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 Motley (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 Motley. 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 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.
Motley is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Motley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Motley:
- Clay County (The home county of Motley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Mellow Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Cragford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ashland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Harkins Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Lineville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Millerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Barfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Delta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Haynes Crossroad
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Erin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Elder
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Chambers Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Chambers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Abanda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Abanda is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanda
- Red Level
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Red Level is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Milltown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Clackville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Clackville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackville
- Penton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Penton is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penton
- Doublehead
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Chapel Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Blackman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Five Points
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Stroud
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- LaFayette
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fredonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fredonia is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Micaville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Micaville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micaville
- Hollis Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Abel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Kellyton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Goodwater
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Fishpond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Ray
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Mount Olive
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- Roxana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Almond
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Wadley
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Forester Chapel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Malone Ferry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- Peavy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Peavy is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- Ofelia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ofelia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ofelia
- Roanoke
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wedowee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- West
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- West is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
- Christiana
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Christiana is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christiana
- Corbin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Corbin is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin
- High Shoals
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- High Shoals is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Shoals
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Chandler Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chandler Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Springs
- Ironaton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Waldo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Kentuck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- McElderry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Emuckfaw
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Truett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Daviston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Frog Eye
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Frog Eye is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Eye
- Goldville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- New Site
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Matilda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Cowpens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cowpens is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowpens
- Dudleyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Dudleyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
- Hackneyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hackneyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackneyville
- Jacksons' Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Alexander City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Heard County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- O'Neals Crossroad
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- O'Neals Crossroad is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neals Crossroad
- Glenn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Frolona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Frolona is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
- Houston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Houston is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Population from the 2010 Census: 110 people
- Ephesus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ephesus is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ephesus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Yates Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Yates Crossroads is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 360 people
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Evansville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Abbottsford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Abbottsford is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsford
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Motley, see our County-by-County Page for Motley.
Cemeteries Near Motley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Motley.
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 Motley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Motley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- County Line Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Leander Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Antioch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Vickers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Milam Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Daviston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Daviston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daviston Cemetery
- The Daviston Cemetery has also been known as:
- Daviston Baptist Church Cemetery
- Continue List (361 more) ...
- Beulah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wadley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bethany Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 Motley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Motley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Emuckfaw
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Almond
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Truett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Daviston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Louina
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Louina is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louina
- Mellow Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Goldville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Goldville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Zana ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Zana is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
- Forester Chapel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Malone Ferry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- New Site
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Site is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
- Population from the 2020 Census: 755 people
- Bosworth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bosworth is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosworth
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Gibsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gibsonville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonville
- Denver
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Denver is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Matilda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Motley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Motley.
Newspapers Published in Motley ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Motley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Motley, 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 Motley.
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 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 Motley:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chambers County
- Cleburne County
- Coosa County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Randolph County
- Talladega County
- Tallapoosa County
- Heard County
- Troup 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 Motley, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Motley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |