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 Gordo (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 Gordo. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Gordo is located in Pickens 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 Pickens County: Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Lowndes (MS) & Noxubee (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Gordo. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gordo:
- Pickens County (The home county of Gordo)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Bell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Lubbub
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Reform
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Stansel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stansel is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stansel
- Coal Fire
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- Carrollton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Carrollton is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Olney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Olney is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- McShan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- McShan is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McShan
- Benevola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Archer
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Archer is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
- Aliceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Town is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Town
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Ashcraft Corner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ashcraft Corner is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcraft Corner
- Belk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Belk is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Fayette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Old Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Old Town is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Rossland City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Rossland City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossland City
- Bankston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bankston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- Berry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Mantua
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Lewiston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Knoxville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Clinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- West Greene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Moundville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Powers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Oak Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Lamar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Kennedy
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Kennedy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Millport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fernbank
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fernbank is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernbank
- Hightogy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hightogy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightogy
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Echola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Echola is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echola
- Elrod
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elrod is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- Buhl
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buhl is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhl
- Coker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Samantha
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Samantha is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samantha
- Lake Front Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lake Front Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Front Village
- Northport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ralph
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Foster's
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- New Lexington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Lexington is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Ingleside Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ingleside Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside Village
- Sahama Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sahama Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sahama Village
- Lowndes County (MS)
- New Hope
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- New Hope is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Noxubee County (MS)
- Ravine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ravine is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravine
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gordo, see our County-by-County Page for Gordo.
Cemeteries Near Gordo ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gordo.
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 Gordo - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gordo covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Gordo City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Linebarge Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Sand Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Elmore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hargrove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sand Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Arbor Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Center Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Greenhill Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (493 more) ...
- Greenhill Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Crossroads Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gordo had a population of 106 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Gordo had a population of 1,594 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gordo, with the one closest to Gordo listed first.
- Bell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Lubbub
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Reform
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Moore's Bridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moore's Bridge is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore's Bridge
- Palmetto
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Palmetto is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Coal Fire
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- Pleasant Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Coker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Dillburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dillburg is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillburg
- Olney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Olney is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- Romulus
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Romulus is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romulus
- Benevola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Newtonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Newtonville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
- Kennedy
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Kennedy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Mantua
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gordo. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gordo.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gordo ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gordo.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gordo. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gordo and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gordo.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3> of Gordo.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Gordo:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Pickens County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Lamar County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Lowndes County
- Noxubee 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> | 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 Gordo, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gordo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |