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 Creswell (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 Creswell. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Creswell is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Jefferson, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Creswell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Creswell:
- Shelby County (The home county of Creswell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Harpersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Calcis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Wilsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Westover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
- Sterrett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vandiver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dunavant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Chelsea
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dunnavant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dunnavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnavant
- Shoal Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Columbiana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgeton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Eastaboga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Eye ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Eye is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Eye
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Chilton County
- Jumbo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Chambers Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Hollins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Erin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Millerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Harkins Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Stewartville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Weogufka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Mount Olive
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Goodwater
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Leeds
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Lola City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lola City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola City
- Cahaba Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
- McCombs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- McCombs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCombs
- Rock Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Ridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Ridge
- Alton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Irondale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roper is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Weems
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Weems is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weems
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Vincent
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Cropwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brompton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Cook's Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Glen City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Woodland Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Avondale Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Moody
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Seddon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Childersburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- East Bend
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Bon Air
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Logan Martin Dam
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Logan Martin Dam is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Martin Dam
- Alpine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Zubers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- Comerdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Winterboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Winterboro is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterboro
- Oak Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Sycamore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Abihka ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Abihka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Creswell, see our County-by-County Page for Creswell.
Cemeteries Near Creswell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Creswell.
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 Creswell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Creswell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Arkwright Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkwright Church Cemetery
- The Arkwright Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Arkwright Cemetery
- Nicholls Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Old Reynolds Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Baker Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bailey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Masters Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Chancellor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bradford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Caldwell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vincent Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Raley Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (350 more) ...
- Vincent Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Williamson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kidd Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<4>
While we didn't find Creswell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Creswell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Creswell, with the one closest to Creswell listed first.
- Childersburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Harpersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Vincent
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Bend
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Wilsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Zubers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Alpine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lowery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lowery is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowery
- Nottingham ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Nottingham is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Former name for Nottingham:
- Jones Camp Ground
- Sterrett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sycamore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Fayetteville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Oldfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Renfroe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Renfroe is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renfroe
- Vandiver
(12 miles [19.3 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 Creswell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Creswell.
Newspapers Published in Creswell ...
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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Creswell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Creswell, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Creswell.
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 Creswell:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Calhoun County
- Chilton County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson County
- Saint Clair 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Creswell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Creswell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |