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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Oakland is located in Limestone 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 Limestone County: Lauderdale, Lawrence, Madison, Morgan, Giles (TN) & Lincoln (TN).
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:
- Limestone County (The home county of Oakland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Capshaw
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Capshaw is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capshaw
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmount is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Belle Mina
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Country Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Westlake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Mooresville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Center Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Center Hill is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Swancott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Tanner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Athens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Harris Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Colbert County
- Garner ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Jackson County
- Paint Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Paint Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Confluence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Confluence is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Dells Vista Shores
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Estep ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Estep is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estep
- Rogersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Anderson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Cedar Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hill
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Hillsboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Chalybeate Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Oakville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Courtland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mountain Home
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- North Courtland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Madison
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Monrovia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monrovia is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monrovia
- Rideout Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Rideout Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rideout Village
- Jeff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jeff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeff
- Harvest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Triana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Chelsea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Chelsea is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- Huntsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Slaughter Landing ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Slaughter Landing is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter Landing
- Slaughter Landing has also been known as:
- Slaughter Ferry
- Lincoln
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lincoln is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Toney
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Madison Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Madison Crossroads is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Crossroads
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Ruth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Ferns Quarter ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ferns Quarter is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferns Quarter
- Hog Jaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Union Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bluff City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Decatur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Moulton Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Simpson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Priceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Winton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Winton is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winton
- Austinville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Burningtree Mountain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Russell Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Flint City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Somerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Somerville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Lacey's Spring
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Ardmore
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Elkmont Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Elkmont Springs is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont Springs
- Dickson Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dickson Town is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickson Town
- Elkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Elkton is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Prospect
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wheelerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wheelerton is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelerton
- Stella
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stella is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Minor Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Lincoln County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Cash Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cash Point is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash Point
- Coldwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Coldwater is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Goshen ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goshen is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Camargo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Camargo is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camargo
- Dellrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Molino
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Molino is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
- Park City Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Park City Heights is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City Heights
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,442 people
- Park City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Park City is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Pearl City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Pearl City is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Howell Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Howell Hill is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell Hill
- Harms
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Harms is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harms
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.
- Glover Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Parker Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Donaldson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Anderson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Palmer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Whitworth Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bailey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Washington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Betts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Toney Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (1052 more) ...
- Pike Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wesley Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<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.
- Greenbrier
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenbrier is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbrier
- Monrovia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monrovia is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monrovia
- Cluttsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cluttsville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cluttsville
- Mooresville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jeff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jeff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeff
- Swancott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Harris Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Triana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Athens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Decatur Junction is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur Junction
- Huntsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wooley Springs ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wooley Springs is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooley Springs
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Decatur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Talucah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Talucah is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talucah
- Gladstone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
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 75 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 11 miles [17.7 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 first visit 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 Oakland:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Limestone County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Jackson County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Madison County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Giles County
- Lincoln 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'. |