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 Lou (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 Lou. 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 and doctors 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.
Lou is located in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County: Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, Washington, Clarke (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Wayne (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Lou. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lou:
- Choctaw County (The home county of Lou)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Toxey
(5 miles [8 km] to the west) - Gilbertown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertown
- Gilbertown is located in Choctaw County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gilbertown <2>
- Needham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest) - Red Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Bolinger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest) - Okatuppa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west) - Butler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Butler have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- Butler is located in Choctaw County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,694 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Butler <2>
- Silas
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silas have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silas
- Silas is located in Choctaw County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silas <2>
- Bladon Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bladon Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bladon Springs
- Bladon Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Cullomburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullomburg
- Cullomburg is located in Choctaw County
- Melvin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west) - Isney
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fakit Chipunta have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County
- Coffeeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coffeeville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
- Coffeeville is located in Clarke County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coffeeville <2>
- Campbell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Morvin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east) - Glover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east) - Salitpa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salitpa
- Salitpa is located in Clarke County
- Zimco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimco
- Zimco is located in Clarke County
- Winn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast) - Thomasville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
- Thomasville is located in Clarke County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,766 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thomasville <2>
- Fulton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east) - Toddtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddtown
- Toddtown is located in Clarke County
- Grove Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grove Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Hill
- Grove Hill is located in Clarke County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,709 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grove Hill <2>
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Putnam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast) - Nanafalia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Aimwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast) - Sweet Water
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Half Acre
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Acre
- Half Acre is located in Marengo County
- Former names for Half Acre:
- Hell's Half Acre
- Luther's Store
- Dixon's Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dixon's Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Myrtlewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Myrtlewood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east) - Beckleys ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Kinterbish
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Derby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Ward
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Frankville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Frankville is located in Washington County
- Bigbee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee
- Bigbee is located in Washington County
- Healing Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Healing Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Healing Springs is located in Washington County
- Millry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millry have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millry
- Millry is located in Washington County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Millry <2>
- Mehaffey ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehaffey
- Mehaffey is located in Washington County
- Barlow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south) - Saint Stephen's
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Stephen's
- Saint Stephen's is located in Washington County
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Stephen's <2>
- Copeland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest) - Hobson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobson
- Hobson is located in Washington County
- Clarke County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Junction City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Junction City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Junction City is located in Clarke County (MS)
- De Soto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- De Soto is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Shubuta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west) - Quitman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Quitman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quitman
- Quitman is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,041 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quitman <2>
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- Whynot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Whynot
- Wayne County (MS)
- Waynesboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waynesboro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynesboro
- Waynesboro is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,866 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waynesboro <2>
- Waynesboro
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lou, see our County-by-County Page for Lou.
Newspapers Published in Lou ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lou.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lou, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lou.
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 Lou:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Website for the Alabama Department of Archives & History
- Pages specific to Choctaw County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Marengo County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Sumter County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Washington County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Clarke County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Lauderdale County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Wayne County
- Jump to Cyndi's List
- Jump to Family Search
- Jump to Genealogy Trails
- Clarke County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
- Cemetery Junction: Cemeteries of Alabama
- Cyndi's List
- Cemeteries of Alabama
- Cemeteries of Choctaw County
- FamilySearch.org: Cemeteries of Alabama
- Find-A-Grave: Home Page
- Interment.net
- Cemeteries of Alabama
- Cemeteries of Choctaw County
Cemeteries Near Lou ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lou.
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 Lou covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Hill Cemetery
- Wilson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wilson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wilson Cemetery
- Stewart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Stewart Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Stewart Cemetery
- Moores Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Moores Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Moores Cemetery
- Little Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Little Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Little Cemetery
- Mosley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mosley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mosley Cemetery
- Womack Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Womack Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Womack Hill Cemetery
- Old Lusk Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Lusk Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Lusk Cemetery
- Cedar Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cedar Springs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cedar Springs Cemetery
- Mosley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mosley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mosley Cemetery
- Gilbertown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gilbertown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gilbertown Cemetery
- Barrytown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Barrytown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Barrytown Cemetery
- Continue List (258 more) ...
- Hatchet Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hatchet Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hatchet Cemetery
- Bush Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bush Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bush Cemetery
- Turner Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Turner Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Turner Cemetery
- Hatchet Cemetery
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 Lou in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lou.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lou, with the one closest to Lou listed first.
- Womack Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Womack Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Ararat
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast) - Lusk
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest) - West Bend
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast) - Cunningham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cunningham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cunningham
- Cunningham is located in Clarke County
- Souwilpa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest) - Butler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Butler have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- Butler is located in Choctaw County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,694 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Butler <2>
- Silas
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silas have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silas
- Silas is located in Choctaw County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silas <2>
- Coffeeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coffeeville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffeeville
- Coffeeville is located in Clarke County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Coffeeville <2>
- Putnam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Mount Sterling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Sterling have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Mount Sterling is located in Choctaw County
- Campbell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Morvin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east) - Melvin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west) - Rescueville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rescueville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rescueville
- Rescueville is located in Choctaw County
- Morvin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lou. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lou.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Lou. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Alabama: https://www.alabama.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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- Lou) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Lou. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 31.9190, Longitude: -88.2111 In this case, the coordinates for Lou have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <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 Lou, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |