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 Melvin (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 Melvin. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Melvin is located in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County: Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, Washington, Clarke (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Wayne (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Melvin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Melvin:
- Choctaw County (The home county of Melvin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Okatuppa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Okatuppa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okatuppa
- Toxey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Toxey is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Needham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Needham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Emory
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Gilbertown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Isney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Isney is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isney
- Souwilpa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Red Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Bolinger
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bolinger is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolinger
- Silas
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Aquilla
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Aquilla is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
- Womack Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- West Bend
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Coffeeville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Morvin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- Campbell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Putnam
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Barrons is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrons
- Nanafalia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Sumter County
- Kinterbish
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Healing Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Healing Springs is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Mehaffey ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mehaffey is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehaffey
- Millry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Copeland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Copeland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Barlow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Barlow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Frankville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Frankville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankville
- Bigbee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bigbee is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee
- Clarke County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Junction City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Gin ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Gin is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin
- De Soto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Shubuta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Quitman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stonewall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Enterprise
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barnett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Barnett is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Pachuta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pachuta is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Jasper County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Stafford Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Stafford Springs is located in Jasper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford Springs
- Vossburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Vossburg is located in Jasper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vossburg
- Orange
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orange is located in Jasper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Increase
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Increase is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Increase
- Increase has also been known as:
- Causeyville
- Whynot
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Vimville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Vimville is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vimville
- Wayne County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Matherville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Waynesboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robinsons Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Robinsons Junction is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsons Junction
- Whistler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whistler is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistler
- Chicora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Chicora is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicora
- Clara
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clara is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clara
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Melvin, see our County-by-County Page for Melvin.
Cemeteries Near Melvin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melvin.
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 Melvin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Melvin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Zion Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Stroud Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brightwater Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Carmichael Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Berry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Providence Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Scotch Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Paragon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (265 more) ...
- Bass Everett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Levy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Melvin had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Melvin, with the one closest to Melvin listed first.
- Matherville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Carmichael
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Carmichael is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmichael
- Emory
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Emory is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
- Isney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Isney is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isney
- Souwilpa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Lusk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lusk is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
- Hinton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hinton is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
- Tokio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Tokio is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tokio
- Silas
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shubuta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Aquilla
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Aquilla is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
- De Soto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Womack Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
- Boice
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boice is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boice
- Quitman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Melvin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Melvin.
Newspapers Published in Melvin ...
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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melvin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melvin, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Melvin.
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 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 Melvin:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Choctaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Marengo County
- Sumter County
- Washington County
- Clarke County
- Jasper County
- Lauderdale 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> | 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. |
| <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 Melvin, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Melvin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |