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 James (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 James. 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 James ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
While the name of this community is James, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So James may originally have been Jame's.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named James. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for James.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
James is located in Colbert 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 Colbert County: Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence & Tishomingo (MS).
Below are the counties that are near James. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to James:
- Colbert County (The home county of James)
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Spring Valley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- White House Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Muscle Shoals
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Tuscumbia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Littleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- South Florence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Leighton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Nitrate City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Wilson Dam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Russellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Rockwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Churntown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Belgreen
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Spruce Pine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Phil Campbell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Site
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Site is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Site
- Burntout
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burntout is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burntout
- Burntout has also been known as:
- Burn Out
- Burnout
- Burnt Out
- Hodges
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vina
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vina is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Cypress Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Mars Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Green Tree ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Green Tree is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
- Saint Florian
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- McGee Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- McGee Town is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee Town
- Jacksonburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Killen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Edmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Town Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Concord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hatton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Red Bank
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Wheeler Dam Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Mount Hope
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Courtland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- North Courtland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Muck City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Bear Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hackleburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hackleburg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Pebble
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- Oldham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Oldham is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Iron City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Rascal Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Saint Joseph
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Cypress Inn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Corning ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to James, see our County-by-County Page for James.
Cemeteries Near James ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of James.
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 James - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for James covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Colbert County Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Ligon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Gunn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Henson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bickley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- County Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gadd Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Isbell Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Old Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ligon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ricks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (682 more) ...
- Aycock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Adams 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.<5>
While we didn't find James in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of James.
These communities are listed based on their distance from James, with the one closest to James listed first.
- Spring Valley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Tuscumbia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Littleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- South Florence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Leighton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Florence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bingham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bingham is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Edmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Mars Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Russellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Frankfort
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Waco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Waco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around James. See our List of 1890's Communities around James.
Newspapers Published in James ...
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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around James.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of James, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for James.
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 James:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Marion County
- Winston County
- Tishomingo County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- James) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |
| <5> | 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 James, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |