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 Rocky Ford (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 Rocky Ford. 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 Rocky Ford ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rocky Ford: Rocky Frd.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rocky Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rocky Ford.
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 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.
Rocky Ford is located in Greene 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 Greene County: Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Rocky Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rocky Ford:
- Greene County (The home county of Rocky Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Forkland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Eutaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Boligee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lizzieville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Miller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Clinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Knoxville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Union
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- West Greene
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Mantua
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Lewiston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Choctaw County
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Sawyerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Arcola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Cedarville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Oak Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Akron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Greensboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Rosemary
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Gallion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Newbern
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Powers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Moundville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Aigleville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Aigleville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aigleville
- Demopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Faunsdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Pin Hook
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Siddonsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Providence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Linden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Brush Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Morgan Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Uniontown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Freetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Marion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pickens County
- Benevola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- McDowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Epes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Epes is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Moore Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Brewersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Coatopa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Gainesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Livingston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Arrington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Sumterville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sumterville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumterville
- Bellamy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Boyd
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Boyd is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Ralph
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Foster's
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rocky Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Rocky Ford.
Cemeteries Near Rocky Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Ford.
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 Rocky Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rocky Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Blocker Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Walton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Erie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Owens Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Matthew Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Friendship Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. John Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Creehill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Kirksey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wills Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (386 more) ...
- Hard Bargain Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brasfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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 Rocky Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rocky Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Forkland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Sawyerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eutaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Tishabee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tishabee is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tishabee
- Arcola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Evansville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Evansville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Belmont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Cedarville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Boligee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- McDowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Demopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Miller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Greensboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gallion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Whitsitt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whitsitt is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitsitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rocky Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rocky Ford.
Newspapers Published in Rocky Ford ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rocky Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rocky Ford, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rocky Ford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Rocky Ford:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Greene County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Pickens County
- Sumter County
- Tuscaloosa 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 Rocky Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Rocky Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |