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 Searles (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 Searles. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Searles is located in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson & Pickens.
Below are the counties that are near Searles. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Searles:
- Tuscaloosa County (The home county of Searles)
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Kellerman
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Brookwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Abernant
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Bull City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Peterson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Lake View
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Coaling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Cottondale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Holt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
- Wood Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wood Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
- Vance
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alberta City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Blocton Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- North Bibb
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Green Pond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- West Blocton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- Italian Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Belle Ellen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Alta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Berry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Moundville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Adger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- North Johns
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- North Johns is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Ezra
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Oak Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Kimbrell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- Toadvine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Toadvine is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toadvine
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- McCalla
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rock Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Hueytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Black Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Concord
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Concord is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Aden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Bamford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Sawmill Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Tulse
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Falliston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brantleyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Maylene
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tacoa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Alabaster
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Siluria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Montevallo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Goodsprings
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Patton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Patton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
- Reeds Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Twilley Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Corona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Corona is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corona
- Oakman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Oakman is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Former names for Oakman:
- Day's Gap
- Marietta
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oakman <1>
- Patton Junction ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Patton Junction is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Junction
- America
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- America is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for America
- Barney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Parrish
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Parrish is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Population from the 2020 Census: 929 people
- Quinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yerkwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Searles, see our County-by-County Page for Searles.
Cemeteries Near Searles ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Searles.
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 Searles - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Searles covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Friendship Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- West Brookwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Little Hurricane Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Christian Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Scales Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Big Hurricane Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Davis Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Prudes Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bankston Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (431 more) ...
- Liberty Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Piney Wood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Searles in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Searles.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Searles, with the one closest to Searles listed first.
- Brookwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Yolande
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Yolande is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yolande
- Cottondale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coaling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Dudley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Dudley is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Giles
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Giles is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giles
- Chamblee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chamblee is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblee
- Sumter
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sumter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter
- Vance
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bibbville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bibbville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bibbville
- Blocton Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Green Pond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Adger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ezra
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- University
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- University is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Searles. See our List of 1890's Communities around Searles.
Newspapers Published in Searles ...
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 3 newspapers that have been published in the area around Searles.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Searles, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Searles.
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 helpful 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 Searles:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Tuscaloosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Fayette County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Shelby County
- Walker 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 Searles, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Searles) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |