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 Gum Springs (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 Gum Springs. 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.
Name Variations for Gum Springs ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Gum Springs: Gum Spgs. (or less commonly used: Gum Spngs. or Gum Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Gum Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Gum Springs.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Gum Springs is located in Blount 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 Blount County: Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Marshall, Saint Clair, Walker & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Gum Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gum Springs:
- Blount County (The home county of Gum Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Mountain Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Grove is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Blountsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nectar
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nectar is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nectar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Cleveland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bangor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Royal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Royal is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Liberty
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Deavers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Deavers is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deavers
- Birdie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Birdie is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdie
- Little Warrior
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Little Warrior is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Warrior
- Rosa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rosa is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 324 people
- Adville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Blount Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Garden City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Hanceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Baileytown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Baileytown is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileytown
- White City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- White City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Holly Pond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Berlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Berlin is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- East Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
- Simcoe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Simcoe is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simcoe
- Dodge City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Good Hope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Good Hope is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,393 people
- Cullman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Black Bottom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Damascus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Altoona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Nix ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Nix is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
- Walnut Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Walnut Grove is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 692 people
- Clear Springs ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Clear Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
- Gallant
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Gallant is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallant
- Aurora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Aurora is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Howelton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Howelton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howelton
- Benson ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Benson is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Greer ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Greer is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
- Egypt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Egypt is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Ivalee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ivalee is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivalee
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Trafford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Masseyline
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Masseyline is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyline
- Bradford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bradford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Kimberly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Village Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Village Springs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village Springs
- Majestic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Majestic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
- Palmerdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Palmerdale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmerdale
- Ayres
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ayres is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayres
- Crosston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Crosston is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosston
- Morris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Morris is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,182 people
- Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Clay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pinson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Big Spring ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Big Spring is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Hog Jaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Arab
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Askea Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Askea Grove is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askea Grove
- Bowen ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bowen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Reedbrake ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Reedbrake is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedbrake
- Pine Lake Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pine Lake Village is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake Village
- Douglas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Douglas is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Ruth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Hyatt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hyatt is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyatt
- Horton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Horton is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Grassy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grassy is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy
- Street ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Street is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Street
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Hulaco
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Eva
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ryan Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ryan Crossroads is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan Crossroads
- Apple Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Apple Grove is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Lacon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lacon is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
- Florette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Florette is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florette
- Falkville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Leesdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Leesdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesdale
- Briscoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Briscoe is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
- Cedar Plains
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Morgan City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Somerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Somerville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Springville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair Springs
- Whitney Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Whitney Junction is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney Junction
- Argo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Steele
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ashville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Branchville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Branchville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Margaret
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Turnbough Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
- Odenville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parsons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Parsons is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsons
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Creel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Empire
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Powellville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Sipsey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Burrows Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Sumiton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Marylee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gum Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Gum Springs.
Cemeteries Near Gum Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gum Springs.
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 Gum Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gum Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Mt. Tabor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Curl Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mulberry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Blountsville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Center Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bethlehem East Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Garden City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Guinns Cove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fowler Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (425 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Joy Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Blackwood - Cornelius 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gum Springs had a population of 60 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gum Springs, with the one closest to Gum Springs listed first.
- Joy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Joy is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Blountsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Walter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Walter is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walter
- Garden City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Cleveland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bangor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Royal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Royal is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Liberty
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Holly Pond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Little Warrior
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Little Warrior is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Warrior
- Phelan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Phelan is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelan
- Blount Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Adville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Huldah ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Huldah is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huldah
- Tappan ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tappan is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tappan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gum Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gum Springs.
Newspapers Published in Gum Springs ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gum Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gum Springs, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gum Springs.
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 Gum Springs:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Blount County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cullman County
- Etowah County
- Jefferson County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Saint Clair 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> | 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 Gum Springs, 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- Gum Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |