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 Memphis (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 Memphis. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Memphis is located in Houston 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 Houston County: Dale, Geneva, Henry, Jackson (FL), Early (GA) & Seminole (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Memphis. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Memphis:
- Houston County (The home county of Memphis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Keyton's
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Hodgesville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hodgesville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodgesville
- Rehobeth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rehobeth is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehobeth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,699 people
- Parish
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dothan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Avon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Cowarts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Parker Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Parker Village is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Village
- Madrid
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Madrid is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 293 people
- Taylor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Taylor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,440 people
- Tidwell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Cottonwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Merritts Crossroads
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Merritts Crossroads is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritts Crossroads
- Coffee County
- Enterprise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Grimes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Grimes is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
- Napier Field
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Napier Field is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier Field
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Midland City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pinckard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Newton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Clayhatchee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Daleville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ewell is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewell
- Fort Rucker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mabson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mabson is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabson
- Level Plains
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Holiday Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Holiday Village is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Ozark
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva County
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Malvern
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Slocomb
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dundee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Hartford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Black
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Black is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Bellwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bellwood is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Scranton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Scranton is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Eunola ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Eunola is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
- Chancellor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Chancellor is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
- Costilla ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Costilla is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
- Geneva
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Headland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Newville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Newville is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Haleburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Haleburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Capps
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Capps is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
- Oakey Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oakey Grove is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
- Holmes County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Noma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Esto
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Esto is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Bonifay
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Campbellton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Graceville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jacob City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jacob City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Malone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bascom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cottondale
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Marianna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Two Egg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Two Egg is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Egg
- Steele City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Steele City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steele City
- Parramore ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Parramore is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parramore
- Alford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Washington County (FL)
- Chipley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Early County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Cedar Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sawhatchee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sawhatchee is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawhatchee
- Jakin
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rock Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Hill is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
- Springfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Springfield is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,084 people
- Centerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Early County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Miller County (GA)
- Mayhaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mayhaw is located in Miller County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayhaw
- Seminole County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Steam Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Steam Mill is located in Seminole County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steam Mill
- Donalsonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Memphis, see our County-by-County Page for Memphis.
Cemeteries Near Memphis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Memphis.
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 Memphis - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Memphis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Memphis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lassiter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sanders Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cowarts Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Selma Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma Cemetery
- The Selma Cemetery has also been known as:
- Selma Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2594112 <2>
- Memory Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hurts Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dothan City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Crestlawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cowarts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Little Vine Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Memphis in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Memphis.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Memphis, with the one closest to Memphis listed first.
- Keyton's
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Keyton's is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyton's
- Big Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Big Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Tidwell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tidwell is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Ashford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barber
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Barber is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barber
- Fadette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fadette is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fadette
- Campbellton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Graceville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Midland City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Headland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Warwick ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Warwick is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Dundee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Newton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Bascom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Memphis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Memphis.
Newspapers Published in Memphis ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Memphis.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Memphis, 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 Memphis.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Memphis:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Houston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coffee County
- Dale County
- Geneva County
- Henry County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Washington County
- Early County
- Miller County
- Seminole 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 Memphis, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Memphis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |