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 Jonesboro (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 Jonesboro. 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 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.
Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jonesboro:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Jonesboro)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- New Village
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Bessemer
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Old Jonesboro
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Mobile Junction
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- Blue Creek Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Lipscomb
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
- McCalla
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Brighton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Industrial City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Industrial City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industrial City
- Winetka
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Winetka is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winetka
- Greenwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Dolomite
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- Green Pond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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)
- Eddings
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- 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
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Belle Ellen
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Seymour
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Italian Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- Dale ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Warrior
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro 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
- 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 Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- Bamford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Falliston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Tulse
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Alabaster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Springs Village
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Pelham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Brantleyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Maylene
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Inverness
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Sawmill Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro 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 southwest)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Bull City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Kellerman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Vance
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brookwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- 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
(28 miles [45.1 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 Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- Quinton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Reeds Ferry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Yerkwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Burnwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Oakahalla
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Wyatt
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Red Star
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Dora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Barney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Goodsprings
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Sumiton
(26 miles [41.8 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>
- Dovertown
(27 miles [43.5 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 Jonesboro, see our County-by-County Page for Jonesboro.
Cemeteries Near Jonesboro ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jonesboro.
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 Jonesboro - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Jonesboro covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- Sadlers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Beth-El Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brighton Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton Memorial Gardens
- The Brighton Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
- Brighton Cemetery
- Highland Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Valhalla Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oakdale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Joley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (370 more) ...
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Massey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Smithson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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 Jonesboro in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jonesboro.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Jonesboro, with the one closest to Jonesboro listed first.
- Sloss
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sloss is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloss
- Bessemer
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Old Jonesboro
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Brickyard Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
- Blue Creek Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- McCalla
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Woodward Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodward Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward Junction
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- McAdory
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- McAdory is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAdory
- Collins
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Collins is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Morgan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Ware
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ware is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Hillman
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hillman is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
- Dolomite
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Chinn
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Chinn is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinn
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Jonesboro. See our List of 1890's Communities around Jonesboro.
Newspapers Published in Jonesboro ...
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 Jonesboro.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jonesboro, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Jonesboro.
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 either 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 Jonesboro:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount 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 Jonesboro, 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- Jonesboro) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |