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 Mars Hill (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 Mars Hill. 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 Mars Hill ...
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.
While the name of this community is Mars Hill, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Mars Hill may originally have been Mar's Hill.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Mars Hill might be written as Mar Hill.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Mars Hill. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Mars Hill.
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 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.
Mars Hill is located in Chilton 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 Chilton County: Autauga, Bibb, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Mars Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mars Hill:
- Chilton County (The home county of Mars Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Jemison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Thorsby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Maplesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jumbo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Adams
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Clanton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Riderville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Verbena
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Mountain Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Billingsley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Vine Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Haynes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- White City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Jones
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Marbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fremont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Independence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Oakley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Ashby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Randolph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Tucker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tucker is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker
- Brierfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lawley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Active
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Eddings
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Seymour
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Belle Ellen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Dollar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Weogufka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Dallas County
- Plantersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Elmore County
- Lightwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Greenwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Kimbrell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- McCalla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mobile Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- New Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Oakmulgee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Bethlehem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Jericho
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Sprott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Wilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wilton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Former names for Wilton:
- Birmingham Junction
- Bismarck
- Catoosa
- Woods
- Woodsborough
- Montevallo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Calera
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maylene
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Shelby
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Aden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Brantleyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Saginaw
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Siluria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Pine Grove Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Alabaster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Tannehill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Vance
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lake View
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Pearson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Hagler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mars Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Mars Hill.
Cemeteries Near Mars Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mars Hill.
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 Mars Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mars Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Old Mars Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- New Mars Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Posey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Union Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crumpton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Center Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Campbell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Holly Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (425 more) ...
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Providence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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 Mars Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mars Hill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mars Hill, with the one closest to Mars Hill listed first.
- Jemison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Randolph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Ashby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Brierfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- South Calera
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Calera is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Calera
- Montevallo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Trio
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Trio is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trio
- Maplesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lomax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lomax is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Calera
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dogwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Dogwood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Jumbo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Clanton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Kincheon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kincheon is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincheon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mars Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mars Hill.
Newspapers Published in Mars Hill ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mars Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mars Hill, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mars Hill.
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 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 Mars Hill:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Chilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Coosa County
- Dallas County
- Elmore County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Talladega County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Mars Hill, 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- Mars Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |