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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox County: Butler, Clarke, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo & Monroe.
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:
- Wilcox 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.
- Snow Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Furman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Ackerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Pine Apple
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Oak Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Schuster
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Awin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- McWilliams
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Estelle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Camden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Autauga County
- Jones Bluff Dam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Forest Home
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shacklesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Starlington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Bolling
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Greenville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Georgiana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Garland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Mixonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Commerce
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Ramah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Minter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Carlowville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Richmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Pleasant Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Kings
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Belknap
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Old Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Old Town is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Sardis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Crumptonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Casey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Casey is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey
- Tyler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Bragg's
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Collirene
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Gordonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Mosses
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- Petronia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Fort Deposit
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Benton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Hayneville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- White Hall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Lowndesboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Springs, with the one closest to Rock Springs listed first.
- Buena Vista
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Pineville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Beatrice
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vredenburgh
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Pine Orchard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Hybart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Tunnel Springs
(27 miles [43.5 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Franklin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
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.
- Palmer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Snow Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Purefoy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Old Snow Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McConico Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cox Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Monterey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Crum Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Carlowville Community Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Beard Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (256 more) ...
- Snow Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Soles Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
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.
- Snow Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Furman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Allenton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Allenton is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenton
- Pine Apple
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Minter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Monterey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Monterey is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Rosebud
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rosebud is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Carlowville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Harmony
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Dawson's
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dawson's is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson's
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Awin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Farmersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Farmersville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmersville
- Richmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
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 59 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 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. 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 start with 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 Rock Springs:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Wilcox County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Butler County
- Conecuh County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe 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 Rock Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rock Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |