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 Giles (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 Giles. 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 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.
Giles is located in Bibb 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 Bibb County: Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Giles. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Giles:
- Bibb County (The home county of Giles)
- The following are listed by their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Green Pond
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Blocton Junction
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- North Bibb
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Woodstock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- West Blocton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Italian Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Belle Ellen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Chilton County
- Jemison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hale County
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Kimbrell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- North Johns
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- North Johns is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Adger
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- McCalla
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Greenwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Mobile Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- Ezra
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Old Jonesboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Oak Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Hueytown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bessemer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Bethlehem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Oakmulgee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Aden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Bamford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Tulse
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Brantleyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Helena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Maylene
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Alabaster
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Falliston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Tacoa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Siluria
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Montevallo
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Lake View
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Tannehill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Abernant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Vance
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brookwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Kellerman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Coaling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Bull City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Peterson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Hagler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Pearson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Cottondale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Twilley Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Goodsprings
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Quinton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Reeds Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Giles, see our County-by-County Page for Giles.
Cemeteries Near Giles ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Giles.
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 Giles - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Giles covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Hephzibah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hickman Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bibbville Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- John T. Thrasher Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Caffee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the east of Abernant.
- The Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #25526 <2>
- Bucksville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shuttlesworth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Branch Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Gillard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (383 more) ...
- Banks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hebron Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Giles had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Giles, with the one closest to Giles listed first.
- Chamblee
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Chamblee is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblee
- Blocton Junction
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Green Pond
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Woodstock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bibbville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bibbville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bibbville
- Tannehill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Yolande
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Yolande is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yolande
- Vance
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Sumter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sumter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
- Dudley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dudley is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Boothton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Boothton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boothton
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Anita
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Anita is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anita
- Gurnee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Gurnee is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurnee
- Adger
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Giles. See our List of 1890's Communities around Giles.
Newspapers Published in Giles ...
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 7 newspapers that have been published in the area around Giles.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Giles, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Giles.
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 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 Giles:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chilton County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Walker 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Giles) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Giles, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |