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 Helena (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 Helena. 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.
Helena is primarily located in Shelby County. A portion of Helena extends into Jefferson 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 Shelby County: Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Jefferson, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Helena. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Helena:
- Shelby County (The home county of Helena)
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Falliston
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Tacoa
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Alabaster
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tulse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Bamford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Brantleyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Siluria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Maylene
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pelham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Saginaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Indian Springs Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
- Sawmill Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Eddings
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Seymour
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Belle Ellen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Green Pond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Woodstock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Blocton Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Brierfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Italian Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- North Bibb
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Ashby
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Jemison
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Thorsby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Jumbo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Coosa County
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Greenwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Shannon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Shannon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- Hoover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mobile Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- New Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Bessemer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- McCalla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Lipscomb
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
- Oxmoor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oxmoor is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxmoor
- Winetka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Winetka is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winetka
- Blue Creek Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Vincent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Brompton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Moody
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Childersburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Tannehill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Abernant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Vance
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bull City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Kellerman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Brookwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Coaling
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Twilley Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Quinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Yerkwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Helena, see our County-by-County Page for Helena.
Cemeteries Near Helena ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Helena.
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 Helena - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Helena covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- David Lindsay Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cumberland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Ray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Acton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh MB Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pelham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Siluria Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grace Community Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace Community Church Cemetery
- The Grace Community Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2138568 <2>
- Goodson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Still Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (396 more) ...
- Benten Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson Garden of Memories
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Smithson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Helena had a population of 518 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Helena had a population of 20,374 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Helena, with the one closest to Helena listed first.
- Falliston
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Tacoa
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Tulse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Bamford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Siluria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Morgan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Morgan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Maylene
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pelham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Longview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Longview is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Gurnee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gurnee is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurnee
- Sloss
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sloss is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloss
- Anita
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Anita is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anita
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Dogwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Dogwood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Brickyard Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
- Bessemer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Helena. See our List of 1890's Communities around Helena.
Newspapers Published in Helena ...
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 Helena.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Helena, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Helena.
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 Helena:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Chilton County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson County
- Saint Clair County
- Talladega 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> | 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 Helena, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Helena) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |