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 Neel (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 Neel. 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 doctors 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.
Neel is located in Morgan 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 Morgan County: Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Neel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Neel:
- Morgan County (The home county of Neel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Danville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Flint City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Hartselle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Russell Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Cedar Plains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Austinville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Burningtree Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Simpson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Moulton Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Trinity
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Decatur
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Falkville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Garner ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Central
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Central is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- West Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Jones' Chapel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- South Vinemont
(19 miles [30.6 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chances Crossroad
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Chances Crossroad is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chances Crossroad
- Logan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Cullman
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- East Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- East Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
- Simcoe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Simcoe is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simcoe
- Crane Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Berlin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Berlin is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Dells Vista Shores
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Confluence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Confluence is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Rogersville
(28 miles [45.1 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>
- Estep ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Estep is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estep
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Oakville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Chalybeate Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Hillsboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Moulton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Wren
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Wren is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Mountain Home
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Muck City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Courtland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- North Courtland
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Hatton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Harris Station
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Mooresville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Mina
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Westlake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Swancott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Tanner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ripley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Country Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Athens
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Poplar Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Fairmount
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fairmount is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Triana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Slaughter Landing ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughter Landing is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter Landing
- Slaughter Landing has also been known as:
- Slaughter Ferry
- Madison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Whitesburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Whitesburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Monrovia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monrovia is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monrovia
- Rideout Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rideout Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rideout Village
- English Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- English Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Chelsea
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chelsea is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Hog Jaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Ruth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Upshaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Addison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Grayson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ellaville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Houston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Arley
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Slick Ford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Double Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pebble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 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 Neel, see our County-by-County Page for Neel.
Cemeteries Near Neel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Neel.
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 Neel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Neel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Roberts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Johnson Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Thompson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Stroup Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- O'Neal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Robinson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Orr Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Stovall Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Orr Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Napps Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (817 more) ...
- Stover Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Keys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cooper Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Neel had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Neel, with the one closest to Neel listed first.
- Oakville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Massey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Massey is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massey
- Jesseton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jesseton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesseton
- Cedar Plains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Hartselle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Simpson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Decatur
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Falkville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Leesdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Leesdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesdale
- Priceville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Clifty
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Clifty is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Battleground
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Battleground is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battleground
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Decatur Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur Junction is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur Junction
- Upshaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Hillsboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Neel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Neel.
Newspapers Published in Neel ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Neel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Neel, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Neel.
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 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 Neel:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Morgan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Cullman County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Madison County
- Marshall 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> | 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 Neel, 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- Neel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |