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 Preston (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 Preston. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Preston is located in Marshall 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 Marshall County: Blount, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Madison & Morgan.
Below are the counties that are near Preston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Preston:
- Marshall County (The home county of Preston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Mid ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mid is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid
- Grant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Columbus City Ferry
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus City Ferry is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City Ferry
- Columbus City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Columbus City is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- North ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- North is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North
- Peters ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Peters is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peters
- Fort Deposit ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Deposit is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Deposit
- Rayburn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rayburn is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rayburn
- Wyeth City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wyeth City is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyeth City
- Hustleville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hustleville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustleville
- Minorville ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Minorville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minorville
- Ferns Quarter ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ferns Quarter is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferns Quarter
- Guntersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Guntersville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guntersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,676 people
- Former names for Guntersville:
- Gunter's Ferry
- Gunter's Landing
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Guntersville <1>
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Fowler ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fowler is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
- McLarty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- McLarty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLarty
- Highmound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Highmound is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highmound
- Summit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Summit is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Bright Star
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bright Star is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright Star
- Brooksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brooksville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooksville
- Snead
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee County
- Sand Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Rock is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 674 people
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Joppa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Baileyton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Grove Oak
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Grove Oak is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Oak
- Hix ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Hix is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hix
- Chigger Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chigger Hill is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chigger Hill
- Whiton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whiton is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
- Gibson Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gibson Crossroads is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson Crossroads
- Rogers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Rogers is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
- Lakeview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeview is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Luttrell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Luttrell is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luttrell
- Powell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Powell is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 908 people
- Geraldine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fyffe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Shiloh
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Shiloh is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Floy ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Floy is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floy
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Sardis City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Sardis City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,776 people
- Whitesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Whitesboro is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesboro
- Greer ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Greer is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
- Mountainboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mountainboro is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountainboro
- Yancy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yancy is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancy
- Carlisle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Carlisle is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Haworth ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Haworth is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haworth
- Aurora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Aurora is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Duck Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Duck Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Springs
- Keener
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Keener is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keener
- Crudup
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Crudup is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crudup
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Langston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dodsonville ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dodsonville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodsonville
- Aspel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Aspel is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspel
- Dry Cove ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dry Cove is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Cove
- Woodville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lim Rock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lim Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lim Rock
- Section
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Larkinsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Larkinsville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkinsville
- Rock City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rock City is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Scottsboro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paint Rock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Paint Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Ferncliff ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ferncliff is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferncliff
- Pleasant Groves
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Groves is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Groves
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- New Hope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Berkley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Berkley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Gurley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Owens' Cross Roads
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Big Cove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Big Cove is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Cove
- Brownsboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Whitesburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Whitesburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- English Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- English Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Greenwycke Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwycke Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwycke Village
- Ryland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Country Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Country Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Chase
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chase is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Morgan City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Briscoe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Briscoe is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
- Lacey's Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Apple Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Apple Grove is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Ryan Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ryan Crossroads is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan Crossroads
- Hulaco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Valhermoso Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Preston, see our County-by-County Page for Preston.
Cemeteries Near Preston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Preston.
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 Preston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Preston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Preston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dunn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- McFarland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- McCamy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- McFarlane Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Thomason Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kirby Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prospect Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Free Home Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (676 more) ...
- Woosley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rainey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Preston had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
- Swearengin
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Swearengin is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swearengin
- Mid ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mid is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid
- Langston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dodsonville ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dodsonville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodsonville
- Grant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Meltonsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Meltonsville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meltonsville
- Pendergrass ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pendergrass is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendergrass
- Dry Cove ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dry Cove is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Cove
- Bucksnort
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bucksnort is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucksnort
- Keel ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Keel is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keel
- Henryville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Henryville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henryville
- Woodville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- North ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- North is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North
- Jink ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Jink is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jink
- Grove Oak
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Grove Oak is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Oak
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Preston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Preston.
Newspapers Published in Preston ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Preston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Preston, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Preston.
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 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 Preston:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Marshall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cherokee County
- Cullman County
- DeKalb County
- Etowah County
- Jackson County
- Madison County
- Morgan 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> | 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 Preston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Preston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |