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 Riddle (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 Riddle. 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 and hospitals 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.
Riddle is located in Elmore 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 Elmore County: Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Macon, Montgomery & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Riddle. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riddle:
- Elmore County (The home county of Riddle)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Adkin Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Holtville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Titus
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Central
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Wetumpka
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Elmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Seman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Seman is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seman
- Lightwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Deatsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Claud
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Coosada
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eclectic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Millbrook
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marbury
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Level
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Prattville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Melmar
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- White City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Booth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Haynes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Billingsley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Independence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Autaugaville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Mountain Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Verbena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Clanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jumbo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Pentonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Equality
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Nixburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Cottage Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Rockford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hissop
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Dollar
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Fishpond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fishpond is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishpond
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ray is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Weogufka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Kellyton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Mount Olive
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lowndes County
- Burkville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Tysonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Hornady
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Shorter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Calebee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- Liberty City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Franklin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- La Place
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Boylston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Boylston is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
- Madison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Madison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Capitol Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
- New Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- New Town is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sunshine Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Montgomery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Highland Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Gibbs Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
- Mount Meigs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Young Forte Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
- Waugh
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Waugh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- English Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- English Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Stone's
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stone's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Our Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
- Benson ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- East Tallassee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Tallapoosa City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
- Alkehatchee ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Alkehatchee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkehatchee
- Alexander City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Reeltown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
- Church Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Jacksons' Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Agricola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Dadeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riddle, see our County-by-County Page for Riddle.
Cemeteries Near Riddle ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riddle.
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 Riddle - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riddle covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Little Flock Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Holman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Speigner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Thrasher Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sewell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Thelma Baptist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Canaan MB Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bachelor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine View Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Tunnell Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (385 more) ...
- Wetumpka Church of God Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Nazareth Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Hebron West Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Riddle in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riddle.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riddle, with the one closest to Riddle listed first.
- Buyck
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Buyck is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buyck
- Holtville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Dexter
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Dexter is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Weoka
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Weoka is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weoka
- Titus
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Coosa River
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Coosa River is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosa River
- Elmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wetumpka
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Central
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Speed
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Speed is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speed
- Deatsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lightwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Equality
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Pentonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Wadsworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wadsworth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadsworth
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riddle. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riddle.
Newspapers Published in Riddle ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riddle.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riddle, 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 Riddle.
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 Riddle:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Elmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Chilton County
- Coosa County
- Hale County
- Lowndes County
- Macon County
- Montgomery County
- Tallapoosa 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 Riddle, 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 from Point A (ie- Riddle) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |