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coal City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Wattsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wattsville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Cook's Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Calcis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Harpersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sterrett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Goldville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Hackneyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethlehem, see our County-by-County Page for Bethlehem.
Cemeteries Near Bethlehem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethlehem.
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 Bethlehem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethlehem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- Chief Chenneby Grave
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cunningham - Pyles Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Lackey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Hill Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stockdale Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Seay Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Horse Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coldwater Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater Cemetery
- The Coldwater Cemetery has also been known as:
- Coldwater Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #262899 <2>
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Groce - Montgomery Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Trinity Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (294 more) ...
- Antioch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Needmore Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Providence Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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 Bethlehem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethlehem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethlehem, with the one closest to Bethlehem listed first.
- McElderry
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Munford
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hopeful
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hopeful is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeful
- Jenifer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jenifer is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenifer
- Ironaton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Silver Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Turner
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Turner is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Coldwater
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Eastaboga
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kentuck
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Bynum
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Waldo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Talladega
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oxford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eulaton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethlehem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethlehem.
Newspapers Published in Bethlehem ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethlehem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethlehem, 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 Bethlehem.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Bethlehem:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- Coosa County
- Etowah County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Tallapoosa 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 Bethlehem, 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' (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- Bethlehem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |