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 Pioneer (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 Pioneer. 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.
Pioneer is located in Pickens 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 Pickens County: Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Lowndes (MS) & Noxubee (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Pioneer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pioneer:
- Pickens County (The home county of Pioneer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Benevola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Olney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Olney is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- Gordo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Carrollton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Carrollton is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Stansel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stansel is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stansel
- Aliceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Reform
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- McMullen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- McMullen is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMullen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9 people
- Garden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Garden is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden
- Lubbub
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lubbub is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubbub
- Beaver Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Beaver Town is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Town
- Coal Fire
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- Fayette County
- Ashcraft Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ashcraft Corner is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcraft Corner
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Mantua
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Union
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Lewiston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Knoxville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Clinton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- West Greene
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Eutaw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lizzieville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Boligee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Moundville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Powers
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Akron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Sawyerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lamar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Kennedy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kennedy is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
- Millport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Panola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Panola is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Gainesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Elrod
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elrod is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
- Buhl
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Buhl is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buhl
- Ralph
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coker
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Foster's
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Echola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Echola is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echola
- Ingleside Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ingleside Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside Village
- Northport
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sahama Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sahama Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sahama Village
- Tuscaloosa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- University
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- University is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
- Lake Front Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Front Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Front Village
- Alberta City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Noxubee County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Ravine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ravine is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravine
- Cooksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cooksville is located in Noxubee County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pioneer, see our County-by-County Page for Pioneer.
Cemeteries Near Pioneer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pioneer.
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 Pioneer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pioneer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Mitchell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Zion Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Flatwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bethesda Churchyard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (496 more) ...
- Hopewell Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Old Shiloh Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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 Pioneer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pioneer.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
- Pleasant Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Benevola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Romulus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Romulus is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romulus
- Mantua
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Olney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Olney is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- Gordo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Union
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Bell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bell is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Sylvan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvan is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Foster's
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Coker
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Dillburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dillburg is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillburg
- Knoxville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Bridgeville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bridgeville is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pioneer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pioneer.
Newspapers Published in Pioneer ...
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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pioneer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pioneer, 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 Pioneer.
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 helpful 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 Pioneer:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Pickens County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Hale County
- Lamar County
- Sumter County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Noxubee 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 Pioneer, 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- Pioneer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |