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 China (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 China. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
China is located in Conecuh 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 Conecuh County: Butler, Covington, Escambia & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near China. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to China:
- Conecuh County (The home county of China)
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Owassa
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Evergreen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wilcox
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Belleville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Ramah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Rabb
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Bermuda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Commerce
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Sparta ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Sparta has also been known as:
- Old Sparta
- Centerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Old Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Mixonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Garland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Starlington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- McKenzie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Georgiana
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Shacklesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Bolling
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Industry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Forest Home
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oaky Streak
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Red Level
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Red Level is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- River Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- River Falls is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
- Escambia County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Brewton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- East Brewton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hammac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hammac is located in Escambia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammac
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Burnt Corn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Pine Orchard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Peterman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Tunnel Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Pineville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Beatrice
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Monroeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Natchez
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Ollie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ollie is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ollie
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Excel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Excel is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
- Mexia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Mexia is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mexia
- Buena Vista
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- McWilliams
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Awin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Schuster
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Pine Apple
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Caledonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Oak Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to China, see our County-by-County Page for China.
Cemeteries Near China ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of China.
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 China - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for China covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Witherington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ivey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Robinson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Arkadelphia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Second Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- New Haven Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kaiser Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Martin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Martin Cemetery is located
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #24222 <2>
- Lee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- New Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (218 more) ...
- Bethesda Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Little Pine Level Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- John Green Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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 China in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of China.
These communities are listed based on their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Bowles
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bowles is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowles
- Evergreen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Belleville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Wilcox
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Burnt Corn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Bermuda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Skinnerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Skinnerton is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnerton
- Sparta ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Sparta has also been known as:
- Old Sparta
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Garland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Commerce
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Turnbull
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Turnbull is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbull
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Repton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Castleberry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Castleberry is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castleberry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Riley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Riley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around China. See our List of 1890's Communities around China.
Newspapers Published in China ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around China.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of China, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for China.
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 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 China:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Conecuh County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Covington County
- Escambia County
- Monroe 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 China, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- China) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |