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 Merriwether (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 Merriwether. 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.
Merriwether is located in Greene 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 Greene County: Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Merriwether. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Merriwether:
- Greene County (The home county of Merriwether)
- The following are listed by their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Forkland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Boligee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Eutaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Miller
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Lizzieville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Clinton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- West Greene
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Knoxville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Mantua
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Lewiston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Pelham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Tompkinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tompkinsville is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Arcola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Cedarville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Sawyerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gallion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Greensboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rosemary
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Newbern
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Akron
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Oak Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Powers
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Moundville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Aigleville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Aigleville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aigleville
- Demopolis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Faunsdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Providence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Siddonsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Linden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Uniontown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Brush Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Freetown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Morgan Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- McDowell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Brewersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Coatopa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Moore Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Epes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Epes is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Arrington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Livingston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bellamy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Gainesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Whitfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Sumterville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sumterville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumterville
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Tuscaloosa County
- Ralph
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Merriwether, see our County-by-County Page for Merriwether.
Cemeteries Near Merriwether ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Merriwether.
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 Merriwether - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Merriwether covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Logan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Birdine Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Brasfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- New Evening Star Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Arington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Creehill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. John Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bird Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bird Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southwest of Forkland.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #21638 <3>
- Longer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Blocker Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Friendship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (367 more) ...
- Morning Star Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hard Bargain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Old Green Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Merriwether in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Merriwether.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Merriwether, with the one closest to Merriwether listed first.
- Forkland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Belmont
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Arcola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Demopolis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McDowell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Tishabee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Tishabee is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tishabee
- Cedarville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Gallion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Sawyerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Spring Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Old Spring Hill is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Spring Hill
- Boligee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Miller
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Eutaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Coatopa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Whitsitt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Whitsitt is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitsitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Merriwether. See our List of 1890's Communities around Merriwether.
Newspapers Published in Merriwether ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Merriwether.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Merriwether, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Merriwether.
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 Merriwether:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Greene County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Sumter County
- Tuscaloosa 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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Merriwether) 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 Merriwether, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |