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 Durdens Ferry (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 Durdens Ferry. 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 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.
Durdens Ferry is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Choctaw, Greene, Marengo, Pickens, Kemper (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Noxubee (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Durdens Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Durdens Ferry:
- Sumter County (The home county of Durdens Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- McDowell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Moore Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Brewersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Coatopa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Epes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Epes is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Arrington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Livingston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bellamy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Gainesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Sumterville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sumterville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumterville
- Whitfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Pelham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Choctaw City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Choctaw City is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw City
- Pennington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pennington is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Tompkinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Jachin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Forkland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Boligee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Miller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Lizzieville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Eutaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- West Greene
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Knoxville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Lewiston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Mantua
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Arcola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Sawyerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Gallion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Greensboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rosemary
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Akron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Powers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Moundville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Demopolis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aigleville ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Aigleville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aigleville
- Pin Hook
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Providence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Linden
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Faunsdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Siddonsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Dayton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Uniontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Brush Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Freetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Morgan Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Tuscaloosa County
- Ralph
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kemper County (MS)
- Giles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Giles is located in Kemper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giles
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Durdens Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Durdens Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Durdens Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Durdens Ferry.
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 Durdens Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Durdens Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pinetop Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bird Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bird Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southwest of Forkland.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #21638 <3>
- Hard Bargain Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Brasfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Friendship Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Springhill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. John Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blocker Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bowers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Taylor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (363 more) ...
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Little Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cooks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Durdens Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Durdens Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Durdens Ferry, with the one closest to Durdens Ferry listed first.
- Forkland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Tishabee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Tishabee is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tishabee
- Belmont
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Belmont is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- McDowell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Demopolis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Boligee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Miller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Coatopa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Sawyerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eutaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Gallion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cedarville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Livingston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Old Spring Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Old Spring Hill is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Spring Hill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Durdens Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Durdens Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Durdens Ferry ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Durdens Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Durdens Ferry, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Durdens Ferry.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Durdens Ferry:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Sumter County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Kemper 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> | 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- Durdens Ferry) 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 Durdens Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |