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 Brightwater (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 Brightwater. 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.
Brightwater is located in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County: Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, Washington, Clarke (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Wayne (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Brightwater. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brightwater:
- Choctaw County (The home county of Brightwater)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Needham
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Needham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Okatuppa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Okatuppa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okatuppa
- Red Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Toxey
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Toxey is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Gilbertown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Melvin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Butler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Souwilpa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Lisman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lisman is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Bolinger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bolinger is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolinger
- Womack Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Emory
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- West Bend
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Morvin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Coffeeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Campbell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Glover
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Putnam
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Barrons is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrons
- Nanafalia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Aimwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Sweet Water
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Half Acre
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Half Acre is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Acre
- Former names for Half Acre:
- Hell's Half Acre
- Luther's Store
- Myrtlewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Kinterbish
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Ward
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ward is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Derby
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Intercourse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Whitfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Healing Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Healing Springs is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Millry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Mehaffey ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mehaffey is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehaffey
- Frankville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Frankville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Bigbee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bigbee is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee
- Barlow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Barlow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Copeland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Copeland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Clarke County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Junction City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Gin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gin is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin
- De Soto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Quitman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shubuta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Stonewall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Enterprise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Whynot
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Increase
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Increase is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Increase
- Increase has also been known as:
- Causeyville
- Vimville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vimville is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vimville
- Wayne County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Matherville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Waynesboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Robinsons Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Robinsons Junction is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsons Junction
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brightwater, see our County-by-County Page for Brightwater.
Cemeteries Near Brightwater ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brightwater.
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 Brightwater - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brightwater covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Brightwater Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bogueloosa Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bonner Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Old Lusk Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Paragon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mosley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Zion Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mosley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Smiths Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gilbertown Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (267 more) ...
- Stewart Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Cedar Springs Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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 Brightwater in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brightwater.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brightwater, with the one closest to Brightwater listed first.
- Lusk
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lusk is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
- Melvin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Hinton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hinton is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
- Souwilpa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Butler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ararat
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ararat is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ararat
- Emory
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Womack Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Mount Sterling
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Sterling is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Carmichael
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Carmichael is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmichael
- Matherville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Isney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Isney is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isney
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Silas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pushmataha
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- West Bend
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brightwater. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brightwater.
Newspapers Published in Brightwater ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brightwater.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brightwater, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brightwater.
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 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 Brightwater:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Choctaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Marengo County
- Sumter County
- Washington County
- Clarke County
- Lauderdale County
- Wayne 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 Brightwater, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Brightwater) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |