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 Island Home (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 Island Home. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Island Home is located in Tallapoosa 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 Tallapoosa County: Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon & Randolph.
Below are the counties that are near Island Home. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Island Home:
- Tallapoosa County (The home county of Island Home)
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- Our Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- Alexander City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jacksons' Gap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Benson ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Dadeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Agricola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Cowpens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
- Hackneyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Camp Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Matilda
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Chambers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Waverly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Blackman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Abanda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Abanda is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanda
- Penton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Penton is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penton
- Milltown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Boyds
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Boyds is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds
- Chapel Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- LaFayette
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Red Level
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Level is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Millerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Motley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Hollins
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Mellow Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Harkins Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Ashland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Cragford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Fishpond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Ray
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Kellyton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Nixburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Equality
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Cottage Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Hissop
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Goodwater
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pentonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Rockford
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mount Olive
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Stewartville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Weogufka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Irma ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Jordan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Seman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Central
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Kent
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Eclectic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Claud
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Tallassee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Titus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Wetumpka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ware
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Adkin Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Holtville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Roxana
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Loachapoka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- The Bottle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Ridgewood Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Auburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Liberty City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Notasulga
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hornady
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Franklin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Almond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Wadley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Forester Chapel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Sylacauga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gantts Quarry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Mignon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Oldfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Island Home, see our County-by-County Page for Island Home.
Cemeteries Near Island Home ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Island Home.
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 Island Home - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Island Home covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Farrow Dennis Graveyard
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Old Rocky Mount Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mask Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Cemetery
- The Liberty Cemetery has also been known as:
- Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #23983 <2>
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Benson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Benson Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<3> to the southwest of Dadeville.
- Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jacksons Gap Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (347 more) ...
- Macedonia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fishpond Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Island Home had a population of 20 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Island Home, with the one closest to Island Home listed first.
- Alexander City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jacksons' Gap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kowaliga
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kowaliga is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kowaliga
- Irma ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Dadeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jordan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Agricola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Tohopeka
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tohopeka is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tohopeka
- Kellyton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Nixburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Equality
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Easton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Easton is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Thornton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Thornton is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Cowpens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Island Home. See our List of 1890's Communities around Island Home.
Newspapers Published in Island Home ...
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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Island Home.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Island Home, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Island Home.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Island Home:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Tallapoosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chambers County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Macon County
- Randolph 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> | 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Island Home) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Island Home, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |