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 Panola (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 Panola. 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 northwest 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 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.
Panola is located in Crenshaw 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 Crenshaw County: Butler, Coffee, Covington, Lowndes, Montgomery & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Panola. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Panola:
- Crenshaw County (The home county of Panola)
- The following are listed by their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Highland Home
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Honoraville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Petrey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Petrey is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Vernledge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vernledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernledge
- Cherokee Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cherokee Village is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
- Rutledge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Rutledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Luverne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Vidette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Vidette is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Social Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Social Town is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Town
- Glenwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Merrill Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Merrill Mill is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrill Mill
- Brantley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Greenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bolling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Forest Home
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Oaky Streak
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Chapman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Industry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Shacklesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Georgiana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Sandy Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Davenport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Davenport is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
- Fort Deposit
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Letohatchee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Hayneville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mosses
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- Gordonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Lowndesboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bragg's
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Burkville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
- Collirene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Petronia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Lapine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lapine is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
- Grady
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ada
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Ramer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pintlala
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Pintlala is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pintlala
- Former name for Pintlala:
- Colquitt
- Red Level
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Red Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Center Point
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Center Point is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Pine Level
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Hope Hull
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Catoma
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Catoma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
- English Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- English Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Pike Road
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Kent
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Kent is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Ansley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Wingard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wingard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingard
- Youngblood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Youngblood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
- Meeksville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Meeksville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
- Orion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Hallsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hallsville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Goshen
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- McClure Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- McClure Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure Town
- Needmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Needmore is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Troy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Panola, see our County-by-County Page for Panola.
Cemeteries Near Panola ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Panola.
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 Panola - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Panola covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Panola Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cauthens Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rocky Mount Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Armstrong Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- King Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Dry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Magnolia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sawyer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Payne Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (303 more) ...
- Hopewell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sardis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fair Prospect Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Panola in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Panola.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Panola, with the one closest to Panola listed first.
- Highland Home
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sandy Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Lapine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lapine is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
- Naftel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Naftel is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naftel
- Mount Carmel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Carmel is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Daisy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Daisy is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Saville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saville
- Strata
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Strata is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strata
- Sellers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Honoraville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Bradleyton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bradleyton is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradleyton
- Fleta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fleta is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleta
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Calhoun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Grady
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ramer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Panola. See our List of 1890's Communities around Panola.
Newspapers Published in Panola ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Panola.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Panola, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Panola.
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 either 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 Panola:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Crenshaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Lowndes County
- Montgomery County
- Pike 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 Panola, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Panola) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |