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 Old Town (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 Old Town. 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 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 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.
Old Town is located in Conecuh 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 Conecuh County: Butler, Covington, Escambia & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near Old Town. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Old Town:
- Conecuh County (The home county of Old Town)
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Centerville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Rabb
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Wilcox
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Mount Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Union is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Owassa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Evergreen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Nymph
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Nymph is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nymph
- Johnsonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Johnsonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonville
- Paul
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paul is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paul
- Sparta ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Sparta has also been known as:
- Old Sparta
- Brooklyn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Garland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- McKenzie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Georgiana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Starlington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Chapman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Industry
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Oaky Streak
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Bolling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Shacklesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Forest Home
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Greenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Red Level
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Red Level is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- River Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- River Falls is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
- Gantt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Gantt is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Andalusia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Heath
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Heath is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heath
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Carolina
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Carolina is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 294 people
- Libertyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Libertyville is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Antioch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Antioch is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Sanford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sanford is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Rose Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rose Hill is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Falco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Falco is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falco
- Red Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Red Oak is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Crenshaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Dozier
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Leon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Leon is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Merrill Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Merrill Mill is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrill Mill
- Escambia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Roberts
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Roberts is located in Escambia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roberts
- Brewton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Brewton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Escambia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Riverview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Riverview is located in Escambia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Hammac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hammac is located in Escambia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammac
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Burnt Corn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Pine Orchard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Peterman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Tunnel Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Monroeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Beatrice
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Excel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Excel is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
- Ollie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ollie is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ollie
- Wilcox County
- Awin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Santa Rosa County (FL)
- Belandville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Belandville is located in Santa Rosa County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belandville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Old Town, see our County-by-County Page for Old Town.
Cemeteries Near Old Town ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Old Town.
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 Old Town - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Old Town covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Herbert Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rabb Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Spence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Brown Beasley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Beulah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Horton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (221 more) ...
- Second Mt. Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Greater Nazarene Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Davison Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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 Old Town in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Old Town.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Old Town, with the one closest to Old Town listed first.
- Wilcox
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Mount Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Union is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Evergreen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Garland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Sparta ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Sparta has also been known as:
- Old Sparta
- Cohassett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cohassett is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohassett
- Brooklyn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Brooklyn is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Bowles
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bowles is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowles
- Castleberry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Castleberry is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castleberry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Loango
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Loango is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loango
- Red Level
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Red Level is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Vera Cruz ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Vera Cruz is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vera Cruz
- Georgiana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Belleville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Old Town. See our List of 1890's Communities around Old Town.
Newspapers Published in Old Town ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Old Town.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Old Town, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Old Town.
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 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 Old Town:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Conecuh County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Covington County
- Crenshaw County
- Escambia County
- Monroe County
- Wilcox County
- Santa Rosa 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 Old Town, 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 from Point A (ie- Old Town) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |