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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 Lightwood (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 Lightwood. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Lightwood is located in Elmore County.

To see how the shape of Alabama's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Elmore County: Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Macon, Montgomery & Tallapoosa.

Below are the counties that are near Lightwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lightwood:

  • Elmore County     (The home county of Lightwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.
    • Titus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Holtville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Deatsville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deatsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deatsville
      • Deatsville is located in Elmore County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Deatsville <1>
    • Adkin Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Elmore
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Robinson Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Robinson Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
      • Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
    • Coosada
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Wetumpka
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Seman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Seman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
      • Seman is located in Elmore County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Seman
      • From Lightwood to Seman
    • Central
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Prattville Junction
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Blue Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blue Ridge have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
      • Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
    • Claud
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Claud have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
      • Claud is located in Elmore County
  • Autauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.
    • Marbury
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Pine Level
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • White City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
      • White City is located in Autauga County
    • Millbrook
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millbrook have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
      • Millbrook is located in Autauga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,117 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Millbrook <1>
    • Melmar
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Gibbons ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Gibbons. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
      • Gibbons is located in Autauga County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Gibbons
      • From Lightwood to Gibbons
    • Prattville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Haynes
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Haynes. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
      • Haynes is located in Autauga County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Haynes
      • From Lightwood to Haynes
    • Booth
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Booth have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
      • Booth is located in Autauga County
    • Billingsley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Independence
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Autaugaville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Autaugaville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
      • Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
    • Jones
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Chilton County
  • Coosa County
  • Lowndes County
    • Burkville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burkville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
      • Burkville is located in Lowndes County
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.
    • Boylston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • New Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
      • New Town is located in Montgomery County
    • Madison
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madison have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
      • Madison is located in Montgomery County
    • Capitol Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Montgomery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Gibbs Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gibbs Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
      • Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
    • Highland Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Highland Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
      • Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
    • Sunshine Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunshine Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
      • Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
    • Stone's
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Stone's. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
      • Stone's is located in Montgomery County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Stone's
      • From Lightwood to Stone's
    • Young Forte Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Young Forte Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
      • Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
    • Catoma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Catoma. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
      • Catoma is located in Montgomery County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Catoma
      • From Lightwood to Catoma
    • English Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for English Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
      • English Village is located in Montgomery County
    • Mount Meigs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.
    • Pine Grove Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pine Grove Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
      • Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
    • Merrell Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Shelby
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Talladega County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.
    • Talladega Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Fayetteville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Gantts Quarry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gantts Quarry have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
      • Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
  • Tallapoosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.
    • Our Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alkehatchee have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
      • Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
    • Benson ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Benson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
      • Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Benson
      • From Lightwood to Benson
    • Alexander City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alexander City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander City
      • Alexander City is located in Tallapoosa County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,142 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alexander City <1>

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lightwood, see our County-by-County Page for Lightwood.

Cemeteries Near Lightwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lightwood.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lightwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Lightwood had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Lightwood, with the one closest to Lightwood listed first.

  • Wadsworth
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wadsworth have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadsworth
    • Wadsworth is located in Autauga County
  • Coosa River
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coosa River have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosa River
    • Coosa River is located in Elmore County
  • Titus
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mountain Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Holtville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Buyck
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buyck have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buyck
    • Buyck is located in Elmore County
  • Verbena
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Deatsville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deatsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deatsville
    • Deatsville is located in Elmore County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Deatsville <1>
  • Travelers Rest
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Travelers Rest have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travelers Rest
    • Travelers Rest is located in Coosa County
  • Speed
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Speed have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speed
    • Speed is located in Coosa County
  • Cooper
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cooper have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
    • Cooper is located in Chilton County
  • Weoka
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weoka have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weoka
    • Weoka is located in Elmore County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Pentonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dollar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dollar. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
      • Dollar is located in Coosa County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Dollar
      • From Lightwood to Dollar
    • Elmore
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lightwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lightwood.

Newspapers Published in Lightwood ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lightwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lightwood, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lightwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Lightwood:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Lightwood. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Elmore County: www.elmoreco.org/

The official website for State of Alabama: https://www.alabama.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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>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- Lightwood) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Lightwood. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 32.7119, Longitude: -86.3899       In this case, the coordinates for Lightwood have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>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 Lightwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025