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 Petersville (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 Petersville. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Petersville is located in 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 Petersville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Petersville:
- Lauderdale County (The home county of Petersville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Mars Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Jacksonburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Cypress Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- McGee Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- McGee Town is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee Town
- Saint Florian
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Zip City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Zip City is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zip City
- Bailey Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Cloverdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Green Tree ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Green Tree is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Wilson Dam
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- South Florence
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Tuscumbia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Muscle Shoals
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ford City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Nitrate City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Gatesville ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gatesville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatesville
- Leighton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Doubleheads Village ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Doubleheads Village is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doubleheads Village
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Russellville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Belgreen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Rockwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Pleasant Site
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Site is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Site
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Red Bank
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Edmond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Town Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- North Courtland
(24 miles [38.6 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mount Hope
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mountain Home
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Oldham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Oldham is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham
- Iuka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Iuka is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iuka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,928 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Iuka <1>
- Short
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Short is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
- Hardin County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Lowryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lowryville is located in Hardin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowryville
- Walnut Grove ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Walnut Grove is located in Hardin County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Iron City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Liberty Grove
(21 miles [33.8 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
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Westpoint
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Busby
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Appleton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Leoma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Cypress Inn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Corning ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Collinwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Lutts
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Petersville, see our County-by-County Page for Petersville.
Cemeteries Near Petersville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Petersville.
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 Petersville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Petersville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Coffee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Greenview Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Underwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jackson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Gresham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- George Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Anderson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Kachelman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Moore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Florence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Price Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (710 more) ...
- Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Petersville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Petersville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Petersville, with the one closest to Petersville listed first.
- Mars Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Jacksonburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Saint Florian
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- South Florence
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Webster ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Oakland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Bailey Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Cloverdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Tuscumbia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pruitton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Rhodesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Rhodesville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodesville
- Smithsonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Smithsonia is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithsonia
- Green Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Petersville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Petersville.
Newspapers Published in Petersville ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Petersville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Petersville, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Petersville.
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 Petersville:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lauderdale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Franklin County
- Lawrence County
- Tishomingo County
- Hardin County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Petersville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Petersville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |