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 Cotton (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 Cotton. 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.
Cotton is located in Elmore 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 Elmore County: Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Macon, Montgomery & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Cotton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cotton:
- Elmore County (The home county of Cotton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Jordan
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Eclectic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Central
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Irma ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Kent
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Seman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Claud
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Tallassee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wetumpka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ware
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Blue Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Adkin Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Titus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Millbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Marbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Level
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Prattville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Melmar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- Bullock County
- Mitchell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Chambers County
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Mountain Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Verbena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Clay County
- Hollins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Equality
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Nixburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Fishpond
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Cottage Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Ray
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Pentonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Hissop
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Rockford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Kellyton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Goodwater
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Dollar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Weogufka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Roxana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Loachapoka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ridgewood Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- The Bottle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Hornady
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Liberty City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Shorter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tysonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Franklin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Notasulga
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Calebee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- La Place
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Tuskegee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hardaway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Waugh
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Waugh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- Madison
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Madison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Mount Meigs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Sunshine Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Boylston
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Boylston is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
- Capitol Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
- New Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Town is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Cecil
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cecil is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Montgomery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pike Road
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gibbs Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
- Highland Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Young Forte Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Benson ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Our Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- East Tallassee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Reeltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
- Tallapoosa City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- Church Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Agricola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Alexander City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Dadeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksons' Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cotton, see our County-by-County Page for Cotton.
Cemeteries Near Cotton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cotton.
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 Cotton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cotton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Thrash Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cotton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Cemetery
- The Cotton Cemetery has also been known as:
- Kent - Holley Cemetery
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Watson Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson Chapel Cemetery
- The Watson Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Watson Chapel Cemetery
- Bullard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Benson - Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harmony Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lovejoy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Prospect Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Harmony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sheppard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (367 more) ...
- Wall Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mann Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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 Cotton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cotton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Jordan
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Eclectic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Kowaliga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kowaliga is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kowaliga
- Central
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Kent
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Irma ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Good Hope
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Good Hope is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Equality
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Dexter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Dexter is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Weoka
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Weoka is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weoka
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Nixburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Tallassee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Island Home
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Island Home is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Home
- Buyck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Buyck is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buyck
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cotton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cotton.
Newspapers Published in Cotton ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cotton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cotton, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cotton.
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 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 Cotton:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Elmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bullock County
- Chambers County
- Chilton County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Macon County
- Montgomery County
- Tallapoosa 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 Cotton, 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- Cotton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |