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 Downing (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 Downing. 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 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 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.
Downing is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Autauga, Bullock, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Downing. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Downing:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Downing)
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Pine Level
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Cecil
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cecil is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Center Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Center Point is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Pike Road
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Red Level
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Red Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Ramer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Waugh
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Waugh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- Grady
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Meigs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Ada
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Lapine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lapine is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
- Sunshine Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Pintlala
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Pintlala is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pintlala
- Former name for Pintlala:
- Colquitt
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Fitzpatrick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Mitchell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Postoak
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Postoak is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
- Union Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Inverness
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Perote
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Perote is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perote
- Smuteye
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Smuteye is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smuteye
- Pine Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Three Notch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Three Notch is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Notch
- Midway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Midway is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
- Crenshaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Highland Home
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Petrey
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Petrey is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Vidette
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Vidette is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Honoraville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Vernledge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vernledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernledge
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Ware
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Blue Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Tallassee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Prattville Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
- Claud
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Wetumpka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Davenport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Davenport is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
- Sandy Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Letohatchee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Hardaway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Tysonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Calebee
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- Shorter
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fort Davis
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- La Place
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Armstrong
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Armstrong is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Hornady
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Franklin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Tuskegee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Orion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Meeksville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Meeksville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
- Needmore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Needmore is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Linwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Linwood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Saco
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saco is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saco
- Kent
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kent is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Ansley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- McClure Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- McClure Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure Town
- Youngblood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Youngblood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
- Wingard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Wingard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingard
- Troy
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Banks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Buckhorn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buckhorn is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- East Tallassee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Tallapoosa City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Downing, see our County-by-County Page for Downing.
Cemeteries Near Downing ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Downing.
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 Downing - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Downing covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Orange Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Possum Trot Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Edwards Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pickett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barnett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Panhandle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Urquhart Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Frazer - McLeod Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Meriwether Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (324 more) ...
- Hardt Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- China Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jackson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Downing in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Downing.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Downing, with the one closest to Downing listed first.
- Shopton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Shopton is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopton
- Pine Level
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Hector
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hector is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hector
- China Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- China Grove is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China Grove
- Meadville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Meadville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadville
- Mount Hillard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Hillard is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hillard
- Center Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Center Point is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Thompson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Thompson is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Orion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Pike Road
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Perry's Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Perry's Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry's Mill
- Ramer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Curry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Curry is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry
- Postoak
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Postoak is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
- Cross Keys
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cross Keys is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Downing. See our List of 1890's Communities around Downing.
Newspapers Published in Downing ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Downing.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Downing, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Downing.
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 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 Downing:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bullock County
- Crenshaw County
- Elmore County
- Lowndes County
- Macon County
- Pike County
- Tallapoosa 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 Downing, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Downing) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |