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 Harrisburg (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 Harrisburg. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Harrisburg:
- Bibb County (The home county of Harrisburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Brent
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pondville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Centreville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Scottsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Egypt ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Active
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Lawley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Vine Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Jones
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Fremont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Maplesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Riderville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Stanton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Adams
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Jemison
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Thorsby
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Plantersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Harrell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Valley Grande
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Grande is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Grande
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,468 people
- Marion Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Greensboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Moundville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rosemary
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Powers
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Newbern
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Akron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sawyerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Jefferson County
- Kimbrell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Jericho
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Bethlehem
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Oakmulgee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Sprott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Morgan Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Brush Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Marion
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Vilula
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Suttle
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Augustin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Aden
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Wilton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wilton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Former names for Wilton:
- Birmingham Junction
- Bismarck
- Catoosa
- Woods
- Woodsborough
- Sawmill Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Montevallo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Maylene
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Pearson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Hagler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Duncanville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Vance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Coaling
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Brookwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cottondale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tannehill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Peterson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Abernant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Alberta City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Holt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Harrisburg, see our County-by-County Page for Harrisburg.
Cemeteries Near Harrisburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harrisburg.
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 Harrisburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Harrisburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Perkins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mathis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Duff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elam Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- James Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wooley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Weldon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Avery Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Brent Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (401 more) ...
- Pondville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Paynes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Harrisburg had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
- Abercrombie
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Abercrombie is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abercrombie
- Pondville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Jericho
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Centreville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- Ironville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ironville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironville
- Levert
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Levert is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
- Adler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Adler is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adler
- Bethlehem
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Theo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Theo is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Theo
- Scottsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Pinetucky
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pinetucky is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinetucky
- Oakmulgee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Trio
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Trio is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trio
- Hagler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Sprott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Harrisburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Harrisburg.
Newspapers Published in Harrisburg ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harrisburg.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harrisburg, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harrisburg.
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 either 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 Harrisburg:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Chilton County
- Dallas County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa 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 Harrisburg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Harrisburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |