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 Royal (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 Royal. 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 Royal ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Port Royal: Prt. Royal
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Port Royal. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Port Royal.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Port Royal is located in Hale 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 Hale County: Bibb, Greene, Marengo, Perry & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Port Royal. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Port Royal:
- Hale County (The home county of Port Royal)
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Cedarville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Arcola
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Sawyerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Rosemary
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Greensboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Prairieville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Gallion
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Newbern
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Akron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Oak Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Powers
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Choctaw County
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Browns
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Central Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Forkland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Eutaw
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Boligee
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lizzieville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Miller
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Clinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Knoxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- West Greene
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Mantua
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Aigleville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Aigleville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aigleville
- Demopolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Faunsdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Siddonsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Dayton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Pin Hook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Providence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Linden
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Uniontown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Morgan Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Ellawhite
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Freetown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Marion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jericho
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Vilula
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Sprott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- McDowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Brewersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Coatopa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Moore Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Epes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Epes is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Arrington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Livingston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gainesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Bellamy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Whitfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Sumterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sumterville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumterville
- Tuscaloosa County
- Ralph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Port Royal, see our County-by-County Page for Port Royal.
Cemeteries Near Port Royal ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Port Royal.
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 Royal - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Port Royal covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Pickens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Pickens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Limestone Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eaton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Micken Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ramey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Arington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Washington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Long Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Evans Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Creehill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (366 more) ...
- Birdine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Logan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Evening Star Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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 Port Royal in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Port Royal.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Port Royal, with the one closest to Port Royal listed first.
- Cedarville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Arcola
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Sawyerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Forkland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Whitsitt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Whitsitt is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitsitt
- Greensboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Demopolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gallion
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Laneville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Laneville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laneville
- Belmont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Sunshine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sunshine is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Newbern
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- McDowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Evansville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Old Spring Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Old Spring Hill is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Spring Hill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Port Royal. See our List of 1890's Communities around Port Royal.
Newspapers Published in Port Royal ...
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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Port Royal.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Port Royal, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Port Royal.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Port Royal:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Hale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Dallas County
- Greene County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Sumter County
- Tuscaloosa 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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 Royal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Port Royal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |