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 Dawson's (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 Dawson's. 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 doctors 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.
Dawson's is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Dawson's. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dawson's:
- Dallas County (The home county of Dawson's)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Minter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Carlowville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Richmond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Pleasant Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Belknap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Kings
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Old Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Town is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Sardis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Casey
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Casey is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Tyler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Crumptonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Orrville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Jones Bluff Dam
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Statesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Statesville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
- Autaugaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Fremont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Forest Home
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Shacklesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Greenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Mixonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Commerce
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Collirene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Bragg's
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Petronia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Gordonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Benton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Mosses
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- White Hall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Hayneville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lowndesboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Deposit
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Letohatchee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Burkville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Buena Vista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Pineville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Vredenburgh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Beatrice
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hybart
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Perry County
- Augustin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Furman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- Snow Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Ackerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- McBrydes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Oak Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Estelle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Caledonia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Pine Apple
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Schuster
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Boykin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Awin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Camden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- McWilliams
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dawson's, see our County-by-County Page for Dawson's.
Cemeteries Near Dawson's ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dawson's.
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 Dawson's - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dawson's covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Carlowville Community Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Purefoy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cox Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Underwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Center Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Snow Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Soles Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- McColough Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Snow Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cedar Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Palmer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Sills Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Butler Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Dawson's had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dawson's, with the one closest to Dawson's listed first.
- Carlowville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Minter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Pleasant Hill Station
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Richmond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Pleasant Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Kings
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Farmersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Farmersville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
- Belknap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Snow Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Furman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Tilden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Tilden is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Collirene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Berlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Berlin is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Portland ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Portland is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dawson's. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dawson's.
Newspapers Published in Dawson's ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dawson's.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dawson's, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dawson's.
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 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 Dawson's:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Butler County
- Conecuh County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Wilcox 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 Dawson's, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Dawson's) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |