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 Clanton (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 Clanton. 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 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.
Clanton is located in Chilton County and is the County Seat.
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 Chilton County: Autauga, Bibb, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Clanton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clanton:
- Chilton County (The home county of Clanton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Thorsby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jumbo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Verbena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Jemison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Adams
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Maplesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Stanton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Riderville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- White City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Marbury
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Billingsley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Haynes
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Pine Level
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Independence
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Vine Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Booth
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Jones
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Melmar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- Fremont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Tucker
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tucker is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker
- Randolph
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Oakley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Lawley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Active
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Ashby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Brierfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Eddings
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Seymour
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Centreville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Dollar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Weogufka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Pentonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Rockford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hissop
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Stewartville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Cottage Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Nixburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Equality
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Plantersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Burnsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Burnsville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Lightwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Titus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Deatsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holtville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Adkin Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Robinson Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
- Elmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coosada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Seman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Prattville Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Oakmulgee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Bethlehem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Pine Grove Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Merrell Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Shelby
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Calera
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Montevallo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Former names for Wilton:
- Birmingham Junction
- Bismarck
- Catoosa
- Woods
- Woodsborough
- Columbiana
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Saginaw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Wilsonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Maylene
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brantleyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Siluria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Gantts Quarry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Oak Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clanton, see our County-by-County Page for Clanton.
Cemeteries Near Clanton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clanton.
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 Clanton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clanton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Clanton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Samaria Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Concord Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Walnut Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Chilton County Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Martin Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Friendship Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Popwell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jacksons Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Temple Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Continue List (408 more) ...
- Glad Tidings Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bell Lane Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Clanton had a population of 623 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Clanton had a population of 8,764 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clanton, with the one closest to Clanton listed first.
- Lomax
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lomax is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Cooper
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cooper is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Kincheon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kincheon is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincheon
- Jumbo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Verbena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Jemison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dollar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Quinsey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Quinsey is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinsey
- Mountain Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Billingsley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Maplesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wadsworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wadsworth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadsworth
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lightwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Stanton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- South Calera
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Calera is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Calera
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clanton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clanton.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Clanton ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clanton.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Clanton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Clanton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Clanton.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3> of Clanton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Clanton:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Chilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Coosa County
- Dallas County
- Elmore County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Talladega 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 Clanton, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Clanton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |