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 Riley (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 Riley. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Riley is located in Monroe 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 Monroe County: Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Riley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riley:
- Monroe County (The home county of Riley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Pineville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Beatrice
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pine Orchard
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Buena Vista
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Tunnel Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Burnt Corn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Peterman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Vredenburgh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Hybart
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Franklin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Shacklesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Starlington
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Forest Home
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Georgiana
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bolling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Chapman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- McKenzie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Clarke County
- Nettleboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Nettleboro is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleboro
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Ramah
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Commerce
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Mixonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Bermuda
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Owassa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Belleville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Wilcox
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Repton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Evergreen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rabb
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Centerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Old Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Carlowville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Minter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Richmond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Lowndes County
- Bragg's
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- McWilliams
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Schuster
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Caledonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Awin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Pine Apple
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Oak Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Estelle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- McBrydes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Asahel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Asahel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asahel
- Nellie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Snow Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Camden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riley, see our County-by-County Page for Riley.
Cemeteries Near Riley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riley.
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 Riley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Savannah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Turnbull Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Pineville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lone Star Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pineview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Turkestan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Midway Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Grimes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Orchard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Antioch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ramah Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (232 more) ...
- Pineview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- McWilliams Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- New Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Riley had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Turnbull
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Turnbull is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbull
- Turkestan ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Turkestan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkestan
- Pineville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Skinnerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Skinnerton is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnerton
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Chestnut
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Chestnut is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
- Buena Vista
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Commerce
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Caledonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- River Ridge ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- River Ridge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Ridge
- Burnt Corn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Awin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Pine Apple
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Bowles
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bowles is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowles
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riley.
Newspapers Published in Riley ...
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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riley, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Riley:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Monroe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Clarke County
- Conecuh County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Wilcox 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 Riley, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Riley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |