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 Rock Springs (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 Rock Springs. 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.
Name Variations for Rock Springs ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rock Springs: Rock Spgs. (or less commonly used: Rock Spngs. or Rock Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rock Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rock Springs.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Rock Springs is located in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County: Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, Washington, Clarke (MS), Lauderdale (MS) & Wayne (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Rock Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rock Springs:
- Choctaw County (The home county of Rock Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Needham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Needham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Red Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Red Springs is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Springs
- Pushmataha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- Lisman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lisman is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Butler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Okatuppa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Okatuppa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okatuppa
- Cromwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cromwell is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- Melvin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Toxey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Toxey is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toxey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Gilbertown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jachin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jachin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jachin
- Lavaca
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lavaca is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavaca
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Morvin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Morvin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morvin
- West Bend
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Bend is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bend
- Campbell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Campbell is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell
- Fakit Chipunta ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fakit Chipunta is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fakit Chipunta
- Coffeeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Putnam
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Putnam is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnam
- Barrons ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Barrons is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrons
- Nanafalia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Nanafalia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanafalia
- Aimwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Aimwell is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aimwell
- Half Acre
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Half Acre is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Acre
- Former names for Half Acre:
- Hell's Half Acre
- Luther's Store
- Myrtlewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Sweet Water
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sweet Water is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Kinterbish
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Ward
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ward is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Derby
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Derby is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Cuba
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cuba is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 287 people
- Intercourse
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Intercourse is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intercourse
- Whitfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Whitfield is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- York
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- York is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,218 people
- Former names for York:
- New York Station
- York Station
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for York <1>
- Bellamy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Washington County
- Healing Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Healing Springs is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Clarke County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Junction City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Junction City is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Gin ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gin is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gin
- Quitman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- De Soto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- De Soto is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Shubuta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shubuta is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shubuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Stonewall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Stonewall is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 946 people
- Enterprise
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pachuta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pachuta is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Lauderdale County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Whynot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Increase
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Increase is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Increase
- Increase has also been known as:
- Causeyville
- Vimville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vimville is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vimville
- Smith
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Smith is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Russell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Russell is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Meridian
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Marion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marion is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,482 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
- Wayne County (MS)
- Matherville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rock Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Rock Springs.
Cemeteries Near Rock Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rock Springs.
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 Rock Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rock Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Scott Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bogueloosa Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- McLendon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Providence Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Brightwater Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Resthaven Memorial Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Episcopal Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tims Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Butler City Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sardis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (265 more) ...
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cedar Springs Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
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 Rock Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rock Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Hinton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hinton is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
- Pushmataha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pushmataha is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pushmataha
- Lusk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lusk is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lusk
- Butler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Melvin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Melvin is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Mount Sterling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Sterling is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
- Energy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Energy is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Energy
- Ararat
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ararat is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ararat
- Carmichael
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carmichael is located in Clarke County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmichael
- Whynot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Whynot is located in Lauderdale County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whynot
- Robjohn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Robjohn is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robjohn
- Souwilpa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Souwilpa is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Souwilpa
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Kinterbish
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Kinterbish is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinterbish
- Matherville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Matherville is located in Wayne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherville
- Womack Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Womack Hill is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womack Hill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rock Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rock Springs.
Newspapers Published in Rock Springs ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rock Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rock Springs, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rock Springs.
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 Rock Springs:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Choctaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Marengo County
- Sumter County
- Washington County
- Clarke County
- Lauderdale County
- Wayne 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 Rock Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Rock Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |