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 Packards Bend (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 Packards Bend. 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 Packards Bend ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Packards Bend: Packards Bnd.
- While the name of this community is Packards Bend, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Packards Bend may originally have been Packard's Bend.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Packards Bend might be written as Packard Bend.
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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Packards Bend is located in Monroe 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 Monroe County: Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Packards Bend. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Packards Bend:
- Monroe County (The home county of Packards Bend)
- The following are listed by their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Franklin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Hybart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Scratch Ankle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Scratch Ankle is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scratch Ankle
- Finchburg ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Finchburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchburg
- Vredenburgh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Buena Vista
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Natchez
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Beatrice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Claiborne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Claiborne is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
- Perdue Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Perdue Hill is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdue Hill
- Tunnel Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Peterman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Nettleboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
- Dickinson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dickinson is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
- Fulton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Fulton is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
- Whatley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whatley is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whatley
- Atkeison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Atkeison is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
- Thomasville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Suggsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Suggsville is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suggsville
- Grove Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Glover
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Glover is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Barlow Bend
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Barlow Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow Bend
- Zimco
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Zimco is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimco
- Walker Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gainestown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gainestown is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainestown
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Ramah
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Bermuda
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Repton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Vineland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ellison is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Dixon's Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
- Magnolia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Flatwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Moss ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Moss is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Lower Peach Tree
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lower Peach Tree is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Peach Tree
- Asahel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Asahel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asahel
- Coy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Coy is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Nellie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Yellow Bluff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Pine Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pine Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 834 people
- Rockwest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Kimbrough
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
- Camden
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Anne Manie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Arlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Estelle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- McWilliams
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Packards Bend, see our County-by-County Page for Packards Bend.
Cemeteries Near Packards Bend ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Packards Bend.
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 Packards Bend - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Packards Bend covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Powell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kennedy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wright Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Tinela Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- York Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hybart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Flat Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Providence Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lower Peach Tree Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Springhill First Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- St. Peter Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (256 more) ...
- Gates Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Williams Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Red Hills Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Packards Bend in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Packards Bend.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Packards Bend, with the one closest to Packards Bend listed first.
- Tinela
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tinela is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tinela
- Lower Peach Tree
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lower Peach Tree is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Peach Tree
- Coy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Coy is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coy
- Finchburg ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Finchburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchburg
- Culpeper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Culpeper is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culpeper
- Vashti
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vashti is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashti
- Nellie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- River Ridge ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- River Ridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Ridge
- Yellow Bluff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Yellow Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Bluff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Dickinson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dickinson is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickinson
- Gosport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gosport is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosport
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Natchez
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Buena Vista
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Whatley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whatley is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whatley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Packards Bend. See our List of 1890's Communities around Packards Bend.
Newspapers Published in Packards Bend ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Packards Bend.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Packards Bend, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Packards Bend.
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 helpful 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 Packards Bend:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Monroe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Conecuh County
- Marengo County
- Wilcox County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Packards Bend) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <5> | 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 Packards Bend, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |