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 Leighton (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 Leighton. 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 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.
Leighton 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 Leighton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Leighton:
- Colbert County (The home county of Leighton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Nitrate City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Spring Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ford City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Muscle Shoals
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Wilson Dam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- White House Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Sheffield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Littleville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Tuscumbia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Russellville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Churntown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Rockwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Spruce Pine
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Belgreen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Phil Campbell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Florence
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Killen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Mars Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Bailey Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Elgin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Cypress Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Saint Florian
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Dells Vista Shores
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Edmond
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Town Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Red Bank
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Wheeler Dam Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Hatton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- North Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Concord
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mount Hope
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mountain Home
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Muck City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Poplar Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Cairo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Lentzville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Lester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lester is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Marion County
- Bear Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Trinity
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Austinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Moulton Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Pebble
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Rascal Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Iron City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Busby
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Appleton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Westpoint
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Corning ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Cypress Inn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- 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 Leighton, see our County-by-County Page for Leighton.
Cemeteries Near Leighton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Leighton.
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 Leighton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Leighton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Leigh Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gargis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Wilson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Rand Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Preuit Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Glendale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mayers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- LaGrange Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Blythe Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- King Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shaw Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (746 more) ...
- Aycock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Peden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ricks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Leighton had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Leighton had a population of 754 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Leighton, with the one closest to Leighton listed first.
- Bingham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bingham is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Spring Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Edmond
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Town Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- South Florence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Littleville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Florence
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sheffield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tuscumbia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Hatton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Leighton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Leighton.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Leighton ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Leighton.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Leighton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Leighton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Leighton.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3> of Leighton.
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 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 Leighton:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Winston County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Leighton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Leighton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |