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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 Prairie (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 Prairie. 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 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.

Prairie is located in Wilcox 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 Wilcox County: Butler, Clarke, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo & Monroe.

Below are the counties that are near Prairie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Prairie:

  • Wilcox County     (The home county of Prairie)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Catherine
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Catherine is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
    • Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
      • Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
      • Dale
      • Daletown
    • Bethel
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethel is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
    • Gastonburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
    • Millers Ferry
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
    • Rehoboth
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
    • Alberta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Alberta is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Lamison
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Lamison is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
    • Boykin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Boykin is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
    • Anne Manie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
    • Arlington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Arlington is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
    • Kimbrough
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Atkeison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Atkeison is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkeison
    • Thomasville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Nettleboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
    • Glover
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Glover is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
    • Fulton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fulton is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 242 people
  • Dallas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Central Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Central Mills is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
    • Crumptonia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
    • Safford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Orrville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Browns
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Browns is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
    • Massillon ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Massillon is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
    • Richmond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Richmond is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Cahawba ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cahawba is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
    • Marion Junction
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
    • Harrell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Harrell is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
    • Carlowville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Carlowville is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
    • Belknap
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Belknap is located in Dallas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
  • Hale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Gallion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Gallion is located in Hale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
    • Prairieville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairieville is located in Hale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Newbern
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Newbern is located in Hale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
  • Marengo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Flatwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Flatwood is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
    • Consul
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Consul is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
    • Thomaston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Thomaston is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
    • Magnolia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Magnolia is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
    • Crenshaw ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
    • Vineland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Vineland is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
    • Hugo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Hugo is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
    • Dayton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Dayton is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Ellison ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ellison is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
    • Siddonsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
    • Tombigbee ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
    • Dixon's Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Dixon's Mills is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon's Mills
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Hybart
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Hybart is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
    • Vredenburgh
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
    • Buena Vista
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Franklin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Franklin is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.
    • Freetown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Freetown is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
    • Ellawhite
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Ellawhite is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
    • Uniontown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • The Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • The Village is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
    • Vilula
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Vilula is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
    • Suttle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Suttle is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Prairie, see our County-by-County Page for Prairie.

Cemeteries Near Prairie ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prairie.

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 Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.

  • Bennett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Marsh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Marsh Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Bennett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Prairie Bluff Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Shell Creek Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Rehoboth Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Young Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Malone Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Poplar Springs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Gross Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Welcome Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (273 more) ...
    • Gastonburg Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Dunaway Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Pritchard Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Prairie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Prairie.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Prairie, with the one closest to Prairie listed first.

  • Bethel
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethel is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
  • Boiling Springs
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Boiling Springs is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boiling Springs
  • Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
    • Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
    • Dale
    • Daletown
  • Catherine
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Catherine is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
  • Millers Ferry
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
  • Gastonburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
  • Rehoboth
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
  • Lamison
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lamison is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
  • Central Mills
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Central Mills is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
  • Crumptonia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
  • Arlington
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlington is located in Wilcox County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
  • Safford
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Kimbrough
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimbrough is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrough
    • Rockwest
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
    • McKinley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • McKinley is located in Marengo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Prairie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Prairie.

Newspapers Published in Prairie ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Prairie.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Prairie, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Prairie.

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 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 Prairie:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Prairie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.