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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 Palmyra (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 Palmyra. 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 and hospitals 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.

Palmyra is located in Lowndes 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 Lowndes County: Autauga, Butler, Crenshaw, Dallas, Montgomery & Wilcox.

Below are the counties that are near Palmyra. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Palmyra:

  • Lowndes County     (The home county of Palmyra)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Bragg's
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
    • Fort Deposit
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Gordonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
    • Collirene
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Collirene is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
    • Mosses
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Mosses is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
    • Hayneville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Sandy Ridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
    • Petronia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Petronia is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
    • Letohatchee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
    • Davenport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Davenport is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
    • Lowndesboro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Benton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Benton is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
  • Autauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Jones Bluff Dam
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
    • Autaugaville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Forest Home
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Shacklesville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Shacklesville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
    • Bolling
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Bolling is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
    • Chapman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Chapman is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Starlington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Starlington is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
    • Georgiana
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Industry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Industry is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
    • Garland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Garland is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Conecuh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Mixonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
    • Commerce
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Commerce is located in Conecuh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
  • Crenshaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Honoraville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
    • Highland Home
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Cherokee Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cherokee Village is located in Crenshaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Pleasant Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
    • Minter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Minter is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
    • Carlowville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Carlowville is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
    • Old Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Old Town is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Richmond
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Richmond is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Kings
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kings is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
    • Belknap
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Belknap is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
    • Tyler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Sardis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Casey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Casey is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey
    • Cahawba ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cahawba is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
  • Monroe County
    • Pineville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pineville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Pintlala
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pintlala is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pintlala
      • Former name for Pintlala:
      • Colquitt
    • Lapine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Lapine is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
    • Ada
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ada is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
    • Catoma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Catoma is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
    • Hope Hull
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Stone's
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Stone's is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
  • Wilcox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.
    • Furman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Furman is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
    • Snow Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
    • Awin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Awin is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
    • McBrydes
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
    • Pine Apple
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • Ackerville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
    • Schuster
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Schuster is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
    • Caledonia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Oak Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
    • McWilliams
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
    • Estelle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Estelle is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Palmyra, see our County-by-County Page for Palmyra.

Cemeteries Near Palmyra ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Palmyra.

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 Palmyra - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Palmyra covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.

  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Temple Gate Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Crossroad Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Willing Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • New Bethel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Snow Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Crenshaw Family Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Crenshaws Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Crum Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Ridgeville Baptist Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Bragg Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (245 more) ...
    • Manningham Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Temple Gate Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Oliver Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<3>

While we didn't find Palmyra in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Palmyra.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Palmyra, with the one closest to Palmyra listed first.

  • Bragg's
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
  • Mount Willing
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Willing is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Willing
  • Manningham
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Manningham is located in Butler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manningham
  • Monterey
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Monterey is located in Butler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
  • Farmersville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Farmersville is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
  • Harmony
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Harmony is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
  • Forest Home
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Searcy
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Searcy is located in Butler County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searcy
  • Fort Deposit
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Gordonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
  • Herbert
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Herbert is located in Conecuh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
  • Calhoun
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Calhoun is located in Lowndes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Furman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Furman is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
    • Collirene
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Collirene is located in Lowndes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
    • Greenville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Palmyra. See our List of 1890's Communities around Palmyra.

Newspapers Published in Palmyra ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Palmyra.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Palmyra, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Palmyra.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Palmyra:

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>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.
<3>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 Palmyra, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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 from Point A (ie- Palmyra) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.