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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 Bowlings Ferry (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 Bowlings Ferry. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Bowlings Ferry is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, Greene (MS) & Wayne (MS).

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

  • Washington County     (The home county of Bowlings Ferry)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowlings Ferry, with the one closest to Bowlings Ferry listed first.
    • Carson
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Carson is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carson
    • Prestwick
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Prestwick is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwick
    • Leroy
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Leroy is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
    • Sunflower
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sunflower is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower
    • Bassetts Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Bassetts Creek is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassetts Creek
    • Wagarville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Saint Stephen's
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hawthorn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawthorn is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorn
    • McIntosh
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Hobson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Hobson is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobson
    • Malcolm
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Malcolm is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malcolm
    • Seaboard
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Seaboard is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaboard
    • Bigbee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Bigbee is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee
  • Baldwin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowlings Ferry, with the one closest to Bowlings Ferry listed first.
    • Little River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Blacksher
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Blacksher is located in Baldwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacksher
    • Tensaw
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tensaw is located in Baldwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tensaw
    • Latham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Latham is located in Baldwin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latham
    • Stockton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Choctaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowlings Ferry, with the one closest to Bowlings Ferry listed first.
    • Bladon Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bladon Springs is located in Choctaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bladon Springs
    • Cullomburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cullomburg is located in Choctaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullomburg
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowlings Ferry, with the one closest to Bowlings Ferry listed first.
    • Rockville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Rockville is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
    • Jackson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Carlton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Stave Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Stave Creek is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stave Creek
    • Alma
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Alma is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Walker Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Gainestown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Gainestown is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainestown
    • Toddtown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Toddtown is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddtown
    • Salitpa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Salitpa is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salitpa
    • Winn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Winn is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
    • Barlow Bend
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Barlow Bend is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow Bend
    • Suggsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Suggsville is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suggsville
    • Zimco
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Zimco is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimco
  • Escambia County
    • Huxford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Huxford is located in Escambia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxford
  • Mobile County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowlings Ferry, with the one closest to Bowlings Ferry listed first.
    • Calvert
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Mount Vernon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Movico
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Movico is located in Mobile County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Movico
    • Chastang
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Chastang is located in Mobile County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chastang
    • Bucks
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Citronelle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Barry Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Barry Village is located in Mobile County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Village
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bowlings Ferry, with the one closest to Bowlings Ferry listed first.
    • Mount Pleasant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Claiborne
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Claiborne is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
    • Perdue Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Perdue Hill is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdue Hill
    • Uriah
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Finchburg ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Finchburg is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchburg
    • Megargel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Megargel is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megargel
    • Frisco City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Goodway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Goodway is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodway

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

Cemeteries Near Bowlings Ferry ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowlings Ferry.

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 Bowlings Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Cortelyou Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Forman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pine Crest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Leroy Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lewis Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Shady Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • McKenzie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Clearwater Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Wagarville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (223 more) ...
    • Williams Family Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunflower Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fields Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)

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

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

  • Carson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Carson is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carson
  • Wagar
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Wagar is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wagar
  • Sunflower
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunflower is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower
  • Jackson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Alma
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Alma is located in Clarke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
  • Walker Springs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Saint Stephen's
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • McIntosh
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Gainestown
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Gainestown is located in Clarke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainestown
  • Salitpa
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Salitpa is located in Clarke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salitpa
  • Mount Pleasant
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Pleasant is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
  • Winn
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Winn is located in Clarke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Barlow Bend
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Barlow Bend is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow Bend
    • Little River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Suggsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Suggsville is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suggsville

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

Newspapers Published in Bowlings Ferry ...

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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowlings Ferry.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bowlings Ferry, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bowlings Ferry.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Bowlings Ferry:

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>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- Bowlings Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Bowlings Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.