Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Palestine. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Palestine to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Palestine, please Contact Us.
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 Palestine (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 Palestine. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Palestine is historic, it would have been located within present day Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County: Colbert, Lawrence, Limestone, Tishomingo (MS), Giles (TN), Hardin (TN), Lawrence (TN) & Wayne (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Palestine. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Palestine:
- Lauderdale County (The home county of Palestine)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Slabtown ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Slabtown is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Belew ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Belew is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belew
- Arkdell
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Arkdell is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdell
- Green Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Lexington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Comer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Arnot
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Corum ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Corum is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corum
- Bailey Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Killen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Ford City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Dam
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Nitrate City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Muscle Shoals
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Leighton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tuscumbia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Spring Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Red Bank
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Town Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- North Courtland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Courtland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Edmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Hillsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Mountain Home
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Concord
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Lester
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lester is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Cairo
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Clifton ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Lentzville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Poplar Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Elkmont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hay's Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hay's Mill is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay's Mill
- Pettusville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pettusville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettusville
- Athens
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Minor Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Stella
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Stella is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Anthony Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Anthony Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony Hill
- Bodenham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bodenham is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodenham
- Prospect
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Green Field
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green Field is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Field
- Weakley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Weakley is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weakley
- Gordon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gordon is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,192 people
- Liberty Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Pulaski
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wales
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wales is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,031 people
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Rascal Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Saint Joseph
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Iron City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Busby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Westpoint
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Appleton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Leoma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Lawrenceburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- New Prospect
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Prospect is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Prospect
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,880 people
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Corning ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Cypress Inn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Collinwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Lutts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Waynesboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Palestine, see our County-by-County Page for Palestine.
Cemeteries Near Palestine ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Palestine.
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 Palestine - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Palestine covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Richardson Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Scott Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Allen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Grissom Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Leonard P. Green Jr. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wright Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Stutts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pettus Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- McDougal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stutts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Crow Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (799 more) ...
- Pettus Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Perry Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Holland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
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.
While we didn't find Palestine in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Palestine.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
- Belew ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Belew is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belew
- Green Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Comer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Lexington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saint Joseph
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Loretto
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Iron City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Busby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Wayland Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland Springs is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland Springs
- Pruitton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Saint Florian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Westpoint
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Light ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Light is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Light
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Palestine. See our List of 1890's Communities around Palestine.
Newspapers Published in Palestine ...
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 3 newspapers that have been published in the area around Palestine.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Palestine, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Palestine.
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 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 Palestine:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lauderdale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Giles County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Palestine, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Palestine) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |