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 Browns 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 Browns 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.
Name Variations for Browns Ferry ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
While the name of this community is Browns Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Browns Ferry may originally have been Brown's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Browns Ferry might be written as Brown Ferry.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Browns Ferry. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Browns Ferry.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Browns Ferry is located in Cullman 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 Cullman County: Blount, Lawrence, Marshall, Morgan, Walker & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Browns Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Browns Ferry:
- Cullman County (The home county of Browns Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Ardell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Arkadelphia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Bremen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Crane Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Damascus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Black Bottom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Trimble
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Dodge City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Logan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Red Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Reid's
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Blount Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Warrior
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bangor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Hayden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- County Line
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Adville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Dallas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Gum Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Gum Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Springs
- Locust Fork
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Robbins Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Sayre
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sayre is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayre
- Media
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Media is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- West Jefferson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Kimberly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Trafford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Graysville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morris
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Morris is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,182 people
- Alden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Alden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Cardiff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Brookside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Lacon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lacon is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
- Cedar Plains
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Powellville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Burrows Crossroads
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Marylee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- Red Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Red Rock is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Sipsey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Creel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Empire
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- South Lowell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- South Lowell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lowell
- Camak Mills ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Camak Mills is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camak Mills
- Cordova
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jasper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Arley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Slick Ford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Houston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Addison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Double Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Upshaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Ellaville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Grayson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Lynn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lynn is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
- Farriss
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Farriss is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farriss
- Ashridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Browns Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Browns Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Browns Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browns 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 Browns Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Browns Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- McKinley Chapel Methodist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shady Grove Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove Church Cemetery
- The Shady Grove Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Shady Grove Cemetery
- Antioch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Tidwell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Drummond Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mauldin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Corinth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cold Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Aaron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Addington Chapel UMC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addington Chapel UMC Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Addington Chapel UMC Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<4> to the southwest of Bremen.
- The Addington Chapel UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Addington Chapel Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1968101 <3>
- Tingle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (466 more) ...
- Blooming Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- John Portzer Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John Portzer Family Cemetery
- The John Portzer Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- John Porter Family Cemetery
- Porter Cemetery
- Portzer Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #25611 <3>
- Delma Baird Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Browns Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Browns Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Browns Ferry, with the one closest to Browns Ferry listed first.
- Powellville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Ardell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Marylee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- Arkadelphia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Bremen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sloan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sloan is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
- South Lowell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- South Lowell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lowell
- Crane Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Jasper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cordova
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Trimble
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gamble
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gamble is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamble
- Robbins Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Reid's
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Browns Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Browns Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Browns 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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browns Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Browns Ferry, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Browns 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 Browns Ferry:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Cullman County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Jefferson County
- Morgan County
- Walker County
- Winston County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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> | 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- Browns Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <5> | 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 Browns Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |