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 Bradford (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 Bradford. 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 doctors and 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.
Bradford is located in Coosa 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 Coosa County: Chilton, Clay, Elmore, Shelby, Talladega & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Bradford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bradford:
- Coosa County (The home county of Bradford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Kellyton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Goodwater
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Ray
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Hissop
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Cottage Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Fishpond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Stewartville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Rockford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nixburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Weogufka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Pentonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Equality
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Autauga County
- Marbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Jumbo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Mountain Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Verbena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Hollins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Millerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Chambers Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Harkins Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Mellow Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Ashland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Motley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Erin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Lineville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cragford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Seman
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Jordan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Irma ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Central
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Titus
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Eclectic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lightwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Kent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Claud
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Holtville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Adkin Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Randolph County
- Almond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Pine Grove Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Merrell Beach
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Wilsonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Sylacauga
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gantts Quarry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Mignon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Oldfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Sycamore
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Oak Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Comerdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Zubers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Abihka ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Abihka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
- Fayetteville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Rendalia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Talladega Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Bon Air
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Hackneyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Alexander City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- Our Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- Cowpens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
- Jacksons' Gap
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Goldville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- New Site
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Benson ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Dadeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Emuckfaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Matilda
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bradford, see our County-by-County Page for Bradford.
Cemeteries Near Bradford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bradford.
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 Bradford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bradford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Chapman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Socapatoy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bradford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Doctor Kellys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Old Marietta Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memorial Gardens
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Memorial Gardens is located outside and to the south of Kellyton.
- Kellyton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crestview Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Martin Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Goodwater Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- New Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jordan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (354 more) ...
- Maxwell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bice Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Bradford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bradford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
- Kellyton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Crewsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crewsville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crewsville
- Mount Olive
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Goodwater
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hanover
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hanover is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Hissop
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Hollins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Alexander City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hackneyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Bentleyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bentleyville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentleyville
- Rockford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stewartville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Nixburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Weogufka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Pentonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bradford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bradford.
Newspapers Published in Bradford ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bradford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bradford, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bradford.
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 either 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 Bradford:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Coosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Chilton County
- Clay County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Randolph County
- Shelby County
- Talladega 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 from Point A (ie- Bradford) 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 Bradford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |