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 Rainbow (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 Rainbow. 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 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 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.
Rainbow is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Jackson, Limestone, Marshall, Morgan, Franklin (TN) & Lincoln (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Rainbow. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rainbow:
- Madison County (The home county of Rainbow)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Monrovia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Monrovia is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monrovia
- Rideout Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rideout Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rideout Village
- Madison
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jeff
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jeff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeff
- Harvest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Huntsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lincoln
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lincoln is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Chelsea
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chelsea is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- Normal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Madison Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Madison Crossroads is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Crossroads
- Toney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Chase
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Chase is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase
- Greenwycke Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Greenwycke Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwycke Village
- Colbert County
- Garner ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Paint Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Paint Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Hollytree
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hollytree is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollytree
- Trenton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Woodville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Princeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Princeton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
- Beachboro ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Beachboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachboro
- Pleasant Groves
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Groves is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Groves
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Confluence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Confluence is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Dells Vista Shores
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Estep ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Estep is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estep
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Hillsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Chalybeate Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Capshaw
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Capshaw is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capshaw
- Center Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Center Hill is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Fairmount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmount is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Wooley Springs ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wooley Springs is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooley Springs
- Belle Mina
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Country Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Swancott
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Mooresville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Westlake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Caro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Caro is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caro
- Athens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Tanner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Harris Station
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Ruth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Ferns Quarter ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ferns Quarter is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferns Quarter
- Union Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hog Jaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Pine Lake Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pine Lake Village is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake Village
- Friendship
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bluff City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Winton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Winton is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winton
- Lacey's Spring
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Valhermoso Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Decatur
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Decatur is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54,381 people
- Former names for Decatur:
- Albany
- New Decatur
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Decatur <1>
- Priceville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Somerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Somerville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Austinville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Burningtree Mountain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Moulton Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Russell Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Simpson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Flint City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Ardmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Elkmont Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elkmont Springs is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkmont Springs
- Dickson Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dickson Town is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickson Town
- Elkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Wheelerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wheelerton is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelerton
- Prospect
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stella
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stella is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Lincoln County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Cash Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cash Point is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash Point
- Goshen ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Goshen is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Coldwater
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Coldwater is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Camargo
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Camargo is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camargo
- Molino
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Molino is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
- Park City Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Park City Heights is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City Heights
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,442 people
- Park City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Park City is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Howell Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Howell Hill is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell Hill
- Dellrose
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pearl City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Pearl City is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Corder Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Corder Crossroads is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corder Crossroads
- Flintville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Flintville is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 627 people
- Clarks Ferry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Clarks Ferry is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rainbow, see our County-by-County Page for Rainbow.
Cemeteries Near Rainbow ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rainbow.
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 Rainbow - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rainbow covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Moore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Huntsville Memory Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Holder Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fowlkes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pike Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Clift Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Toney Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Betts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gooch - Dublin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Binford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan - Thompson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (1067 more) ...
- Pettus Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Glover Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Rainbow in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rainbow.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rainbow, with the one closest to Rainbow listed first.
- Monrovia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Monrovia is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monrovia
- Jeff
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jeff is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeff
- Cluttsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cluttsville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cluttsville
- Greenbrier
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Greenbrier is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbrier
- Huntsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gladstone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
- Wooley Springs ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wooley Springs is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooley Springs
- Madison Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Madison Crossroads is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Crossroads
- Mooresville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Swancott
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Triana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Mercury
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mercury is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercury
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Meridianville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Talucah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Talucah is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talucah
- Caro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Caro is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caro
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rainbow. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rainbow.
Newspapers Published in Rainbow ...
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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rainbow.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rainbow, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rainbow.
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 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 Rainbow:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Jackson County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Giles County
- Lincoln 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 Rainbow, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rainbow) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |