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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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 Talladega 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 Talladega County: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Saint Clair & Shelby.
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:
- Talladega County (The home county of Providence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- McElderry
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Talladega
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Grant Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Grant Town is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Munford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lincoln
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ironaton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Windsong Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- Colony
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Colony is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Waldo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Coldwater
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Silver Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Kentuck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Chandler Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Chandler Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Springs
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Eastaboga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bynum
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Blue Eye ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Blue Eye is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Eye
- Bruner ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bruner is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
- Eulaton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eulaton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulaton
- Boozer ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Boozer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boozer
- Cobb Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb Town is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Hobson City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hobson City is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Macon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Macon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Chinnabee ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chinnabee is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinnabee
- Oxford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bera ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bera is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bera
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Erin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Erin is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin
- Chambers Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Elder
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Haynes Crossroad
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Ashland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ashland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,872 people
- Delta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Barfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfield
- Harkins Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harkins Crossroads is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkins Crossroads
- Lineville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Millerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Millerville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerville
- Hollins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Cragford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mellow Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mellow Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellow Valley
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Abel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Hollis Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Heflin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Micaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Micaville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micaville
- Coosa County
- Goodwater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Brannon Springs ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Brannon Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brannon Springs
- Markton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Markton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markton
- Pilgrims Rest
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pilgrims Rest is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrims Rest
- Cobb City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cobb City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb City
- Glencoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rainbow City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Leeds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Breakstone Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Breakstone Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakstone Village
- Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- East Trussville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Trussville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trussville
- Roper
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Roper is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roper
- Scott City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Scott City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Christiana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Christiana is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christiana
- Ofelia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ofelia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ofelia
- Milner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Milner is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milner
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Riverside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seddon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Cropwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Avondale Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Glen City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Coal City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Coal City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Ragland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Wattsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wattsville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Cook's Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Odenville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Providence, with the one closest to Providence listed first.
- Calcis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Harpersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sterrett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Vandiver
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dunnavant
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dunnavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnavant
- Dunavant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Westover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
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.
- Needmore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pine Hill Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chief Chenneby Grave
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stockdale Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cunningham - Pyles Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Groce - Montgomery Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lackey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Plum Springs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seay Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pattons Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (294 more) ...
- McCellan Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mays Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Allen - Sims Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 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.
- Turner
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Turner is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Talladega
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McElderry
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Munford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Eastaboga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ironaton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Jenifer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jenifer is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenifer
- Lincoln
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eureka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eureka is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Waldo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Hopeful
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hopeful is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeful
- Bynum
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bynum is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
- Bynum has also been known as:
- Bynum's
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Silver Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Coldwater
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Stemley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Stemley is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stemley
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 54 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 14 miles [22.5 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 first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- Coosa County
- Etowah County
- Jefferson County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby 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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Providence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |