RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Alabama >> Talladega County >> Deans >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Deans (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 Deans. 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 and doctors 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.

Deans is located in Talladega 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 Talladega County: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Saint Clair & Shelby.

Below are the counties that are near Deans. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Deans:

  • Talladega County     (The home county of Deans)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Fayetteville
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
    • Talladega Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Gantts Quarry
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
    • Oak Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
    • Comerdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Comerdale is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
    • Mignon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mignon is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
    • Zubers
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Zubers is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
    • Sylacauga
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Bon Air
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Bon Air is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
    • Childersburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Oldfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Oldfield is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
    • Sycamore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • Abihka ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Abihka is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
  • Autauga County
  • Chilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Jumbo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jumbo is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
    • Clanton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Jemison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Thorsby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Verbena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Verbena is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Mountain Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Hollins
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Hollins is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
    • Chambers Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
    • Millerville
      (26 miles [41.8 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 Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Stewartville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Stewartville is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
    • Weogufka
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Weogufka is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
    • Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
    • Mount Olive
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
    • Dollar
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Dollar is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
    • Goodwater
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Rockford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Hissop
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hissop is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
    • Kellyton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Kellyton is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
    • Cottage Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
    • Pentonville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Pentonville is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
    • Nixburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Nixburg is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
    • Ray
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ray is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
  • Elmore County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Lightwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Lightwood is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
    • Titus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Leeds
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Leeds is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,026 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leeds <1>
    • Cahaba Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Scott City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Scott City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
    • Cahaba Landing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
    • Hoover
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hoover is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85,959 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hoover <1>
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Vincent
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Vincent is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,223 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vincent <1>
    • Fountainrun ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
    • Easonville ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
    • Cropwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Brompton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
    • Glen City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
    • Woodland Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Wilsonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Merrell Beach
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
    • Pine Grove Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
    • Shelby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Columbiana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Harpersville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Westover
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Westover is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
    • Calcis
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Calcis is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
    • Chelsea
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Calera
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Sterrett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Pelham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Saginaw
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Saginaw is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
  • Tallapoosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.
    • Hackneyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
    • Alexander City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Deans, see our County-by-County Page for Deans.

Cemeteries Near Deans ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Deans.

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 Deans - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Deans covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.

  • Talladega Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ft. Williams Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Kahatchee Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Heaslet Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Blue Springs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Grimes Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marble Valley Memorial Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Rising Star Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Odena Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Green Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (422 more) ...
    • Comers Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Allen Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilsonville Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)

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 Deans in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Deans.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Deans, with the one closest to Deans listed first.

  • Fayetteville
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
  • Talladega Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
  • Marble Valley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Marble Valley is located in Coosa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
  • Zubers
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Zubers is located in Talladega County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
  • Sylacauga
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Wilsonville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Weogufka
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Weogufka is located in Coosa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
  • Stewartville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Stewartville is located in Coosa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
  • Childersburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Gold Branch
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Gold Branch is located in Coosa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Branch
  • Oldfield
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Oldfield is located in Talladega County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
  • Shelby
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Quinsey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Quinsey is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinsey
    • Hollins
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Hollins is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
    • Sycamore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Deans. See our List of 1890's Communities around Deans.

Newspapers Published in Deans ...

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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Deans.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Deans, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Deans.

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 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 Deans:

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 Deans, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Deans) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.