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 Fairdale (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 Fairdale. 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 Fairdale ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Fair Dale.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Fairdale. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Fairdale.
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 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.
Fairdale is located in Bibb 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 Bibb County: Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Fairdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fairdale:
- Bibb County (The home county of Fairdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Centreville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Brent
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Scottsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Pondville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- Egypt ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Active
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Vine Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Jones
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Fremont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Maplesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Riderville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Adams
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Jemison
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Thorsby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Clanton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dallas County
- Plantersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Moundville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Powers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Greensboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Kimbrell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- McCalla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Greenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Adger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- North Johns
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- North Johns is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Bethlehem
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Oakmulgee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Jericho
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Sprott
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Brush Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Morgan Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Marion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Suttle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Vilula
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Augustin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Aden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Wilton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wilton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Former names for Wilton:
- Birmingham Junction
- Bismarck
- Catoosa
- Woods
- Woodsborough
- Sawmill Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Montevallo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maylene
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Brantleyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Calera
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tulse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Bamford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Alabaster
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Siluria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Saginaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Pearson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Hagler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Vance
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Duncanville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Coaling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Tannehill
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Brookwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Abernant
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Cottondale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Alberta City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fairdale, see our County-by-County Page for Fairdale.
Cemeteries Near Fairdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fairdale.
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 Fairdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fairdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Centreville Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brent Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sandy Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pineland Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- James Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crockett McKinney Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (412 more) ...
- Duff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Enon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Fairdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fairdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Centreville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- Harrisburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Harrisburg is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Abercrombie
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Abercrombie is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abercrombie
- Scottsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Trio
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Trio is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trio
- Bethlehem
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Pondville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Adler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Adler is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adler
- Oakmulgee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Pinetucky
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pinetucky is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinetucky
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Jericho
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Levert
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Levert is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
- Randolph
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Hagler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fairdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fairdale.
Newspapers Published in Fairdale ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fairdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fairdale, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fairdale.
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 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 Fairdale:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Chilton County
- Dallas County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa 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 Fairdale, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Fairdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |