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 Lake Joy (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 Lake Joy. 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 Lake Joy ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Lake Joy: Lk. Joy
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Lake Joy. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Lake Joy.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Lake Joy is located in Talladega 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 Talladega County: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Saint Clair & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Lake Joy. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lake Joy:
- Talladega County (The home county of Lake Joy)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Sylacauga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oldfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Mignon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Gantts Quarry
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Oak Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Comerdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Sycamore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Zubers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Fayetteville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Abihka ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Abihka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abihka
- Bon Air
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Talladega Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Jumbo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Clanton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Verbena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Hollins
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Chambers Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Millerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Harkins Crossroads
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Ashland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Erin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Mellow Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Lineville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Stewartville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Mount Olive
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Goodwater
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Weogufka
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Kellyton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Hissop
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Rockford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cottage Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Ray
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Fishpond
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Dollar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Seman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Titus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lightwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Central
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Jordan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Vincent
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Cropwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Wilsonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Merrell Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Pine Grove Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Harpersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Columbiana
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Calcis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Westover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
- Sterrett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chelsea
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vandiver
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Hackneyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Alexander City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cowpens
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
- Goldville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- Our Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- New Site
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Jacksons' Gap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Emuckfaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lake Joy, see our County-by-County Page for Lake Joy.
Cemeteries Near Lake Joy ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lake Joy.
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 Lake Joy - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lake Joy covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Macedonia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Stewartville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany Methodist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany Methodist Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bethany Methodist Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the northeast of Stewartville.
- The Bethany Methodist Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Bethany Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2478339 <2>
- Hollins Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Summer Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rising Star Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Darby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Grimes Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (374 more) ...
- Parkdale Methodist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Comers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Kelly Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
While we didn't find Lake Joy in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lake Joy.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lake Joy, with the one closest to Lake Joy listed first.
- Stewartville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Hollins
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Sylacauga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Oldfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Hanover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hanover is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Weogufka
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Goodwater
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Zubers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Sycamore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Bentleyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bentleyville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentleyville
- Fayetteville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Crewsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Crewsville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crewsville
- Hatchet Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hatchet Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchet Creek
- Gold Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gold Branch is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Branch
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lake Joy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lake Joy.
Newspapers Published in Lake Joy ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lake Joy.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lake Joy, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lake Joy.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Lake Joy:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chilton County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Tallapoosa 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Lake Joy) 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 Lake Joy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |