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 Oakland (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 Oakland. 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.
Oakland is located in Chambers 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 Chambers County: Lee, Randolph, Tallapoosa, Harris (GA) & Troup (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Oakland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakland:
- Chambers County (The home county of Oakland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Evansville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Fredonia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Standing Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Standing Rock is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Rock
- McCosh Mill ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- McCosh Mill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCosh Mill
- Stroud
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- Five Points
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Doublehead
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Lanett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Plant City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Plant City is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant City
- Chapel Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Huguley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Huguley is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguley
- LaFayette
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clackville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clackville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackville
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Motley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Cragford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Blanton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Blanton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Gwen Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Opelika
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Chewacla
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- The Bottle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Salem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bleecker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bleecker is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bleecker
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Rock Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- Roanoke
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Peavy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Peavy is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peavy
- High Shoals
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- High Shoals is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Shoals
- West
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- West is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
- Forester Chapel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Forester Chapel is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forester Chapel
- Wadley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Corbin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Corbin is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin
- Malone Ferry
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Malone Ferry is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone Ferry
- Almond
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Almond is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Wedowee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sewell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sewell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell
- Woodland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Frog Eye
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Frog Eye is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Eye
- Dudleyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dudleyville is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
- Truett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Daviston
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Emuckfaw
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Matilda
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Matilda is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matilda
- Camp Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Coweta County (GA)
- Grantville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Harris County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Pine Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Lake is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
- Mountain Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Hill is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 11,554 people
- Mountainbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mountainbrook is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountainbrook
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,108 people
- Pine Mountain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Mountain Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Heard County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Glenn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Houston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Houston is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Population from the 2010 Census: 110 people
- O'Neals Crossroad
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- O'Neals Crossroad is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neals Crossroad
- Riverside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Riverside is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Franklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Frolona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Frolona is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
- Corinth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Corinth is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Yates Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Yates Crossroads is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 360 people
- Centralhatchee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Centralhatchee is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- Ephesus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ephesus is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ephesus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Roosterville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Roosterville is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roosterville
- Meriwether County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Lone Oak
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Oak is located in Meriwether County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Oak
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Greenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Harris City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Harris City is located in Meriwether County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris City
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Evansville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Abbottsford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Abbottsford is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsford
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- West Lake Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- West Lake Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Village
- North West Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- North West Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North West Point
- Rockwell Estates
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rockwell Estates is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell Estates
- West Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- LaGrange
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sunny Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunny Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Point
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,303 people
- Sassafrass Hills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sassafrass Hills is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassafrass Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 255 people
- Pioneer Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pioneer Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
- Graysons Landing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Graysons Landing is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysons Landing
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,452 people
- Asta Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Asta Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asta Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakland, see our County-by-County Page for Oakland.
Cemeteries Near Oakland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakland.
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 Oakland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Swint - Hammack Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wehadkee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Harmony Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Standing Rock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Freeman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Long Cane Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Loyd Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Whatley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Mount Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (468 more) ...
- Holstum Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Holstun Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Traylor Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Oakland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oakland.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Fredonia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fredonia is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Crowder ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Crowder is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowder
- Evansville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Finley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Finley is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finley
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Long Cane
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Long Cane is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Cane
- Stroud
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- Five Points
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Gabbettville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gabbettville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gabbettville
- West Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Glenn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Buffalo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Rock Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Rock Mills is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Mills
- Doublehead
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- LaGrange
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oakland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakland.
Newspapers Published in Oakland ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakland, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oakland.
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 Oakland:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Chambers County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Lee County
- Randolph County
- Tallapoosa County
- Coweta County
- Harris County
- Heard County
- Meriwether 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> | 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 Oakland, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Oakland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |