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 Mount Olive (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 Mount Olive. 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.
Name Variations for Mount Olive ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Mount Olive: Mt. Olive
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Mount Olive. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Mount Olive.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Mount Olive is located in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson & Pickens.
Below are the counties that are near Mount Olive. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mount Olive:
- Tuscaloosa County (The home county of Mount Olive)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Lake Front Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lake Front Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Front Village
- Coker
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Northport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buhl
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buhl is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhl
- Wood Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wood Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
- Samantha
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Samantha is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samantha
- Ingleside Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ingleside Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside Village
- Echola
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Echola is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echola
- Elrod
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Elrod is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- Tuscaloosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- University
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- University is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
- Alberta City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Holt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Egypt ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Egypt is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Blocton Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- North Bibb
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Green Pond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Ashcraft Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashcraft Corner is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcraft Corner
- Bankston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bankston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- Berry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Alta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Rossland City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Rossland City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossland City
- Fayette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Old Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Old Town is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Belk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Belk is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Knoxville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Mantua
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Lewiston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Moundville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Powers
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Oak Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Akron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Ezra
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Oak Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Lamar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Kennedy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kennedy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Millport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pickens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Gordo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lubbub
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Bell
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Reform
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Benevola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Stansel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Stansel is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stansel
- Olney
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Olney is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- Carrollton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Carrollton is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Coal Fire
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- McShan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- McShan is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McShan
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Patton Junction ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Patton Junction is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Junction
- Corona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Corona is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corona
- Patton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Patton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mount Olive, see our County-by-County Page for Mount Olive.
Cemeteries Near Mount Olive ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mount Olive.
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 Mount Olive - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mount Olive covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Watkins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Sand Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Popular Spring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Big Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jennings Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Chapel Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bone Camp Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Pool Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Guy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Guy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (479 more) ...
- AME Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Coker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shirley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Mount Olive in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mount Olive.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mount Olive, with the one closest to Mount Olive listed first.
- Coker
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Northport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Samantha
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Samantha is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samantha
- Tuscaloosa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- University
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- University is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
- Romulus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Romulus is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romulus
- Englewood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Englewood is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
- Cottondale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Moore's Bridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Moore's Bridge is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore's Bridge
- Foster's
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gordo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sylvan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sylvan is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lubbub
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Hull
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hull is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
- New Lexington
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- New Lexington is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mount Olive. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mount Olive.
Newspapers Published in Mount Olive ...
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 3 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mount Olive.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mount Olive, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mount Olive.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Mount Olive:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Tuscaloosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Lamar County
- Pickens County
- Walker 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> | 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 Mount Olive, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Mount Olive) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |