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 Donald (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 Donald. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Donald 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 Donald. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Donald:
- Dallas County (The home county of Donald)
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Safford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Central Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Crumptonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Orrville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Browns
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Marion Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Harrell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Richmond
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Belknap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Sunset Mill Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Mill Village is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Mill Village
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Atkeison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Thomasville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Newbern
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Gallion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Rosemary
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Cedarville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Arcola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Consul
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Flatwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Thomaston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Dayton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Siddonsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Magnolia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Hugo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Faunsdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Vineland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Hybart
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Vredenburgh
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Freetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Uniontown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vilula
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Suttle
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Augustin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Marion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Alberta
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Rehoboth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Gastonburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Catherine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Millers Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Bethel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Boykin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Lamison
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Anne Manie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Arlington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Kimbrough
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Donald, see our County-by-County Page for Donald.
Cemeteries Near Donald ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donald.
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 Donald - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Donald covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Wilsor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Welcome Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hennon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hardy Young Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Christian Light Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gastonburg Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Malone Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rehoboth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Young Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (294 more) ...
- Poplar Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cobbs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Boiling Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
While we didn't find Donald in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Donald.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
- Safford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gastonburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Rehoboth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Central Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Catherine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Crumptonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Eleanor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eleanor is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Bethel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Millers Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Boiling Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Boiling Springs is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Springs
- Orrville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bogue Chitto
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bogue Chitto is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogue Chitto
- McKinley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- McKinley is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Tasso
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Tasso is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Donald. See our List of 1890's Communities around Donald.
Newspapers Published in Donald ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donald.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donald, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donald.
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 Donald:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Hale County
- Marengo 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 Donald, 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 from Point A (ie- Donald) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |