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 Roswell (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 Roswell. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Roswell is located in Blount 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 Blount County: Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Marshall, Saint Clair, Walker & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Roswell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Roswell:
- Blount County (The home county of Roswell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Summit
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Summit is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Birdie
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Birdie is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdie
- Brooksville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brooksville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooksville
- Fowler ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fowler is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
- Liberty
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Bright Star
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bright Star is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright Star
- McLarty
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- McLarty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLarty
- Craig
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Craig is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craig
- Blountsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Royal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Royal is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Huldah ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Huldah is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huldah
- Mountain Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Grove is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Baileyton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Holly Pond
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Joppa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Baileytown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Baileytown is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileytown
- Fairview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
- Berlin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Berlin is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Simcoe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Simcoe is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simcoe
- East Point
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- East Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
- White City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- White City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Hanceville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cullman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Garden City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Mount Zion ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Zion is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Rains ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rains is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rains
- Rogers
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rogers is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
- Whiton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Whiton is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
- Rodentown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rodentown is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodentown
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Walnut Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Grove is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 692 people
- Altoona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nix ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nix is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
- Aurora
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Aurora is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
- Greer ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Greer is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
- Clear Springs ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
- Gallant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gallant is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallant
- Howelton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Howelton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howelton
- Egypt
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Egypt is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Mountainboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mountainboro is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountainboro
- Carlisle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Carlisle is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Benson ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Benson is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Masseyline
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Masseyline is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyline
- Trafford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Limestone County
- Swancott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- New Hope
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Whitesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Whitesburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Owens' Cross Roads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Slaughter Landing ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Slaughter Landing is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughter Landing
- Slaughter Landing has also been known as:
- Slaughter Ferry
- English Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- English Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Triana
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Berkley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Berkley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Askea Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Askea Grove is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askea Grove
- Big Spring ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Big Spring is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Arab
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hog Jaw
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Pine Lake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pine Lake Village is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake Village
- Bowen ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bowen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Ruth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Hyatt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Hyatt is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyatt
- Grassy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grassy is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy
- Douglas
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Douglas is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Friendship
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Friendship is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Scant City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Scant City is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scant City
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Hulaco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Ryan Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ryan Crossroads is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan Crossroads
- Apple Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Apple Grove is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Eva
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Briscoe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Briscoe is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
- Florette
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Florette is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florette
- Morgan City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Valhermoso Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lacey's Spring
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lacon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lacon is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
- Falkville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Somerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Somerville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Steele
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whitney Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whitney Junction is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney Junction
- Ashville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Springville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Roswell, see our County-by-County Page for Roswell.
Cemeteries Near Roswell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Roswell.
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 Roswell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Roswell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Roswell Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rock Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Summit Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Harmony Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Warrior Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eidson Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sheppard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Blue Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sivley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brooksville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (554 more) ...
- Ebell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brooklyn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Holly Pond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Roswell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Roswell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Roswell, with the one closest to Roswell listed first.
- Summit
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Summit is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Strawberry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Strawberry is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
- Brooksville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brooksville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooksville
- Holly Pond
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Baileyton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Liberty
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Tappan ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tappan is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tappan
- Bright Star
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bright Star is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright Star
- McLarty
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- McLarty is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLarty
- Red Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Arab
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hulaco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Blountsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Royal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Royal is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Roswell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Roswell.
Newspapers Published in Roswell ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Roswell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Roswell, 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 Roswell.
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 Roswell:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Blount County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cullman County
- DeKalb County
- Etowah County
- Jefferson County
- Limestone County
- Madison County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Saint Clair 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 Roswell, 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 from Point A (ie- Roswell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |