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 Praco (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 Praco. 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.
Praco 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 Praco. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Praco:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Praco)
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- West Jefferson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Black Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Short Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- Media
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Media is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Maytown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Maytown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
- Sylvan Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Alden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Graysville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Toadvine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Adamsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Mulga
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cardiff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Green Pond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Blocton Junction
(27 miles [43.5 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Woodstock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Red Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Warrior
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reid's
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Dale ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- County Line
(26 miles [41.8 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Hayden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Selfville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Dallas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Arkadelphia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Colony
(25 miles [40.2 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
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Bremen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Black Bottom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Damascus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Alta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Berry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Bamford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Falliston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Indian Springs Village
(27 miles [43.5 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Lake Purdy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Bridgeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Meadowbrook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Tulse
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Alabaster
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pelham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brantleyville
(30 miles [48.3 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 Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Bull City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Kellerman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Abernant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(23 miles [37 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
- Tannehill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Brookwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Reeds Ferry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Twilley Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Quinton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Yerkwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Burnwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Red Star
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Wyatt
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Barney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Oakahalla
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Goodsprings
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Dora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Dovertown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
- Cordova
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Winston County
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Praco, see our County-by-County Page for Praco.
Cemeteries Near Praco ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Praco.
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 Praco - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Praco covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Atwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Salter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Waiting Place Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Prescott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] 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>
- Shanghai Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Maben Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Brasfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fuller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fords Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (347 more) ...
- Bagley Bend Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Dug Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Praco in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Praco.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Praco, with the one closest to Praco listed first.
- Porter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Porter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Short Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Short Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Creek
- Toadvine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Dora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Adamsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Blossburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Blossburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossburg
- Linn Crossing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Linn Crossing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Crossing
- Cordova
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cardiff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Robbins Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Ezra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Brookside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Parrish
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Parrish is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Population from the 2020 Census: 929 people
- Dolomite
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wylam
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wylam is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylam
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Praco. See our List of 1890's Communities around Praco.
Newspapers Published in Praco ...
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 7 newspapers that have been published in the area around Praco.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Praco, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Praco.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Praco:
- 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
- Winston 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 Praco, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Praco) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |