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 Hillsboro (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 Hillsboro. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Hillsboro is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Jackson, Limestone, Marshall, Morgan, Franklin (TN) & Lincoln (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Hillsboro. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hillsboro:
- Madison County (The home county of Hillsboro)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- New Market
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Key's Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Key's Mill is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Key's Mill
- Moore's Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Moore's Mill is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore's Mill
- Hazel Green
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Meridianville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Maysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Maysville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Country Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Country Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Ryland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chase
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chase is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase
- Mercury
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mercury is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercury
- Brownsboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Normal
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Colbert County
- Garner ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Francisco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Francisco is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
- Princeton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Princeton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
- Beachboro ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Beachboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachboro
- Hollytree
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hollytree is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollytree
- Estillfork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Estillfork is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estillfork
- Baileytown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Baileytown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileytown
- Trenton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greerton ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Greerton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greerton
- Pleasant Groves
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Groves is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Groves
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Hytop
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hytop is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hytop
- Population from the 2020 Census: 412 people
- Paint Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Paint Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Cumberland Mountain Farm Colony ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Center Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Center Hill is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Wooley Springs ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wooley Springs is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooley Springs
- Caro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Caro is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caro
- Capshaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Capshaw is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capshaw
- Ardmore
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Estaville ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Estaville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estaville
- Fairmount
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fairmount is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Pettusville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Pettusville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettusville
- Country Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Marshall County
- Grant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Morgan County
- Lacey's Spring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Coffee County (TN)
- Southgate Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Southgate Park is located in Coffee County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate Park
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,284 people
- Franklin County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Huntland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beans Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beans Creek is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Creek
- Lexie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lexie is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexie
- Garner Ford
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Garner Ford is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 309 people
- Sal City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sal City is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sal City
- Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Estimated population in 2014: 318 people
- Winchester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Winchester Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Winchester Springs is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester Springs
- Decherd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cowan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cowan is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,668 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cowan <1>
- Estill Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Anderson is located in Franklin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Ardmore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wheelerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wheelerton is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelerton
- Elkmont Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elkmont Springs is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont Springs
- Dickson Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dickson Town is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickson Town
- Elkton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Elkton is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Frankewing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bradshaw ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bradshaw is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradshaw
- Lincoln County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Flintville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Flintville is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 627 people
- Corder Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Corder Crossroads is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corder Crossroads
- Howell Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Howell Hill is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell Hill
- Goshen ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Goshen is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Park City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Park City is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Park City Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Park City Heights is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City Heights
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,442 people
- Clarks Ferry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clarks Ferry is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
- Camargo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Camargo is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camargo
- Fayetteville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Mill Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Mill Village is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mill Village
- Gattistown
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Gattistown is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattistown
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,158 people
- Molino
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Molino is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
- Marshall County (TN)
- Delina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Delina is located in Marshall County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delina
- Moore County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Lynchburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ridgeville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ridgeville is located in Moore County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Countyline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Countyline is located in Moore County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countyline
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hillsboro, see our County-by-County Page for Hillsboro.
Cemeteries Near Hillsboro ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hillsboro.
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 Hillsboro - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hillsboro covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Hambrick Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Graveyard Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hereford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Foster Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Whitman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Norris Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cochran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Steele Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rice Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (1291 more) ...
- Jacks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jacks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fanning Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<3>
While we didn't find Hillsboro in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hillsboro.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
- Plevna
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Plevna is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- New Market
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Key's Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Key's Mill is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Key's Mill
- Deposit
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Deposit is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deposit
- Elora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Greenfield is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Lincoln
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Moore's Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Moore's Mill is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore's Mill
- Bell Factory
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bell Factory is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Factory
- Flintville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Flintville is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 627 people
- Fisk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Fisk is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisk
- Brighton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Brighton is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Meridianville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Padgett ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Padgett is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Padgett
- Francisco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Francisco is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hillsboro. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hillsboro.
Newspapers Published in Hillsboro ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hillsboro.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hillsboro, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hillsboro.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Hillsboro:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Jackson County
- Limestone County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Coffee County
- Franklin County
- Giles County
- Lincoln County
- Marshall County
- Moore 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 Hillsboro, 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- Hillsboro) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |