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 Ponders (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 Ponders. 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 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 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.
Ponders is located in Tallapoosa 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 Tallapoosa County: Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon & Randolph.
Below are the counties that are near Ponders. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ponders:
- Tallapoosa County (The home county of Ponders)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Agricola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Church Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Benson ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Reeltown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
- Dadeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Camp Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughters ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughters is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Tallapoosa City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
- Jacksons' Gap
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- East Tallassee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Chambers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Waverly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Blackman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Boyds
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Boyds is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds
- LaFayette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cusseta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Chapel Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Penton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Penton is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penton
- Milltown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Abanda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Abanda is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanda
- Clay County
- Motley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Fishpond
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Ray
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Equality
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Nixburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Cottage Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Kellyton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Hissop
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Pentonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Rockford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Goodwater
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Irma ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Kent
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tallassee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Eclectic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Central
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Claud
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Seman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Ware
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Blue Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Wetumpka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Roxana
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Loachapoka
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- The Bottle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Ridgewood Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Auburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Gwen Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Opelika
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Chewacla
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Beauregard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beauregard is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Marvyn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marvyn is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvyn
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Liberty City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Notasulga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hornady
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Tuskegee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Calebee
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- La Place
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Shorter
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Tysonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Society Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Society Hill is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Society Hill
- Hardaway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Waugh
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Waugh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- Mount Meigs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Randolph County
- Wadley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ponders, see our County-by-County Page for Ponders.
Cemeteries Near Ponders ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ponders.
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 Ponders - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ponders covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Sardis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Spain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Antioch Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lockhart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- John Johnston Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harper Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Sharon Primitive Baptist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pentecost Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Beulah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (352 more) ...
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Guthrie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roxana Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
While we didn't find Ponders in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ponders.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ponders, with the one closest to Ponders listed first.
- Thornton
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Thornton is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Church Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Agricola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Mary
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mary is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary
- Roxana
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Dadeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Camp Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Irma ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Kent
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Waverly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Kowaliga
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kowaliga is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kowaliga
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Jacksons' Gap
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Notasulga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Loachapoka
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ponders. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ponders.
Newspapers Published in Ponders ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ponders.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ponders, 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 Ponders.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Ponders:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Tallapoosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chambers County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Macon County
- Montgomery County
- Randolph 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 Ponders, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ponders) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |