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 Penn (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 Penn. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Penn is located in Morgan 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 Morgan County: Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Penn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Penn:
- Morgan County (The home county of Penn)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Danville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cedar Plains
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Falkville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lacon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lacon is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
- Leesdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Leesdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesdale
- Hartselle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Flint City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Burningtree Mountain
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Austinville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Russell Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Priceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Trinity
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Colbert County
- Garner ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Jones' Chapel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- Central
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Central is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- West Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Chances Crossroad
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chances Crossroad is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chances Crossroad
- Vinemont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Logan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- South Vinemont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- South Vinemont is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vinemont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 636 people
- Crane Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cullman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Trimble
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- East Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- East Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
- Good Hope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Good Hope is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,393 people
- Simcoe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Simcoe is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simcoe
- Lauderdale County
- Dells Vista Shores
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Wren
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wren is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Moulton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chalybeate Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Muck City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Mountain Home
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Hillsboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Hatton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Mount Hope
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Courtland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Courtland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Harris Station
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Mooresville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Westlake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Belle Mina
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Swancott
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Tanner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ripley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Country Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Poplar Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Triana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Slaughter Landing ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughter Landing is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter Landing
- Slaughter Landing has also been known as:
- Slaughter Ferry
- Madison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Hog Jaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Ruth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Marylee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- Burrows Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Powellville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Upshaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Addison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grayson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ellaville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Houston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Slick Ford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Double Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ashridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Pebble
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Penn, see our County-by-County Page for Penn.
Cemeteries Near Penn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Penn.
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 Penn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Penn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Penn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Campground Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Johnson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cave Spring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Freeman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Piney Grove Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Corinth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Day - Speegle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day - Speegle Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Day - Speegle Cemetery is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> to the southwest of Hartselle.
- The Day - Speegle Cemetery has also been known as:
- Day Cemetery
- Speegle Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #26387 <2>
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- McKendree Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKendree Cemetery
- The McKendree Cemetery has also been known as:
- McKendree Methodist Church Cemetery
- Stovall Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Simms Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (721 more) ...
- Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Puckett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<4>
While we didn't find Penn in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Penn.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Penn, with the one closest to Penn listed first.
- Clifty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Clifty is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Massey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Massey is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massey
- Cedar Plains
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Jesseton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jesseton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesseton
- Upshaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Battleground
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Battleground is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battleground
- Neel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Neel is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Jones' Chapel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- Falkville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Leesdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Leesdale is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesdale
- Hartselle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Wilhites
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wilhites is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhites
- Addison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nesmith
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Nesmith is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesmith
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Penn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Penn.
Newspapers Published in Penn ...
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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Penn.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Penn, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Penn.
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 Penn:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Morgan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Cullman County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Madison County
- Marshall 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Penn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Penn, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |