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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 Eliza (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 Eliza. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Eliza is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: DeKalb, Madison, Marshall, Dade (GA), Franklin (TN) & Marion (TN).

Below are the counties that are near Eliza. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Eliza:

  • Jackson County     (The home county of Eliza)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • Higdon
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Bryant
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Flat Rock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Bridgeport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bridgeport is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,272 people
      • Former name for Bridgeport:
      • Jonesville
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bridgeport <1>
    • Long Island
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Browns Valley ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Browns Valley is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Valley
    • Copenhagen ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Copenhagen is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copenhagen
    • Haynes Crossing
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • New Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • New Town is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Stevenson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Rash
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Central
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cherokee County
  • DeKalb County
  • Catoosa County (GA)
  • Chattooga County (GA)
  • Dade County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • Stewart Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Stewart Town is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart Town
    • Trenton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Cole City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Cole City is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cole City
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 127 people
    • Rising Fawn
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Morganville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Morganville is located in Dade County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,835 people
    • Wildwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Walker County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • Durham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Durham is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,257 people
    • Thompsonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Thompsonville is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,528 people
    • Cassandra
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Kensington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Chattanooga Valley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Chattanooga Valley is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattanooga Valley
    • Moons
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Fantasy Hills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Fantasy Hills is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fantasy Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 316 people
    • Flintstone
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Lookout Mountain
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rock City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock City is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Happy Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Happy Valley is located in Walker County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Valley
      • Estimated population in 2019: 192 people
    • Chickamauga
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Whitfield County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • Gordon Springs ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gordon Springs is located in Whitfield County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Springs
    • Trickum
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Franklin County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • Anderson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Marys
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Marys is located in Franklin County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
      • Estimated population in 2014: 785 people
    • Sal City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sal City is located in Franklin County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sal City
    • Sand Switch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sewanee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cowan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cowan is located in Franklin County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,668 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cowan <1>
  • Grundy County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • White City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • White City is located in Grundy County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Lankford Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Lankford Town is located in Grundy County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lankford Town
    • Tracy City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Monteagle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sartain Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Sartain Springs is located in Grundy County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartain Springs
      • Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
  • Hamilton County (TN)
  • Marion County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Eliza, with the one closest to Eliza listed first.
    • New Hope
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • New Hope is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Vulcan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Vulcan is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan
    • Whiteside
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Richard City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Richard City is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richard City
    • South Pittsburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Kimball
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Jasper
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Ketchall ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Ketchall is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchall
    • Orme
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Orme is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Comfort
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Powells Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Whitwell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Sequatchie County (TN)

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

Cemeteries Near Eliza ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Eliza.

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

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

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

  • Oak Lawn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Higdon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Countess Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Potato Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Newby Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Brown Gap Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Stephens Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Reeves Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Porter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Payne Gap Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Payne Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (568 more) ...
    • Newman Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Daniel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Moore Chapel 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.<4>

While we didn't find Eliza in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Eliza.

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

  • Higdon
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Trenton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Cole City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Cole City is located in Dade County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cole City
    • Population from the 2010 Census: 127 people
  • Rising Fawn
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Long Island
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • New England
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • New England is located in Dade County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New England
  • Bridgeport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Bridgeport is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,272 people
    • Former name for Bridgeport:
    • Jonesville
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bridgeport <1>
  • Shellmound ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Shellmound is located in Marion County (TN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shellmound
  • Fabius
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Fabius is located in Jackson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
  • Ascalon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ascalon is located in Walker County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ascalon
  • Morganville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Morganville is located in Dade County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
    • Estimated population in 2019: 1,835 people
  • Whiteside
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Vulcan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Vulcan is located in Marion County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan
    • Ider
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Sulphur Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Sulphur Springs is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Eliza. See our List of 1890's Communities around Eliza.

Newspapers Published in Eliza ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Eliza.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Eliza, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Eliza.

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 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 Eliza:

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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Eliza) 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 Eliza, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.