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 Port Birmingham (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 Port Birmingham. 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.
Name Variations for Port Birmingham ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Port Birmingham: Prt. Birmingham
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Port Birmingham is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Port Birmingham. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Port Birmingham:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Port Birmingham)
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Short Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Short Creek is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- Black Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Black Creek is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Sylvan Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Toadvine
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Toadvine is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Maytown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Maytown is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- West Jefferson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- West Jefferson is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Rock Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rock Creek is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Mulga
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mulga is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 798 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mulga <1>
- Edgewater
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Edgewater is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater
- Media
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Media is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Ezra
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ezra is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Concord
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Green Pond
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- North Bibb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Woodstock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek was located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Belle Ellen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Burmah was located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Eddings
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Italian Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- West Blocton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Red Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Warrior
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dale ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dale was located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Reid's
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- County Line
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Blount Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Hayden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Arkadelphia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Baltimore was located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Colony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Ardell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Black Bottom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Bremen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Alta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Berry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Bamford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Falliston
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Indian Springs Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
- Inverness
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Tulse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Lake Purdy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Alabaster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meadowbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Pelham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Bull City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Abernant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Kellerman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Tannehill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Brookwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vance
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Peterson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Samantha
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Samantha is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samantha
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Reeds Ferry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Twilley Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Quinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Burnwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Wyatt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Barney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Oakahalla
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Red Star
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Goodsprings
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Dora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dovertown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Port Birmingham, see our County-by-County Page for Port Birmingham.
Cemeteries Near Port Birmingham ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Port Birmingham.
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 Port Birmingham - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Port Birmingham covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Salter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Liberty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Cemetery
- The Liberty Cemetery has also been known as:
- Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2162604 <2>
- Atwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dug Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Weaver Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Prescott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Toadvine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Maben Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Waiting Place Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Village Falls Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (361 more) ...
- Fords Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shanghai Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Heard Shoal Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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 Port Birmingham in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Port Birmingham.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Port Birmingham, with the one closest to Port Birmingham listed first.
- Short Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Short Creek is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- Porter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Porter is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Toadvine
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Toadvine is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Ezra
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ezra is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Adamsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Blossburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blossburg is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossburg
- Collins
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Collins is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Dolomite
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wylam
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wylam is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylam
- Sandusky
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sandusky is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Brookside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brookside is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Cardiff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cardiff is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Linn Crossing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Linn Crossing is also located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Crossing
- Dora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bullard Shoals was located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Port Birmingham. See our List of 1890's Communities around Port Birmingham.
Newspapers Published in Port Birmingham ...
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 8 newspapers that have been published in the area around Port Birmingham.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Port Birmingham, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Port Birmingham.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Port Birmingham:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Cullman County
- Fayette County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Walker 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 Port Birmingham, 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' (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- Port Birmingham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |