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 Ford City (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 Ford City. 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 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.
Ford City is located in Colbert 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 Colbert County: Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence & Tishomingo (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Ford City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ford City:
- Colbert County (The home county of Ford City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Nitrate City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Wilson Dam
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Leighton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Muscle Shoals
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Sheffield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Tuscumbia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- White House Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Russellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Churntown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Belgreen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Spruce Pine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Killen
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Bailey Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Mars Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Saint Florian
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Florence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Arnot
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Elgin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Red Bank
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Edmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Town Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Courtland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Hatton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mountain Home
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Hillsboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Cairo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Lentzville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Poplar Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Lester
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lester is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Clifton ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clifton is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Morgan County
- Trinity
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Minor Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Stella
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stella is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Iron City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Rascal Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Saint Joseph
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Busby
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Westpoint
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Appleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Leoma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fall River
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Corning ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Cypress Inn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Collinwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ford City, see our County-by-County Page for Ford City.
Cemeteries Near Ford City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ford City.
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 Ford City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ford City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Hennigan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- McKiernan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Peden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Carter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Kernachan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Whitamore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Stanley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Faircloth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pearsall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (727 more) ...
- Hennigan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cole Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Shaw Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Ford City in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ford City.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ford City, with the one closest to Ford City listed first.
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Leighton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bailey Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- South Florence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Saint Florian
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Mars Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Florence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sheffield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bingham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bingham is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Tuscumbia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Edmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Town Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jacksonburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ford City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ford City.
Newspapers Published in Ford City ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ford City.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ford City, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ford City.
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 Ford City:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Morgan County
- Giles County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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 Ford City, 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- Ford City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |