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 Gaston (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 Gaston. 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.
Gaston is located in Sumter 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 Sumter County: Choctaw, Greene, Marengo, Pickens, Kemper (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Noxubee (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Gaston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gaston:
- Sumter County (The home county of Gaston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Derby
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Ward
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ward is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Intercourse
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Kinterbish
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Whitfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Bellamy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Cuba
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cuba is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 287 people
- York
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- York is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,218 people
- Former names for York:
- New York Station
- York Station
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for York <1>
- Arrington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Coatopa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Brewersville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Moore Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Pelham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Cromwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cromwell is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Jachin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Choctaw City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Choctaw City is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw City
- Lisman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lisman is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Pennington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pennington is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Pushmataha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Tompkinsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Lavaca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Butler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Red Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Clarke County
- Morvin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Miller
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Forkland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Boligee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hale County
- Arcola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Myrtlewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Pin Hook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Barrons is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrons
- Half Acre
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Half Acre is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Acre
- Former names for Half Acre:
- Hell's Half Acre
- Luther's Store
- Nanafalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Aimwell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Linden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Demopolis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Putnam
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Kemper County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Narkeeta ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Narkeeta is located in Kemper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narkeeta
- Porterville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Porterville is located in Kemper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Sucarnoochee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sucarnoochee is located in Kemper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sucarnoochee
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Smith
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Smith is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Whynot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Increase
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Increase is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Increase
- Increase has also been known as:
- Causeyville
- Vimville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Vimville is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vimville
- Russell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Russell is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Lockhart
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lockhart is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockhart
- Marion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Marion is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,482 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
- Meridian
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Daleville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Daleville is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daleville
- Bailey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bailey is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gaston, see our County-by-County Page for Gaston.
Cemeteries Near Gaston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gaston.
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 Gaston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gaston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Campbell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cokes Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Friendship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shearon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Beulah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Woods Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ward Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Christopher Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hicks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (253 more) ...
- McElroy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Eureka Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rocks Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
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 Gaston had a population of 138 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gaston, with the one closest to Gaston listed first.
- Kinterbish
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Cuba
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cuba is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 287 people
- Robjohn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Robjohn is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robjohn
- Coatopa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Pushmataha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- Dove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dove is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dove
- Kewanee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Kewanee is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewanee
- Whynot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Tompkinsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Butler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Myrtlewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Livingston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Mount Sterling
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mount Sterling is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Boyd
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Boyd is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Jefferson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Jefferson is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gaston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gaston.
Newspapers Published in Gaston ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gaston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gaston, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gaston.
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 Gaston:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Sumter County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Clarke County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Kemper County
- Lauderdale 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 Gaston, 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- Gaston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |