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 Providence (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 Providence. 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 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.
Providence is located in Randolph 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 Randolph County: Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Tallapoosa, Carroll (GA), Heard (GA) & Troup (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Providence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Providence:
- Randolph County (The home county of Providence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Woodland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sewell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sewell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell
- Newell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Cambridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cambridge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Graham
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Graham is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Rockdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rockdale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Corbin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Corbin is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin
- Morrison Crossroad
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Morrison Crossroad is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Crossroad
- Wedowee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Milner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Milner is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- West
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- West is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West
- High Shoals
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- High Shoals is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Shoals
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Iron City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Iron City is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Choccolocco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Choccolocco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choccolocco
- De Armanville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- De Armanville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Armanville
- Friendship
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Friendship is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Abernathy ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Abernathy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernathy
- Chinnabee ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chinnabee is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinnabee
- Oxford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort McClellan ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fort McClellan is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McClellan
- White Plains
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- White Plains is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Chambers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Doublehead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Doublehead is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doublehead
- Clackville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Clackville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackville
- McCosh Mill ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- McCosh Mill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCosh Mill
- Red Level
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Red Level is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Abanda
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Abanda is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abanda
- Standing Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Standing Rock is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Rock
- Stroud
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Stroud is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stroud
- Evansville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Evansville is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Milltown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Milltown is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Five Points
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Penton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Penton is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penton
- Chapel Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chapel Hill is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Hill
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Delta
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Barfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Cragford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Haynes Crossroad
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Lineville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Elder
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Motley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Motley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Mellow Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Ashland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Harkins Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Erin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Ranburne
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hightower
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hightower is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightower
- Micaville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Micaville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micaville
- Hopewell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hopewell is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Ai
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ai is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ai
- Hollis Crossroads
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Heflin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Edwardsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Edwardsville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Abel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Fruithurst
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fruithurst is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruithurst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Muscadine
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Muscadine is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscadine
- Talladega County
- Kentuck
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Truett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Truett is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truett
- Daviston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Emuckfaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Emuckfaw is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emuckfaw
- Frog Eye
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Frog Eye is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Eye
- Carroll County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Tyus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tyus is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyus
- Estimated population in 2019: 3,525 people
- Bowdon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesville is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Roopville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Fairlawn Estates
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Fairlawn Estates is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 736 people
- Lowell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lowell is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Jake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jake is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jake
- Estimated population in 2019: 146 people
- Mount Zion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bowers Ferry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bowers Ferry is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 485 people
- Carrollton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdon Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Whitesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Coweta County (GA)
- Sargent
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Haralson County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Waco
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Waco is located in Haralson County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 532 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waco <1>
- Budapest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Budapest is located in Haralson County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budapest
- Tallapoosa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bremen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tabernacle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Tabernacle is located in Haralson County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabernacle
- Buchanan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morgan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan is located in Haralson County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Heard County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Ephesus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ephesus is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ephesus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
- Yates Crossroads
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Yates Crossroads is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 360 people
- Frolona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Frolona is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
- Roosterville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Roosterville is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roosterville
- Centralhatchee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Centralhatchee is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
- O'Neals Crossroad
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- O'Neals Crossroad is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neals Crossroad
- Franklin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Glenn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Houston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Houston is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Population from the 2010 Census: 110 people
- Corinth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Corinth is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Graysons Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Graysons Landing is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysons Landing
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,452 people
- Evansville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Evansville is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Abbottsford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Abbottsford is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsford
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vernon is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Sunny Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sunny Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Point
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,303 people
- Brays Lakeview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brays Lakeview is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brays Lakeview
- Asta Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Asta Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asta Village
- Sassafrass Hills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sassafrass Hills is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassafrass Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 255 people
- West Lake Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Lake Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Village
- Hogansville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rockwell Estates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rockwell Estates is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwell Estates
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Providence, see our County-by-County Page for Providence.
Cemeteries Near Providence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Providence.
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 Providence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Providence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Bear Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Old Shiloh Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Gilread Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethena Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rice Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Old Rocky Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- East Napoleon Church of Christ Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Coats Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ephesus Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (456 more) ...
- Sardis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Buchanan Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Unity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Providence in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Providence.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Lamar
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lamar is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
- Sewell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sewell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell
- Lofty
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lofty is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lofty
- Newell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Cambridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cambridge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Waldrep
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Waldrep is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldrep
- Graham
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Graham is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Rockdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rockdale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Haywood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Haywood is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood
- Omaha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Omaha is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Wedowee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Potash
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Potash is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potash
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Frolona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Frolona is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frolona
- Rockalo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rockalo is located in Heard County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockalo
- Joel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Joel is located in Carroll County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joel
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Providence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Providence.
Newspapers Published in Providence ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Providence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Providence, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Providence.
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 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 Providence:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Chambers County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- Talladega County
- Tallapoosa County
- Carroll County
- Coweta County
- Haralson County
- Heard County
- Troup 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 Providence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Providence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |