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 Potter (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 Potter. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Potter is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Potter. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Potter:
- Dallas County (The home county of Potter)
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Sunset Mill Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Mill Village is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Mill Village
- Selma
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Valley Grande
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Grande is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Grande
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,468 people
- Harrell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Marion Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Casey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Casey is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey
- Orrville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sardis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Burnsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Burnsville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Tyler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Fremont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Statesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Statesville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
- Jones
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Vine Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Jones Bluff Dam
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Independence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Autaugaville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Billingsley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Haynes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Bibb County
- Lawley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Riderville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Stanton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Adams
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Maplesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hale County
- Newbern
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Benton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Petronia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- White Hall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Collirene
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Gordonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Lowndesboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Mosses
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Consul
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Faunsdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Siddonsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Flatwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Augustin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Suttle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Vilula
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Sprott
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Marion
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ellawhite
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Freetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Uniontown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Oakmulgee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Jericho
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Alberta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Rehoboth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Gastonburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Boykin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Ackerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Catherine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Millers Ferry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Snow Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Furman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Potter, see our County-by-County Page for Potter.
Cemeteries Near Potter ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Potter.
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 Potter - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Potter covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Craig Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Davis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Witt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Taylor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parnell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Bend Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Live Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Live Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pernell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rosehill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (300 more) ...
- Sugar Bottom Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Henry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Valley Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [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.<3>
While we didn't find Potter in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Potter.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Potter, with the one closest to Potter listed first.
- Selma
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Augustin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Harrell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Summerfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summerfield is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Marion Junction
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Hazen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hazen is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Orrville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bogue Chitto
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bogue Chitto is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogue Chitto
- King's Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- King's Landing is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King's Landing
- Perryville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Perryville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Vilula
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Hamburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hamburg is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Eleanor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Eleanor is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Potter. See our List of 1890's Communities around Potter.
Newspapers Published in Potter ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Potter.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Potter, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Potter.
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 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 Potter:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Chilton County
- Hale County
- Lowndes County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Wilcox 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 Potter, 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- Potter) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |