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 Holly Springs (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 Holly Springs. 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.
Name Variations for Holly Springs ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Holly Springs: Holly Spgs. (or less commonly used: Holly Spngs. or Holly Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Holly Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Holly Springs.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Holly Springs is located in Blount 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 Blount County: Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Marshall, Saint Clair, Walker & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Holly Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Holly Springs:
- Blount County (The home county of Holly Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Highland Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Highland Lake is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Allgood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Allgood is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allgood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
- Appalachian
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Appalachian is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appalachian
- Straight Mountain
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Straight Mountain is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Mountain
- Remlap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oneonta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Little Warrior
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Little Warrior is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Warrior
- Compton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Deavers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Deavers is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deavers
- Adville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Locust Fork
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Macon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Macon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Ohatchee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Boozer ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Boozer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boozer
- Cochran Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cochran Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochran Springs
- Southside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Beasley ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Beasley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Blue Eye ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Eye is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Eye
- Grayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Grayton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayton
- Chigger Ridge ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Chigger Ridge is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chigger Ridge
- Eastaboga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Garden City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Hanceville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Black Bottom
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Damascus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Holly Pond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Baileytown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Baileytown is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileytown
- White City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- White City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Colony
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Dodge City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Arkadelphia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Nix ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Nix is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
- Altoona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Springs ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
- Gallant
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gallant is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallant
- Walnut Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Grove is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 692 people
- Benson ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Benson is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Howelton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Howelton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howelton
- Ivalee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ivalee is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivalee
- Attalla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Brannon Springs ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brannon Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brannon Springs
- Aurora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aurora is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Ayres
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ayres is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayres
- Village Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Village Springs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village Springs
- Clay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Palmerdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Palmerdale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmerdale
- Masseyline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Masseyline is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyline
- Bradford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Bradford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Breakstone Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Breakstone Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakstone Village
- East Trussville ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Trussville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trussville
- Pinson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cahaba Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cahaba Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Village
- Chalkville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chalkville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalkville
- Crosston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crosston is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosston
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Douglas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Douglas is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Reedbrake ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Reedbrake is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedbrake
- Bowen ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bowen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Whitesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Whitesville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
- Big Spring ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Big Spring is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Horton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Horton is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Bartlett ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bartlett is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
- Hyatt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hyatt is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyatt
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Springville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Clair Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Clair Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair Springs
- Argo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Branchville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Branchville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Whitney Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Whitney Junction is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney Junction
- Margaret
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Turnbough Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
- Ashville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Odenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parsons
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Parsons is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsons
- Acmar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Acmar is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acmar
- Wattsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Dunnavant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dunnavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnavant
- Dunavant
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Vandiver
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Sterrett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Calcis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Bridgeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Shoal Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Lake Purdy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Colony
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colony is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Lincoln
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Windsong Island
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- Logan Martin Dam
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Logan Martin Dam is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Martin Dam
- East Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Creel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Empire
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Holly Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Holly Springs.
Cemeteries Near Holly Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Holly Springs.
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 Holly Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Holly Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Hooper Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Fuller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lees Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clear Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mardis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clements Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Remlap Methodist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Calvary Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Ayres.
- Low Gap Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Crump Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Argo Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Liberty Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (315 more) ...
- Oakhill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Old Compton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hopewell UMC Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
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 Holly Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Holly Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Holly Springs, with the one closest to Holly Springs listed first.
- Springville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Viola ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Viola is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Chepultepec
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Chepultepec is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepultepec
- Caldwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Caldwell is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
- Remlap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Champion
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Champion is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champion
- Ayres
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ayres is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayres
- Oneonta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Little Warrior
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Little Warrior is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Warrior
- Compton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Argo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Branchville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Branchville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Adville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Selfville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Clay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Holly Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Holly Springs.
Newspapers Published in Holly Springs ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Holly Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Holly Springs, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Holly Springs.
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 Holly Springs:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Blount County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Cullman County
- Etowah County
- Jefferson County
- Marshall County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Talladega 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 Holly Springs, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Holly Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |