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 Finley (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 Finley. 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.
Finley is located in Chambers 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 Chambers County: Lee, Randolph, Tallapoosa, Harris (GA) & Troup (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Finley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Finley:
- Chambers County (The home county of Finley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Standing Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Standing Rock is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Rock
- Stroud
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- Evansville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Evansville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- McCosh Mill ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McCosh Mill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCosh Mill
- Fredonia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fredonia is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Five Points
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Doublehead
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Clackville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Clackville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackville
- Milltown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Penton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Penton is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penton
- Red Level
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Red Level is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Motley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Cragford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mellow Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Blanton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Blanton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Gwen Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Opelika
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- The Bottle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Chewacla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Rock Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- Roanoke
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Peavy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Peavy is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- High Shoals
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- High Shoals is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Shoals
- West
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- West is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
- Forester Chapel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Wadley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Corbin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Corbin is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin
- Malone Ferry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- Wedowee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Almond
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Sewell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sewell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Frog Eye
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Frog Eye is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Eye
- Truett
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Dudleyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dudleyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
- Daviston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Emuckfaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Matilda
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Camp Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- New Site
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Goldville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Carroll County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Roopville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Tyus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Tyus is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyus
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,525 people
- Bowers Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bowers Ferry is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 485 people
- Coweta County (GA)
- Grantville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harris County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Pine Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Lake is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
- Mountain Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Hill is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 11,554 people
- Mountainbrook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mountainbrook is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountainbrook
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,108 people
- Pine Mountain
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Heard County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Glenn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- O'Neals Crossroad
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- O'Neals Crossroad is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neals Crossroad
- Houston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Houston is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Population from the 2010 Census: 110 people
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Riverside is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Frolona
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Frolona is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
- Franklin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Yates Crossroads
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Yates Crossroads is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 360 people
- Corinth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Corinth is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Centralhatchee
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Centralhatchee is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Ephesus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ephesus is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ephesus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Roosterville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Roosterville is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roosterville
- Meriwether County (GA)
- Lone Oak
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lone Oak is located in Meriwether County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Oak
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Evansville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Abbottsford
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Abbottsford is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsford
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- West Lake Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- West Lake Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Village
- Rockwell Estates
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rockwell Estates is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell Estates
- Sassafrass Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sassafrass Hills is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassafrass Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 255 people
- Sunny Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sunny Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Point
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,303 people
- North West Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- North West Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North West Point
- West Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- LaGrange
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Graysons Landing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Graysons Landing is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysons Landing
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,452 people
- Asta Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Asta Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asta Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Finley, see our County-by-County Page for Finley.
Cemeteries Near Finley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Finley.
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 Finley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Finley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Standing Rock Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sky View Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- New Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Swint - Hammack Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rocky Mount Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Finney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Old Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Harmony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Freeman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sanders Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (481 more) ...
- Randolph Memory Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wehadkee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whatley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Finley had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Finley, with the one closest to Finley listed first.
- Stroud
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- Evansville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Five Points
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Fredonia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fredonia is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Crowder ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Crowder is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowder
- Rock Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- Doublehead
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Glenn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Roanoke
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Long Cane
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Long Cane is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Cane
- Houston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Houston is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Population from the 2010 Census: 110 people
- Wehadkee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Wehadkee is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wehadkee
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Finley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Finley.
Newspapers Published in Finley ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Finley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Finley, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Finley.
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 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 Finley:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Chambers County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Lee County
- Randolph County
- Tallapoosa County
- Carroll County
- Coweta County
- Harris County
- Heard County
- Meriwether County
- Troup 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 Finley, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Finley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |