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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 Dogwood (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 Dogwood. 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 and 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.

Dogwood 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 Dogwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dogwood:

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Dogwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Maylene
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Montevallo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Brantleyville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
    • Wilton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Wilton is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
      • Former names for Wilton:
      • Birmingham Junction
      • Bismarck
      • Catoosa
      • Woods
      • Woodsborough
    • Sawmill Town
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
    • Alabaster
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Tulse
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Tulse is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
    • Saginaw
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Saginaw is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
    • Siluria
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Siluria is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
    • Calera
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Aden
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Aden is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
    • Bamford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Falliston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Eddings
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Eddings is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
    • Brierfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Ashby
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ashby is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
    • Seymour
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Seymour is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
    • Belle Ellen
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
    • Oakley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Oakley is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
    • Nash Town ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Nash Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
    • Blocton ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Blocton is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
    • Corinne ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Corinne is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
    • Italian Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Italian Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
    • Bucktown ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Bucktown is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
    • Burmah ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Burmah is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
  • Chilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Jemison
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Thorsby
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Jumbo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jumbo is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
    • Maplesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Clanton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Adams
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Adams is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
    • Stanton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Stanton is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
  • Coosa County
    • Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Greenwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Kimbrell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
    • McCalla
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mobile Junction
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
    • New Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • New Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
    • Bessemer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Hoover
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Old Jonesboro
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
    • Shannon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Shannon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
    • Blue Creek Junction
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
    • Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
    • Lipscomb
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
    • North Johns
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • North Johns is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Oakmulgee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
    • Bethlehem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethlehem is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
  • Talladega County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Talladega Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Fayetteville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
    • Childersburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Tuscaloosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dogwood, with the one closest to Dogwood listed first.
    • Tannehill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
    • Lake View
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
    • Vance
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Vance is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
    • Abernant
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
    • Brookwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Coaling
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
    • Pearson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
    • Bull City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
    • Kellerman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
    • Hagler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler

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

Cemeteries Near Dogwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dogwood.

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

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

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

  • Salem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Wildwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Ryan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • King Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Alabama National Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Moores Crossroads Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Moores Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Spring Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Maylene Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Linholm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Montevallo Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (421 more) ...
    • Reynolds Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Harles Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Still Memorial Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)

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, Dogwood had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Montevallo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Maylene
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Tulse
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Tulse is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
  • Longview
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Longview is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
  • Siluria
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Siluria is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
  • Gurnee
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Gurnee is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurnee
  • Anita
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Anita is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anita
  • Calera
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Boothton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Boothton is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boothton
  • Brierfield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • South Calera
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • South Calera is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Calera
  • Ashby
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ashby is located in Bibb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bamford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Falliston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
    • Helena
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Dogwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dogwood.

Newspapers Published in Dogwood ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dogwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dogwood, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dogwood.

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 Dogwood:

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 drawn from Point A (ie- Dogwood) 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 Dogwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.