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 Briarfield (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 Briarfield. 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 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.
Briarfield 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 Briarfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Briarfield:
- Talladega County (The home county of Briarfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Logan Martin Dam
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Logan Martin Dam is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Martin Dam
- East Bend
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Alpine
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- Winterboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Winterboro is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterboro
- Windsong Island
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- Rendalia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Talladega
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Colony is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Abihka ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Abihka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
- Bon Air
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Childersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Eastaboga
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Eye ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Eye is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Eye
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Bynum
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Boozer ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Boozer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boozer
- Macon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Macon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Eulaton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
- Cobb Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb Town is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Hobson City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hobson City is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Beasley ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beasley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Bera ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bera is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bera
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Chambers Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Erin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Hollins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Millerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Ashland
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Harkins Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Elder
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Stewartville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Mount Olive
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Goodwater
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Weogufka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Leeds
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Scott City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Lola City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lola City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola City
- McCombs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- McCombs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCombs
- Roper
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roper is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Breakstone Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Breakstone Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakstone Village
- East Trussville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Trussville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trussville
- Alton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Village
- Cahaba Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
- Rock Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rock Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Ridge
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Cropwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Vincent
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Glen City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Avondale Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Pell City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Seddon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Cook's Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Riverside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Brompton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Coal City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Coal City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Calcis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Harpersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sterrett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Vandiver
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Westover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
- Dunavant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Dunnavant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dunnavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnavant
- Wilsonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shoal Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Bridgeton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Chelsea
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lake Purdy
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Briarfield, see our County-by-County Page for Briarfield.
Cemeteries Near Briarfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Briarfield.
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 Briarfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Briarfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- Hepzibah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hubbard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Freeze Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kingston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Allen - Sims Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Armbrester Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Florence Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Glover Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Macedonia North Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (316 more) ...
- Bailey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Reynolds Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Briarfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Briarfield.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Briarfield, with the one closest to Briarfield listed first.
- East Bend
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Renfroe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Renfroe is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renfroe
- Alpine
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Stemley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stemley is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stemley
- Vincent
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cropwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rendalia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rendalia is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rendalia
- Berney's
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Berney's is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berney's
- Wolf Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wolf Creek is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Lowery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lowery is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowery
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Harpersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Talladega
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Childersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Briarfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Briarfield.
Newspapers Published in Briarfield ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Briarfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Briarfield, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Briarfield.
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 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 Briarfield:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby 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> | 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 Briarfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Briarfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |