RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Alabama >> Jefferson County >> Black Creek >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Black 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 Black 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 Black 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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Black Creek: Black Crk. (or less commonly used: Black Ck. or Black Cr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Black Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Black 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 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.

Black Creek is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.

Below are the counties that are near Black Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Black Creek:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Black Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.
    • Short Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Toadvine
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sylvan Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Rock Creek
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
    • Maytown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Maytown is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
    • West Jefferson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
    • Ezra
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Ezra is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
    • Oak Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Mulga
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Mulga is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 798 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mulga <1>
    • Media
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Concord
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Adamsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Edgewater
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Edgewater is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.
    • Green Pond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Blocton Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • North Bibb
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • North Bibb is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
    • Woodstock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Burmah ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Burmah is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Belle Ellen
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Blocton ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Blocton is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
    • Bucktown ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bucktown is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
    • Corinne ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Corinne is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
    • Eddings
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Eddings is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
    • Italian Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Italian Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
    • Nash Town ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Nash Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
  • Blount County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.
    • Red Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Hill is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Warrior
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Dale ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Dale is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Reid's
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Smoke Rise
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
    • County Line
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Cullman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.
    • Arkadelphia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Baltimore ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Baltimore is located in Cullman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
    • Colony
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • The Colony
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • The Colony is located in Cullman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
    • Ardell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Black Bottom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fayette County
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.
    • Bamford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Falliston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
    • Helena
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Tacoa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Tacoa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
    • Tulse
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Tulse is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
    • Indian Springs Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
    • Inverness
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Inverness is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
    • Lake Purdy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
    • Alabaster
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Meadowbrook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Pelham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgeton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Brantleyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Tuscaloosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.
    • Bull City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
    • Abernant
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Kellerman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
    • Tannehill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
    • Brookwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Vance
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Vance is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
    • Peterson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Samantha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Coaling
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
    • Holt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
    • Wood Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Wood Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
    • New Lexington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Walker County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Black Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Black Creek.

Cemeteries Near Black Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Black 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 Black Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Black Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.

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 Black Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Black Creek.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Black Creek, with the one closest to Black Creek listed first.

  • Short Creek
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Toadvine
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Porter
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Porter is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
  • Ezra
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ezra is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
  • Adamsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Collins
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Collins is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
  • Dolomite
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Blossburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Blossburg is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossburg
  • Adger
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
  • Wylam
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Sandusky
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Cardiff
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
    • Linn Crossing
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Linn Crossing is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Crossing
    • Dora
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Black Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Black Creek.

Newspapers Published in Black 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 5 newspapers that have been published in the area around Black Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Black Creek, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Black 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 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 Black Creek:

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 Black 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' (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- Black Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.