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 Highland (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 Highland. 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 and doctors 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.
Highland is located in Chilton 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 Chilton County: Autauga, Bibb, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Highland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Highland:
- Chilton County (The home county of Highland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Clanton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Thorsby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Verbena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Adams
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Maplesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Jemison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Jumbo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Mountain Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Stanton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Riderville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Billingsley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- White City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Haynes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Marbury
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Independence
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Pine Level
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Vine Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Jones
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Booth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Fremont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Melmar
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- Autaugaville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Tucker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tucker is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker
- Randolph
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Lawley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Active
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Oakley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Ashby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Brierfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Centreville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Eddings
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Seymour
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Brent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Dollar
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Pentonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Weogufka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Rockford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hissop
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Plantersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Burnsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burnsville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Valley Grande
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Grande is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Grande
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,468 people
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Lightwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Titus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Deatsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Holtville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Adkin Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Robinson Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
- Elmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coosada
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Prattville Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Oakmulgee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Bethlehem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Calera
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Merrell Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Shelby
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Montevallo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Columbiana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Maylene
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Saginaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- 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 northeast)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Highland, see our County-by-County Page for Highland.
Cemeteries Near Highland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Highland.
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 Highland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Highland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Highland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Peach Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mt. Pisgah - Zion Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Samaria Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mt. Nebo Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Mt. Nebo Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (399 more) ...
- Maple Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Popwell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Clanton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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 Highland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Highland.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Highland, with the one closest to Highland listed first.
- Kincheon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kincheon is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincheon
- Clanton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lomax
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lomax is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Cooper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cooper is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Billingsley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Verbena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Maplesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Jemison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mountain Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Jumbo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Stanton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Dixie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dixie is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Continue List (22 more) ...
- Wadsworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wadsworth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadsworth
- Dollar
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Randolph
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Highland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Highland.
Newspapers Published in Highland ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Highland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Highland, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Highland.
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 Highland:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Chilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Coosa County
- Dallas County
- Elmore County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Talladega 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 Highland, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Highland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |