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 Midway (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 Midway. 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 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.
Midway is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Limestone, Morgan & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Midway. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Midway:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Midway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Chalybeate Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Hillsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mountain Home
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Moulton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Courtland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wren
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wren is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- North Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Muck City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Hatton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Town Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Concord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Garner ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Leighton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Ford City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Nitrate City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Spring Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Littleville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Muscle Shoals
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Central
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Central is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Jones' Chapel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- West Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Chances Crossroad
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Chances Crossroad is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chances Crossroad
- South Vinemont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Vinemont is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vinemont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 636 people
- Vinemont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Logan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Franklin County
- Churntown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Dells Vista Shores
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Rogersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rogersville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,293 people
- Former name for Rogersville:
- Rodgersville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogersville <1>
- Confluence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Confluence is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Estep ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Estep is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estep
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Cedar Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cedar Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hill
- Elgin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elgin is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Anderson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Anderson is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Corum ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Corum is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corum
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bethel is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Comer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Harris Station
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Ripley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Mooresville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Tanner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Poplar Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Belle Mina
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Westlake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Lentzville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Athens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Country Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Swancott
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Triana
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Madison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughter Landing ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Slaughter Landing is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter Landing
- Slaughter Landing has also been known as:
- Slaughter Ferry
- Monrovia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monrovia is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monrovia
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Trinity
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Austinville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Moulton Heights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Russell Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Simpson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Decatur
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Decatur is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54,381 people
- Former names for Decatur:
- Albany
- New Decatur
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Decatur <1>
- Flint City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Danville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burningtree Mountain
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Hartselle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Priceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Cedar Plains
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Upshaw
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Grayson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ellaville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Addison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Houston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ashridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Pebble
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Midway, see our County-by-County Page for Midway.
Cemeteries Near Midway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Midway.
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 Midway - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Midway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Morris Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Caddo Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Clardy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sivley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Thrasher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Raper Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Fuller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dement Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Watson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Penny Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (817 more) ...
- Stockton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Morris Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fennell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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 Midway in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Midway.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Hillsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mountain Home
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Moulton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Neel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Neel is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Simpson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Jesseton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jesseton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesseton
- Decatur
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Decatur is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54,381 people
- Former names for Decatur:
- Albany
- New Decatur
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Decatur <1>
- Decatur Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur Junction is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur Junction
- Courtland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Harris Station
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Landersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Landersville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landersville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Massey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Massey is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massey
- Hartselle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ripley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Midway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Midway.
Newspapers Published in Midway ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Midway.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Midway, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Midway.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Midway:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Cullman County
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Limestone County
- Madison County
- Morgan County
- Winston 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 Midway, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Midway) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |