Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Ricks. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Ricks to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Ricks, please Contact Us.
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 Ricks (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 Ricks. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Ricks is historic, it would have been located within present day Cherokee 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 Cherokee County: Calhoun, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Chattooga (GA), Floyd (GA) & Polk (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Ricks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ricks:
- Cherokee County (The home county of Ricks)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Coloma ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Coloma is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
- Ball Flat
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ball Flat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Flat
- Turkey Town ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Turkey Town is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey Town
- Moshat
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Moshat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshat
- Centre
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Exie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Exie is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exie
- Noah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Noah is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Tucker Crossroads
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tucker Crossroads is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker Crossroads
- Anderson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Leesburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Garden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Howells Crossroads
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Howells Crossroads is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howells Crossroads
- Howells Crossroads has also been known as:
- Howells Cross Roads
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Collins ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Collins is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Goshen ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Goshen is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Piedmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Adelia ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adelia is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelia
- Colvins Gap
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colvins Gap is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colvins Gap
- Dailey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dailey is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dailey
- Merrellton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Merrellton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrellton
- Nances Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Nances Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nances Creek
- Germania Springs ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Germania Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germania Springs
- Jacksonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Angel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Angel is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
- Mack ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mack is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Borden Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Borden Springs is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Springs
- Palestine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Palestine is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Grantley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grantley is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantley
- Oak Level
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Level is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
- Edwardsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Edwardsville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Fruithurst
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fruithurst is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruithurst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Muscadine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muscadine is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscadine
- Heflin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Mount Vernon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Mount Vernon is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Collinsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lickskillet
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lickskillet is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Sigsbee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sigsbee is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigsbee
- Dog Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dog Town is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dog Town
- Cotnam
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cotnam is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotnam
- Marcus ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marcus is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Dawson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dawson is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Rodentown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rodentown is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodentown
- Adamsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Adamsburg is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsburg
- Clyde ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Clyde is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Crossville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Banner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Banner is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner
- Ballplay
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ballplay is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballplay
- Hale ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hale is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Coato Bend ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Coato Bend is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coato Bend
- Hokes Bluff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coat's Bend
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Coat's Bend is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coat's Bend
- Turkeytown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Turkeytown is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkeytown
- Wilsonia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Wilsonia is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsonia
- Anderson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Anderson is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Edwardsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Edwardsville is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Cobb City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cobb City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb City
- Burns Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Burns Park is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns Park
- Marshall County
- Boaz
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Saint Clair County
- Steele
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Chattooga County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Chattoogaville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Chattoogaville is located in Chattooga County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattoogaville
- Taliaferro ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Taliaferro is located in Chattooga County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taliaferro
- Estimated population in 2019: 71 people
- Lyerly
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Floyd County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Cave Spring
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Coosa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Oreburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oreburg is located in Floyd County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oreburg
- Robealou Acres
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Robealou Acres is located in Floyd County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robealou Acres
- Estimated population in 2019: 973 people
- Atlanta Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Atlanta Junction is located in Floyd County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta Junction
- Brice
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Brice is located in Floyd County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brice
- Lindale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Silver Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Haralson County (GA)
- Felton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Polk County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Etna
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Polk County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Estimated population in 2019: 902 people
- Esom Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Greenway ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Greenway is located in Polk County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenway
- Cedartown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Grady ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Grady is located in Polk County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Estimated population in 2019: 290 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ricks, see our County-by-County Page for Ricks.
Cemeteries Near Ricks ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ricks.
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 Ricks - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ricks covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Sardis Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Davis Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mountain Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Providence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Weaver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Morrison Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Parker Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Garrett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Taylors Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (386 more) ...
- Lebanon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sewell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Moshat Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.
Ricks itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 237 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ricks, with the one closest to Ricks listed first.
- Coloma ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Coloma is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
- Gnatville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gnatville is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gnatville
- Plano
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Plano is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
- Moshat
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Moshat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshat
- Bomar
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bomar is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bomar
- Centre
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Maple Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Grove is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Exie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Exie is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exie
- Reaves
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Reaves is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reaves
- Noah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Noah is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Ladiga
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ladiga is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladiga
- Spring Garden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Leesburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Key
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Key is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Key
- Mackey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mackey is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ricks. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ricks.
Newspapers Published in Ricks ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ricks.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ricks, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ricks.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Ricks:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Cherokee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Cleburne County
- DeKalb County
- Etowah County
- Marshall County
- Saint Clair County
- Chattooga County
- Floyd County
- Haralson County
- Polk County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Ricks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Ricks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |