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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Salem is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Dallas County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Orrville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Harrell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Marion Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Safford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Browns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Crumptonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Central Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Sunset Mill Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sunset Mill Village is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Mill Village
- Selma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sardis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Fremont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Statesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Statesville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
- Jones
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Jones Bluff Dam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Vine Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Chilton County
- Riderville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Newbern
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Prairieville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Rosemary
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Gallion
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Cedarville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Benton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Petronia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Collirene
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Consul
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Flatwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Faunsdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Siddonsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Thomaston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Dayton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Hugo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Magnolia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Providence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Suttle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Vilula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Augustin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- The Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Freetown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- Uniontown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sprott
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Morgan Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Jericho
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Alberta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Rehoboth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Gastonburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Catherine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Millers Ferry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Boykin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Bethel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Lamison
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Camden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ackerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Rockwest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Barnes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Salem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Barnes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Martins Station Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Orrville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fulton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Prosperity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rosehill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rasco Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (302 more) ...
- Rasco Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Chapter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. John 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.<2>
While we didn't find Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Bogue Chitto
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bogue Chitto is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogue Chitto
- Eleanor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Eleanor is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Orrville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hazen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hazen is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Harrell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Marion Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Safford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Browns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Crumptonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Tasso
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tasso is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Central Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Rehoboth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- King's Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- King's Landing is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King's Landing
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
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 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Chilton County
- Hale County
- Lowndes County
- Marengo County
- Perry 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> | 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 Salem, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |