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 Hopewell (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 Hopewell. 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 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.
Hopewell is located in 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Hopewell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hopewell:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Hopewell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- New Village
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Bessemer
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Greenwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Mobile Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- Blue Creek Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Old Jonesboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Lipscomb
(4 miles [6.4 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
- Shannon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shannon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- McCalla
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brighton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Winetka
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Winetka is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winetka
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Hueytown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- Green Pond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Eddings
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Blocton Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Woodstock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Bibb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Seymour
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Belle Ellen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Chilton County
- Jemison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- 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
- Vincent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- Bamford
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Falliston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Tulse
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Alabaster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Springs Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- 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
- Brantleyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Pelham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Maylene
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Sawmill Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Inverness
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- Tannehill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Abernant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Bull City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Vance
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Brookwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Coaling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Peterson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- Quinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Reeds Ferry
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Wyatt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Yerkwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Burnwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Oakahalla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Dora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Red Star
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Sumiton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Barney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Goodsprings
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Dovertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hopewell, see our County-by-County Page for Hopewell.
Cemeteries Near Hopewell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hopewell.
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 Hopewell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hopewell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- Sadlers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fairington Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Massey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Smithson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Beth-El Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Brighton Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton Memorial Gardens
- The Brighton Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
- Brighton Cemetery
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- George Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (380 more) ...
- Ray Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grace Community Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Valhalla Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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 Hopewell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hopewell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hopewell, with the one closest to Hopewell listed first.
- Bessemer
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Morgan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Sloss
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sloss is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloss
- Blue Creek Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Brickyard Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
- Old Jonesboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- McCalla
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Woodward Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Woodward Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward Junction
- McAdory
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- McAdory is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAdory
- Bamford
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Collins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Collins is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Helena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Tacoa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hopewell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hopewell.
Newspapers Published in Hopewell ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hopewell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hopewell, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hopewell.
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 helpful 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 Hopewell:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Chilton County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby 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 Hopewell, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hopewell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |