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 Ezra (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 Ezra. 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.
Ezra 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 Ezra. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ezra:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Ezra)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Oak Grove
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Toadvine
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Rock Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Adger
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Johns
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Johns is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Concord
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hueytown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Black Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Short Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Sylvan Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Industrial City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Industrial City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industrial City
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Green Pond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- North Bibb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Woodstock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Belle Ellen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Italian Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- West Blocton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Dale ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Red Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Alta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Berry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Bamford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Falliston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Tulse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Aden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Alabaster
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Indian Springs Village
(23 miles [37 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
- Maylene
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Bull City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Abernant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Kellerman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Tannehill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Brookwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Peterson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Coaling
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Holt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
- Cottondale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wood Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wood Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Reeds Ferry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Twilley Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Goodsprings
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Quinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Wyatt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Yerkwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Barney
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Burnwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Red Star
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Dora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Dovertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ezra, see our County-by-County Page for Ezra.
Cemeteries Near Ezra ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ezra.
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 Ezra - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ezra covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Toadvine Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Weaver Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dug Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Adger Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adger Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Adger Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Adger.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #21198 <2>
- Valley Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Virginia Mines Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Cemetery
- The Liberty Cemetery has also been known as:
- Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2162604 <2>
- Prudes Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Heard Shoal Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (410 more) ...
- Prescott Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Ezra had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ezra, with the one closest to Ezra listed first.
- Toadvine
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Adger
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sumter
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sumter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
- Chinn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chinn is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinn
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Short Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- McAdory
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- McAdory is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAdory
- Old Jonesboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Yolande
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Yolande is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yolande
- McCalla
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Creek Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Collins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Collins is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Dolomite
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bessemer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Brickyard Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ezra. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ezra.
Newspapers Published in Ezra ...
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 Ezra.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ezra, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ezra.
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 Ezra:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Fayette 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 Ezra, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ezra) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |