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 Bon Air (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 Bon Air. 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 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 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.
Bon Air 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 Bon Air. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bon Air:
- Talladega County (The home county of Bon Air)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Childersburg
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Zubers
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Comerdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Oak Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Mignon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Sycamore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Oldfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Sylacauga
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alpine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Winterboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Winterboro is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterboro
- Gantts Quarry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- East Bend
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Fayetteville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Calhoun County
- Eastaboga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chilton County
- Jumbo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Hollins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Chambers Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Millerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Erin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Harkins Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Ashland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Stewartville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Weogufka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Mount Olive
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Goodwater
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dollar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Rockford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Kellyton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Hissop
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Cottage Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Ray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Leeds
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Cahaba Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Landing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
- Lola City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lola City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola City
- McCombs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- McCombs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCombs
- Irondale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Ridge
- Roper
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Roper is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Weems
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Weems is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weems
- Alton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Brook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Vincent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Cropwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Glen City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Cook's Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Pell City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Avondale Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Brompton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Seddon
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Woodland Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Moody
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Riverside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Harpersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wilsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Calcis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Westover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
- Sterrett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Merrell Beach
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Pine Grove Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Columbiana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Vandiver
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chelsea
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dunavant
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Shoal Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Tallapoosa County
- Hackneyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bon Air, see our County-by-County Page for Bon Air.
Cemeteries Near Bon Air ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bon Air.
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 Bon Air - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bon Air covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Rhoden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhoden Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Rhoden Cemetery is located in the vicinity of Childersburg
- Green Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Childersburg City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Allen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nicholls Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Odena Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Davis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chancellor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kahatchee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Old Reynolds Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (375 more) ...
- Bradford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Caldwell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Comers Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Bon Air in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bon Air.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bon Air, with the one closest to Bon Air listed first.
- Childersburg
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Zubers
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Sylacauga
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oldfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Sycamore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Wilsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Alpine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Harpersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Fayetteville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Vincent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- East Bend
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Rendalia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Talladega Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Berney's
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Berney's is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berney's
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bon Air. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bon Air.
Newspapers Published in Bon Air ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bon Air.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bon Air, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bon Air.
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 Bon Air:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Calhoun County
- Chilton County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bon Air) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Bon Air, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |