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 Mertz (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 Mertz. 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 doctors 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.
Mertz is located in Bibb 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 Bibb County: Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Mertz. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mertz:
- Bibb County (The home county of Mertz)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Pondville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Egypt ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Brent
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Scottsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Centreville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- West Blocton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Maplesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Stanton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Riderville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Knoxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Eutaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Moundville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Powers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Greensboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rosemary
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Akron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Sawyerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cedarville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Brush Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Jericho
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Morgan Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Bethlehem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Sprott
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Marion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Oakmulgee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Vilula
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Suttle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Aden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Wilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- 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
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Pearson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Hagler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Duncanville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Coaling
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Vance
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cottondale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Sahama Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sahama Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sahama Village
- Alberta City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Peterson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Foster's
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ingleside Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ingleside Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside Village
- Tuscaloosa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- University
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- University is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mertz, see our County-by-County Page for Mertz.
Cemeteries Near Mertz ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mertz.
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 Mertz - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mertz covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Mulberry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pondville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Salem Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Salem Church Cemetery is located between<2> the communities of Greensboro and Centreville. The cemetery lies 15 miles [24.1 km]<3> to the northeast of Greensboro.
- The Salem Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. Ivey Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1977787 <4>
- Mt. Ivah Bible Methodist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Flat Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Old Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Shiloh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (409 more) ...
- Lake Payne Church of God Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Waycross Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mathis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Mertz in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mertz.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mertz, with the one closest to Mertz listed first.
- Pondville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Ironville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ironville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironville
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Harrisburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Harrisburg is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Brush Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Hagler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Jericho
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Morgan Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Levert
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Levert is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
- Abercrombie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Abercrombie is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abercrombie
- Scottsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Centreville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Havana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Havana is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havana
- Folsom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Folsom is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
- Adler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Adler is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adler
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mertz. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mertz.
Newspapers Published in Mertz ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mertz.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mertz, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mertz.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Mertz:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chilton County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Perry County
- Shelby 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> | To help visualize the location of the cemetery, we've drawn a straight line between the communities of Greensboro and Centreville. The cemetery can be found near that line and roughly halfway between the two communities. Remember that this is just an approximate location. |
| <3> | 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- Mertz) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |
| <5> | 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 Mertz, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |