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 Canaan (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 Canaan. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Canaan is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Autauga, Bullock, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Canaan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Canaan:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Canaan)
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Pintlala
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pintlala is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pintlala
- Former name for Pintlala:
- Colquitt
- Hope Hull
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Red Level
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Red Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- English Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- English Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Ada
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Young Forte Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
- Gibbs Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
- Pike Road
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Highland Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Montgomery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Catoma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Catoma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
- Ramer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Prattville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Melmar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- Autaugaville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Booth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Pine Level
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Jones Bluff Dam
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Mitchell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Fitzpatrick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Crenshaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Highland Home
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Honoraville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Petrey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Petrey is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Vernledge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Vernledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernledge
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Prattville Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Blue Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Coosada
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Robinson Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
- Ware
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Elmore
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wetumpka
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Deatsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Adkin Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Holtville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Claud
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Davenport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Davenport is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
- Letohatchee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Sandy Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Burkville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
- Hayneville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lowndesboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mosses
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- Fort Deposit
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gordonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- White Hall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Petronia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Benton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Tysonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Shorter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hardaway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Calebee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- La Place
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Kent
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Kent is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Ansley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Orion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Meeksville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meeksville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
- Wingard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wingard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingard
- Youngblood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Youngblood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
- Needmore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Needmore is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Canaan, see our County-by-County Page for Canaan.
Cemeteries Near Canaan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Canaan.
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 Canaan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Canaan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Woodland Hills Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sankey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shackelford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sharp Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Strokes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Murrell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ball Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ganey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sprague Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Underwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (298 more) ...
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Big Roxanna MB Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mosleys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Canaan in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Canaan.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Tharin
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Tharin is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tharin
- Snowdoun
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Snowdoun is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowdoun
- Le Grand
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Le Grand is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Grand
- Hope Hull
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- McGehee's
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- McGehee's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGehee's
- Fleta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fleta is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleta
- Ada
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Barachias
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barachias is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barachias
- Mount Carmel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mount Carmel is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Sellers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sellers is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Pike Road
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Perry's Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Perry's Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry's Mill
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Letohatchee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Strata
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Strata is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strata
- Ramer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Canaan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Canaan.
Newspapers Published in Canaan ...
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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Canaan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Canaan, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Canaan.
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 helpful 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 Canaan:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bullock County
- Crenshaw County
- Elmore County
- Lowndes County
- Macon County
- Pike 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> | 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> | 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 Canaan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Canaan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |