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 Half Chance (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 Half Chance. 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 hospitals 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.
Half Chance is located in Marengo 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 Marengo County: Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Perry, Sumter & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Half Chance. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Half Chance:
- Marengo County (The home county of Half Chance)
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Hugo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Providence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Linden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Thomaston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Dayton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Pin Hook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Siddonsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Consul
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Magnolia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Tompkinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Pennington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pennington is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 202 people
- Choctaw City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Choctaw City is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw City
- Pelham
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Lavaca
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Jachin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Atkeison
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Glover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Thomasville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Morvin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Campbell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Central Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Safford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Browns
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Crumptonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Orrville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Marion Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Greene County
- Forkland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Gallion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Arcola
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Cedarville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Rosemary
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Greensboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Freetown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- Uniontown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- The Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- McDowell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Whitfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Coatopa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Bellamy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Brewersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Arrington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Derby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Moore Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Intercourse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Lamison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Catherine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Gastonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Arlington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Bethel
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Alberta
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Anne Manie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Kimbrough
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
- Rehoboth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Millers Ferry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Pine Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pine Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 834 people
- Yellow Bluff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Half Chance, see our County-by-County Page for Half Chance.
Cemeteries Near Half Chance ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Half Chance.
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 Half Chance - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Half Chance covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- St. Peter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cades Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Holt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Providence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Tabernacle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rivers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Mathews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Octagon Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Paradise Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Little Flanders Field Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Black Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Luke Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (310 more) ...
- Rembert Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Zion Campground Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
While we didn't find Half Chance in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Half Chance.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Half Chance, with the one closest to Half Chance listed first.
- Linden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Octagon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Octagon is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Octagon
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Dayton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Williamsburg ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Williamsburg is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Old Spring Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Old Spring Hill is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Spring Hill
- Rembert
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rembert is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rembert
- McKinley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- McKinley is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Shiloh
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Shiloh is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Magnolia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Jefferson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Moss ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Myrtlewood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Faunsdale
(13 miles [20.9 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 Half Chance. See our List of 1890's Communities around Half Chance.
Newspapers Published in Half Chance ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Half Chance.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Half Chance, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Half Chance.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Half Chance:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Marengo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Clarke County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Perry County
- Sumter County
- Wilcox 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 Half Chance, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Half Chance) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |