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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 Forester (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 Forester. 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 and doctors 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.

Forester is located in Autauga 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 Autauga County: Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes & Montgomery.

Below are the counties that are near Forester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Forester:

  • Autauga County     (The home county of Forester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.
    • Autaugaville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
    • Booth
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Booth is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
    • Gibbons ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Gibbons is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
    • Melmar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Melmar is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
    • Prattville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Independence
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Independence is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
    • Pine Level
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Level is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
    • Millbrook
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Haynes
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Haynes is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • Jones Bluff Dam
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
    • Statesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Statesville is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
    • White City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • White City is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
  • Chilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.
    • Mountain Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
    • Verbena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Verbena is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Adams
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Adams is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
    • Riderville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Riderville is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
    • Stanton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Stanton is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
    • Clanton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Maplesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.
    • Tyler
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Burnsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Burnsville is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
    • Old Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Town is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Casey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Casey is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey
    • Plantersville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Plantersville is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
    • Sardis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Selma
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Selma is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,671 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Selma <1>
    • Valley Grande
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Valley Grande is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Grande
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,468 people
    • Pleasant Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
    • Sunset Mill Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sunset Mill Village is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Mill Village
    • Belknap
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Belknap is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
    • Kings
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kings is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
  • Elmore County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.
    • Robinson Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
    • Prattville Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
    • Deatsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Coosada
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Elmore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Adkin Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
      • Adkin Hill has also been known as:
      • Atkins Hill
    • Holtville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Holtville is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
      • Holtville has also been known as:
      • Slapout
    • Lightwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lightwood is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
    • Wetumpka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Blue Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
    • Titus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
  • Lowndes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.
    • Burkville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Burkville is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
    • White Hall
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • White Hall is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
    • Lowndesboro
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Benton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Benton is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Petronia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Petronia is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
    • Hayneville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Mosses
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Mosses is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
    • Gordonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
    • Letohatchee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
    • Collirene
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Collirene is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
    • Davenport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Davenport is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
    • Bragg's
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.
    • Catoma
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Catoma is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
    • Stone's
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Stone's is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
    • Gibbs Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
    • Highland Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
    • Young Forte Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
    • Montgomery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • New Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • New Town is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • English Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • English Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
    • Boylston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Boylston is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
    • Capitol Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
    • Hope Hull
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Madison
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Madison is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
  • Perry County
    • Augustin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Augustin is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Forester, see our County-by-County Page for Forester.

Cemeteries Near Forester ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forester.

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 Forester - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Forester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.

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 Forester in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Forester.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Forester, with the one closest to Forester listed first.

  • Autaugaville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
  • Saint Clair
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Saint Clair is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
  • Burkville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Burkville is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
  • Prattville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Independence
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Independence is located in Autauga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
  • Manack
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Manack is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manack
  • White Hall
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • White Hall is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
  • Mulberry
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Mulberry is located in Autauga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
  • Lowndesboro
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Catoma
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Catoma is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
  • Stone's
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Stone's is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
  • Robinson Springs
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Statesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Statesville is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
    • Jackson's Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Jackson's Lake is located in Elmore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson's Lake
    • Milton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Milton is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Forester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Forester.

Newspapers Published in Forester ...

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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forester, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forester.

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 Forester:

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 Forester, 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- Forester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.