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 Eastern Valley (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 Eastern Valley. 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.
Name Variations for Eastern Valley ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Eastern Valley: Eastern Vly. (or less commonly used: Eastern Vally. or Eastern Vlly.)
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Eastern Valley is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Eastern Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Eastern Valley:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Eastern Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- Mobile Junction
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- Old Jonesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- New Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Greenwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- McCalla
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bessemer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blue Creek Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Brighton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Industrial City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Industrial City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industrial City
- Lipscomb
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
- Hueytown
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Roosevelt - Cairo Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- Green Pond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Woodstock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Eddings
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- North Bibb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Belle Ellen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Seymour
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Italian Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Chilton County
- Jemison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair County
- Woodland Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- Bamford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Falliston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Tulse
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Alabaster
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Indian Springs Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
- Pelham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sawmill Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Maylene
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Aden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- Tannehill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Abernant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Bull City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Kellerman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Vance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brookwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Coaling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Peterson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Cottondale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hagler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Pearson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- Quinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Reeds Ferry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Yerkwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Wyatt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Burnwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Oakahalla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Red Star
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Dora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Barney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Goodsprings
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Sumiton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Dovertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Eastern Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Eastern Valley.
Cemeteries Near Eastern Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Eastern Valley.
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 Eastern Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Eastern Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- Sadlers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fairington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Massey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Smithson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beth-El Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- George Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Highland Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Brighton Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton Memorial Gardens
- The Brighton Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
- Brighton Cemetery
- Continue List (378 more) ...
- Oakdale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ray Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Valhalla Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Eastern Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Eastern Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Eastern Valley, with the one closest to Eastern Valley listed first.
- McCalla
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Old Jonesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Morgan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Sloss
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sloss is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloss
- Brickyard Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
- Bessemer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blue Creek Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- McAdory
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- McAdory is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAdory
- Woodward Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Woodward Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward Junction
- Chinn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Chinn is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinn
- Bamford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hillman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hillman is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
- Collins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Collins is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Helena
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Eastern Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Eastern Valley.
Newspapers Published in Eastern Valley ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Eastern Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Eastern Valley, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Eastern Valley.
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 websites either 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 Eastern Valley:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Chilton County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Walker 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 Eastern Valley, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Eastern Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |