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 Franklin (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 Franklin. 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 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.
Franklin is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Montgomery, Russell & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Franklin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Franklin:
- Macon County (The home county of Franklin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Hornady
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Tuskegee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Calebee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- La Place
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Shorter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Notasulga
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hardaway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Tysonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Fort Davis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Armstrong
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Armstrong is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Society Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Society Hill is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Society Hill
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Mitchell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Fitzpatrick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Union Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Three Notch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Three Notch is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Notch
- Inverness
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Inverness is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Midway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 457 people
- Chambers County
- Waverly
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Coosa County
- Equality
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Tallassee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kent
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ware
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Claud
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Eclectic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Irma ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Jordan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Blue Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Central
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Wetumpka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Seman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Loachapoka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Roxana
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Ridgewood Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Auburn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- The Bottle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Marvyn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Marvyn is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvyn
- Beauregard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Beauregard is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Gwen Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Opelika
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chewacla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Cecil
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cecil is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Waugh
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Waugh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- Mount Meigs
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Pike Road
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sunshine Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Madison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Madison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Boylston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Boylston is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
- Capitol Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
- New Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Montgomery
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Pine Level
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Russell County
- Hurtsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hurtsboro is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 597 people
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Tallapoosa City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
- East Tallassee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Reeltown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
- Church Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Benson ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Agricola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Camp Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dadeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Our Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Franklin, see our County-by-County Page for Franklin.
Cemeteries Near Franklin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Franklin.
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 Franklin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Franklin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Neils Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ramsey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- New Elam Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. John Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Walker Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bradford Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Green - Cook Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (318 more) ...
- Sweet Gum Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cole Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Tuskegee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Franklin had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Franklin had a population of 512 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Franklin, with the one closest to Franklin listed first.
- Chehaw
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chehaw is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chehaw
- La Place
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Tuskegee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Tallassee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shorter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cross Keys
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cross Keys is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Notasulga
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cotton Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cotton Valley is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Valley
- Church Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Alliance
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Alliance is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alliance
- Kent
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Good Hope
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Good Hope is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Ware
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Fort Davis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Loachapoka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Franklin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Franklin.
Newspapers Published in Franklin ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Franklin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Franklin, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Franklin.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Franklin:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bullock County
- Chambers County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Montgomery County
- Russell County
- Tallapoosa 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 Franklin, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Franklin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |