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 Melrose (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 Melrose. 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 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 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.
Melrose is located in Pickens 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 Pickens County: Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Lowndes (MS) & Noxubee (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Melrose. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Melrose:
- Pickens County (The home county of Melrose)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- McShan
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- McShan is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McShan
- Coal Fire
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- Reform
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ethelsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ethelsville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethelsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Stansel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stansel is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stansel
- Macedonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Macedonia is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Stafford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Stafford is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Archer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Archer is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
- Bell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Carrollton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Carrollton is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Gordo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Beaver Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Beaver Town is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Town
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Ashcraft Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ashcraft Corner is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcraft Corner
- Belk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Belk is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Fayette
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Town is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Rossland City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rossland City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossland City
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Lewiston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Mantua
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Lamar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Millport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Fernbank
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Fernbank is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernbank
- Kennedy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kennedy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Hightogy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hightogy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightogy
- Vernon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bedford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bedford is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Echola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Echola is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echola
- Elrod
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elrod is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- Buhl
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Buhl is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhl
- Coker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- New Lexington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Lexington is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Samantha
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Samantha is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samantha
- Clay County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly is located in Clay County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Vinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vinton is located in Clay County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinton
- Lowndes County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- New Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Hope is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Columbus
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Caledonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kolola Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kolola Springs is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kolola Springs
- Bent Oak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bent Oak is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Oak
- Crawford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Artesia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Artesia is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artesia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 420 people
- Monroe County (MS)
- Hamilton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Noxubee County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Ravine
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Ravine is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravine
- Deerbrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Deerbrook is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerbrook
- Harlan ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Harlan is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan
- Brooksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Melrose, see our County-by-County Page for Melrose.
Cemeteries Near Melrose ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melrose.
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 Melrose - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Melrose covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Beard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Phoenix Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Union Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Funderburk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Carden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mineral Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Zion Possum Bend Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Old Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Liberty Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Coal Fire Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Arnold Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Thomasson Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Continue List (444 more) ...
- Gore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Antioch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
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 Melrose in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Melrose.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Coal Fire
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- Reform
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stafford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Stafford is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Bell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Palmetto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Palmetto is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Millport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Fernbank
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Fernbank is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernbank
- Dillburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dillburg is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillburg
- Gordo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Hope is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Lubbub
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Kennedy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kennedy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bigbee Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bigbee Valley is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee Valley
- Garden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Garden is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden
- Steens
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Steens is located in Lowndes County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steens
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Melrose. See our List of 1890's Communities around Melrose.
Newspapers Published in Melrose ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melrose.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melrose, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Melrose.
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 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 Melrose:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Pickens County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Lamar County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Clay County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Noxubee 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> | 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- Melrose) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Melrose, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |