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 Chestnut (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 Chestnut. 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 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.
Chestnut is located in Monroe 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 Monroe County: Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Chestnut. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chestnut:
- Monroe County (The home county of Chestnut)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Buena Vista
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Beatrice
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Pineville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Vredenburgh
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Hybart
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Tunnel Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Pine Orchard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Franklin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Peterman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Scratch Ankle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Scratch Ankle is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scratch Ankle
- Burnt Corn
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Forest Home
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Shacklesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Starlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Garland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Nettleboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
- Atkeison
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Dickinson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dickinson is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
- Fulton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Fulton is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
- Suggsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Suggsville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suggsville
- Thomasville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Whatley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Whatley is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whatley
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Ramah
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Mixonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Commerce
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Bermuda
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Belleville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Repton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Owassa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Wilcox
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Evergreen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Carlowville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Minter
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Richmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Crumptonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Belknap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Kings
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Lowndes County
- Bragg's
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Vineland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Flatwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- McWilliams
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Caledonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Nellie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Schuster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Estelle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Oak Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Asahel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Asahel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asahel
- Camden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Pine Apple
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Coy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Coy is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Rockwest
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Awin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- McBrydes
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Chestnut, see our County-by-County Page for Chestnut.
Cemeteries Near Chestnut ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chestnut.
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 Chestnut - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Chestnut covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Buena Vista Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Basidonia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Apple Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pineville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Turkestan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pineview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gravel Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (249 more) ...
- Reaves Chapel Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dees Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Red Hills Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Chestnut had a population of 78 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Chestnut, with the one closest to Chestnut listed first.
- Buena Vista
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Pineville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Turkestan ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Turkestan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkestan
- Fatama
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fatama is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fatama
- River Ridge ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- River Ridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Ridge
- Turnbull
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Turnbull is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbull
- Riley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Riley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
- Tinela
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Tinela is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tinela
- Caledonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Rosebud
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rosebud is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Nellie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Camden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Skinnerton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Skinnerton is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnerton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Chestnut. See our List of 1890's Communities around Chestnut.
Newspapers Published in Chestnut ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chestnut.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chestnut, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chestnut.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Chestnut:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Monroe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Clarke County
- Conecuh County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Marengo County
- Wilcox 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 Chestnut, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Chestnut) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |