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 Fordyce (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 Fordyce. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Fordyce 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 Fordyce. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fordyce:
- Chambers County (The home county of Fordyce)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Blackman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Penton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Penton is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penton
- Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Milltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Abanda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Abanda is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanda
- LaFayette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Red Level
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Level is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Clackville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clackville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackville
- Five Points
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Waverly
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Boyds
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Boyds is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds
- Doublehead
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Motley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Mellow Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Cragford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Harkins Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Millerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Lineville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ashland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Barfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Fishpond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Kellyton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Ray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Goodwater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Irma ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Jordan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Roxana
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- The Bottle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Gwen Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Loachapoka
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Opelika
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ridgewood Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Chewacla
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Beauregard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beauregard is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Blanton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blanton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Liberty City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Notasulga
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Wadley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Almond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Forester Chapel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Peavy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Peavy is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- Malone Ferry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- Roanoke
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- West
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- West is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
- High Shoals
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- High Shoals is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Shoals
- Corbin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Corbin is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin
- Ofelia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ofelia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ofelia
- Wedowee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Dudleyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dudleyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
- Frog Eye
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Frog Eye is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Eye
- Matilda
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Daviston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Truett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Emuckfaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Camp Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- New Site
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Dadeville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksons' Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cowpens
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
- Heard County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Glenn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- O'Neals Crossroad
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- O'Neals Crossroad is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neals Crossroad
- Houston
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Evansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- West Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Abbottsford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Abbottsford is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsford
- North West Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- North West Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North West Point
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- West Lake Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- West Lake Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Village
- Rockwell Estates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rockwell Estates is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell Estates
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fordyce, see our County-by-County Page for Fordyce.
Cemeteries Near Fordyce ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fordyce.
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 Fordyce - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fordyce covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Sanders Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dudleyville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- County Line Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Old Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- New Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Waites Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Blanton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Germany Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buttston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Punkin Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lebanon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (383 more) ...
- Dean - Shirley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sims Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
While we didn't find Fordyce in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fordyce.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fordyce, with the one closest to Fordyce listed first.
- Dudleyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dudleyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
- Denver
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Denver is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Buttston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Buttston is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buttston
- Marcoot
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Marcoot is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoot
- Bosworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bosworth is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosworth
- Matilda
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Blackman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Easton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Easton is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Judson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Judson is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Daviston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chapel Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Milltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Zana ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zana is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Buffalo is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Truett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fordyce. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fordyce.
Newspapers Published in Fordyce ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fordyce.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fordyce, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fordyce.
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 helpful 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 Fordyce:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Chambers County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Macon County
- Randolph County
- Tallapoosa County
- Heard 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> | 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 Fordyce, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Fordyce) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |