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 The Colony (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 The Colony. 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 northwest 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 north.
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 north 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.
The Colony 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 The Colony. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to The Colony:
- Cullman County (The home county of The Colony)
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Colony
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- Black Bottom
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Damascus
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Arkadelphia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Bremen
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Dodge City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Garden City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Trimble
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Good Hope
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Good Hope is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,393 people
- Hanceville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ardell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Reid's
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Blount Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Red Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Bangor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Hayden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Warrior
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- County Line
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Adville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Locust Fork
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Gum Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gum Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Springs
- Dallas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Corner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Trafford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kimberly
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morris
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Morris is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,182 people
- Robbins Crossroads
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Majestic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Majestic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
- Sayre
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sayre is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayre
- Masseyline
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Masseyline is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyline
- Bradford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Crosston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crosston is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosston
- Mount Olive
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Village Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Village Springs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village Springs
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Lacon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lacon is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
- Eva
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cedar Plains
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Falkville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Leesdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Leesdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesdale
- Hulaco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Springville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Argo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Creel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Empire
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Powellville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Sipsey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Burrows Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Sumiton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Marylee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- Red Rock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Red Rock is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Dora
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Oakahalla
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Burnwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Arley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Addison
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Slick Ford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Houston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Upshaw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to The Colony, see our County-by-County Page for The Colony.
Cemeteries Near The Colony ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of The Colony.
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 The Colony - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for The Colony covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Damascus Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Joy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Shelton Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Arkadelphia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Tedder Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Dorsey Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- McDonald Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Harmony Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Harrell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Moore Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (440 more) ...
- Beech Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Kinneys Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Addington Chapel UMC Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- 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]<3> 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 <2>
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.<4>
While we didn't find The Colony in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of The Colony.
These communities are listed based on their distance from The Colony, with the one closest to The Colony listed first.
- Arkadelphia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Reid's
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Bremen
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Blount Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Sloan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sloan is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
- Bangor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Linton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linton is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linton
- Garden City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Trimble
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Warrior
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coaldale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coaldale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaldale
- Powellville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Ardell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Phelan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Phelan is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelan
- Crane Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around The Colony. See our List of 1890's Communities around The Colony.
Newspapers Published in The Colony ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around The Colony.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of The Colony, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for The Colony.
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 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 The Colony:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Cullman County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Jefferson County
- Morgan County
- Saint Clair County
- Walker County
- Winston 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- The Colony) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 The Colony, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |