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 Big Creek (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 Big Creek. 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.
Name Variations for Big Creek ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Bigcreek.
- A typical abbreviation for Big Creek: Big Crk. (or less commonly used: Big Ck. or Big Cr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Creek.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Big Creek is located in Houston 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 Houston County: Dale, Geneva, Henry, Jackson (FL), Early (GA) & Seminole (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Big Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Creek:
- Houston County (The home county of Big Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Hodgesville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hodgesville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
- Rehobeth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rehobeth is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehobeth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,699 people
- Merritts Crossroads
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Merritts Crossroads is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritts Crossroads
- Madrid
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Madrid is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 293 people
- Keyton's
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Cottonwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Parker Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Parker Village is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Village
- Taylor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Taylor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,440 people
- Parish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dothan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Avon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Tidwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Cowarts
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Central City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Central City is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Battens Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
- Enterprise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Grimes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Grimes is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
- Midland City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Napier Field
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Napier Field is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier Field
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Pinckard
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Clayhatchee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Newton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Daleville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Fort Rucker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Level Plains
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Holiday Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Holiday Village is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Mabson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mabson is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabson
- Ozark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Malvern
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slocomb
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dundee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Hartford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Black
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Black is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Bellwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bellwood is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Eunola ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Eunola is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
- Scranton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Scranton is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Costilla ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Costilla is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
- Geneva
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Chancellor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Chancellor is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
- Coffee Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Headland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Newville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Newville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Haleburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haleburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Capps
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Capps is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
- Oakey Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Oakey Grove is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
- Holmes County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Noma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Esto
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Esto is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Bonifay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Izagora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Izagora is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Campbellton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Graceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jacob City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jacob City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Malone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cottondale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bascom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Steele City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Steele City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele City
- Marianna
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Alford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Two Egg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Two Egg is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Egg
- Parramore ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parramore is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parramore
- Washington County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Chipley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brock Crossroad
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brock Crossroad is located in Washington County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock Crossroad
- Caryville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points is located in Washington County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Early County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Cedar Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jakin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sawhatchee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sawhatchee is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
- Springfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Springfield is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
- Rock Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Hill is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
- Seminole County (GA)
- Steam Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Steam Mill is located in Seminole County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Big Creek.
Cemeteries Near Big Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Creek.
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 Big Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Phillips Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Registers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lassiter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sanders Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Registers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Memphis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Martin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hinson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Christian Home Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (193 more) ...
- Marvin Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Selma Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma Cemetery
- The Selma Cemetery has also been known as:
- Selma Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2594112 <2>
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Big Creek had a population of 30 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Creek, with the one closest to Big Creek listed first.
- Keyton's
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Fadette
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fadette is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fadette
- Campbellton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Graceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Warwick ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Warwick is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Tidwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Ashford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dundee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Barber
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barber is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Midland City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- High Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- High Bluff is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bluff
- Cottondale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Chipley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Headland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Clayhatchee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Creek.
Newspapers Published in Big Creek ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Creek, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Creek.
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 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 Big Creek:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coffee County
- Dale County
- Geneva County
- Henry County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Washington County
- Early County
- Seminole 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 Big Creek, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |