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 Kershaw (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 Kershaw. 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 and 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.
Kershaw is located in Walker 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 Walker County: Blount, Cullman, Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Tuscaloosa & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Kershaw. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kershaw:
- Walker County (The home county of Kershaw)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Dora
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sumiton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- 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>
- Burnwell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Red Star
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Oakahalla
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Dovertown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
- Sipsey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Wyatt
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Barney
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Cordova
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Yerkwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Red Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Warrior
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Reid's
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Blount Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- County Line
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Hayden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Selfville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Bangor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Dallas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Adville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Compton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Arkadelphia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Ardell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Colony
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Bremen
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Black Bottom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Damascus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Crane Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dodge City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Trimble
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Logan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Alta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Berry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Robbins Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Media
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Media is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Sayre
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sayre is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayre
- West Jefferson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Graysville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Cardiff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Brookside
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Pinkney City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pinkney City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkney City
- Black Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Adamsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tuscaloosa County
- Bull City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Arley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Slick Ford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Houston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Addison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kershaw, see our County-by-County Page for Kershaw.
Cemeteries Near Kershaw ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kershaw.
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 Kershaw - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kershaw covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Burton Bend Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sardis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Cedrum Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brasfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Phillips Freewill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sipsey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Old Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Carmel Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Carmel Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Cordova.
- The Mt. Carmel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tatum Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #24603 <2>
- Bolden Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolden Cemetery
- The Bolden Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bolen Cemetery
- Bolling Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2155435 <2>
- Walker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (401 more) ...
- Union Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- New Horizon Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Union Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Kershaw in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kershaw.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kershaw, with the one closest to Kershaw listed first.
- Dora
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cordova
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Robbins Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Parrish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Parrish is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Population from the 2020 Census: 929 people
- Porter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Porter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Linn Crossing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linn Crossing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Crossing
- Sloan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sloan is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
- Powellville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Jasper
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Blossburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blossburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossburg
- Cardiff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Brookside
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Arkadelphia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- South Lowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- South Lowell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lowell
- Short Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kershaw. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kershaw.
Newspapers Published in Kershaw ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kershaw.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kershaw, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kershaw.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Kershaw:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Walker County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cullman County
- Fayette County
- Jefferson County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Winston 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 Kershaw, 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- Kershaw) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |