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 Palos (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 Palos. 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.
Palos is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Palos. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Palos:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Palos)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Media
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Media is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- West Jefferson
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Alden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Alden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Graysville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Adamsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cardiff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Pinkney City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pinkney City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkney City
- Robbins Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Sayre
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sayre is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayre
- Brookside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Daisey City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Daisey City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisey City
- Maytown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Maytown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Black Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Green Pond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Woodstock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Red Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Warrior
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Reid's
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Dale ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- County Line
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Hayden
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Selfville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Compton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Dallas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Adville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Bangor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Arkadelphia
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Colony
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Black Bottom
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Ardell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Bremen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Damascus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Dodge City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Crane Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Garden City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Fayette County
- Alta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Saint Clair County
- Woodland Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Inverness
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Lake Purdy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Bamford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Bridgeton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Falliston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Springs Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
- Meadowbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Tacoa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Tulse
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Pelham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shoal Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Alabaster
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Bull City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Lake View
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Kellerman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Abernant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Tannehill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Quinton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Yerkwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Burnwell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Wyatt
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Reeds Ferry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Oakahalla
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Dora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Sumiton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Barney
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Dovertown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
- Goodsprings
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Winston County
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Palos, see our County-by-County Page for Palos.
Cemeteries Near Palos ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Palos.
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 Palos - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Palos covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Maben Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bagley Bend Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shanghai Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Linn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Brasfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Atwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Salter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Glasgow Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (340 more) ...
- Linns Crossing Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Midway Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Adams - Heaton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Palos in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Palos.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Palos, with the one closest to Palos listed first.
- Porter
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Porter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Adamsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Blossburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Blossburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossburg
- Linn Crossing
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Linn Crossing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Crossing
- Dora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cardiff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Robbins Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Short Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- Brookside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Sandusky
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sandusky is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Toadvine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Pratt Mines ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pratt Mines is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Mines
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Coalburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Coalburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalburg
- Former name for Coalburg:
- Coalburgh
- Cordova
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wylam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wylam is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylam
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Palos. See our List of 1890's Communities around Palos.
Newspapers Published in Palos ...
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 8 newspapers that have been published in the area around Palos.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Palos, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Palos.
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 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 Palos:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Cullman County
- Fayette County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Walker County
- Winston 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> | 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 Palos, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Palos) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |