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 Detroit (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 Detroit. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Detroit is located in Lamar 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 Lamar County: Fayette, Marion, Pickens, Lowndes (MS) & Monroe (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Detroit. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Detroit:
- Lamar County (The home county of Detroit)
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Sulligent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Beaverton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bedford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bedford is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Vernon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hightogy
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hightogy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightogy
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Gu - Win
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Gu - Win is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gu - Win
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Bluff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- Kirkland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kirkland is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkland
- Glen Allen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Glen Allen is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Bazemore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bazemore is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazemore
- Belk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Belk is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Fayette
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Vina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Vina is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Hodges
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Red Bay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Burntout
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Burntout is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burntout
- Burntout has also been known as:
- Burn Out
- Burnout
- Burnt Out
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Weston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Weston is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Pikeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Pikeville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pikeville
- Hamilton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stinson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Stinson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Guin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Yampertown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Yampertown is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yampertown
- Twin
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Twin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Winfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Brilliant
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hackleburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hackleburg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
- Rock City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rock City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Thornhill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Thornhill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
- Itawamba County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Tremont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oakland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Clay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clay is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay
- Carolina
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Carolina is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Bounds Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bounds Crossroads is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bounds Crossroads
- Fulton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eastman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Eastman is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastman
- Abney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Abney is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abney
- Greenwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Ballardsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ballardsville is located in Itawamba County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballardsville
- Mantachie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Richmond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond is located in Lee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Mooreville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mooreville is located in Lee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
- Lowndes County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Caledonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kolola Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kolola Springs is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kolola Springs
- Monroe County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Riggins
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Riggins is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggins
- Splunge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Splunge is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splunge
- Gattman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gattman is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Greenwood Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ales ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ales is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ales
- Floyton ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Floyton is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyton
- Smithville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hatley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hatley is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Amory
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Acker ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Acker is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acker
- Cotton Gin Port ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Cotton Gin Port is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Gin Port
- Hamilton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wren
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wren is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Detroit, see our County-by-County Page for Detroit.
Cemeteries Near Detroit ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Detroit.
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 Detroit - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Detroit covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Carter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship North Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shelton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Almon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ballard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Riggans Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Site Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Stanford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (558 more) ...
- Old Thompson - Centrell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Riggan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pine Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Detroit had a population of 163 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Detroit had a population of 221 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Detroit, with the one closest to Detroit listed first.
- Pine Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pine Springs is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Springs
- Riggins
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Riggins is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggins
- Splunge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Splunge is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splunge
- Sulligent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Barnesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barnesville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Gattman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gattman is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Beaverton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Moscow is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Bexar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bexar is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bexar
- Pikeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Pikeville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pikeville
- Hamilton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Smithville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Quincy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Quincy is located in Monroe County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Stinson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Stinson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Tremont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Detroit. See our List of 1890's Communities around Detroit.
Newspapers Published in Detroit ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Detroit.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Detroit, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Detroit.
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 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 Detroit:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lamar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Marion County
- Itawamba County
- Lee County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe 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> | 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 Detroit, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Detroit) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |