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 Damascus (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 Damascus. 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.
Damascus is located in Coffee 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 Coffee County: Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Damascus. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Damascus:
- Coffee County (The home county of Damascus)
- The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Goodman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Goodman is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodman
- New Brockton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Battens Crossroads
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
- Alberton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alberton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberton
- Enterprise
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Clintonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Central City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Central City is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Curtis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Curtis is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Danleys Crossroads
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Danleys Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danleys Crossroads
- Mixson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mixson is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixson
- Kinston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Level
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Level is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- County Line
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- County Line is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Beulah
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beulah is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Opp
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Opp is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,313 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Opp <1>
- Onycha
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Onycha is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onycha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
- Babbie
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Babbie is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babbie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 599 people
- Horn Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Horn Hill is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horn Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Rose Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Antioch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Antioch is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Sanford
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sanford is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Heath
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Heath is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heath
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Libertyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Libertyville is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Florala
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Andalusia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Crenshaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Bullock
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bullock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock
- Peacock ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peacock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacock
- Brantley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dozier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Glenwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Social Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Social Town is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Town
- Leon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Leon is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Vidette
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Vidette is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Merrill Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Merrill Mill is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrill Mill
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Level Plains
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Holiday Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Holiday Village is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Clayhatchee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Daleville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fort Rucker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ozark
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Newton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Ariton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ariton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ariton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
- Ewell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Pinckard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mabson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mabson is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabson
- Arguta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Arguta is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arguta
- Midland City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Geneva County
- The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Coffee Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Chancellor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chancellor is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
- Scranton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Scranton is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Samson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bellwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bellwood is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Costilla ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Costilla is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
- Geneva
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Eunola ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eunola is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
- Hartford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dundee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Black
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Black is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Slocomb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Centre Ridge ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Centre Ridge is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Ridge
- Tarentum
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Tarentum is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarentum
- Henderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Henderson is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Tennille
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tennille is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennille
- Goshen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mossy Grove Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mossy Grove Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy Grove Village
- Brundidge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hallsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hallsville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Holmes County (FL)
- Izagora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Izagora is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
- Walton County (FL)
- Paxton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Damascus, see our County-by-County Page for Damascus.
Cemeteries Near Damascus ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Damascus.
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 Damascus - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Damascus covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Damascus Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mt. Gilled Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goodman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Phillips Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Old Wellborn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bethany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kelly Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Asbury Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Home Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (280 more) ...
- New Haven Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Damascus had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Damascus, with the one closest to Damascus listed first.
- Alberton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alberton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberton
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edwardsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edwardsville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Enterprise
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Clintonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Curtis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Curtis is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Coffee Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Tabernacle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tabernacle is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
- Level Plains
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Marl
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Marl is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marl
- Opine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Opine is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opine
- Clayhatchee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Daleville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bullock
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bullock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock
- Green Bay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Green Bay is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Damascus. See our List of 1890's Communities around Damascus.
Newspapers Published in Damascus ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Damascus.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Damascus, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Damascus.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Damascus:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Coffee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Covington County
- Crenshaw County
- Dale County
- Geneva County
- Pike County
- Holmes County
- Walton 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Damascus) 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 Damascus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |