RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Alabama >> Jefferson County >> Shadywood >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Shadywood (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 Shadywood. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Shadywood is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.

Below are the counties that are near Shadywood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shadywood:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Shadywood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Greenwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Mobile Junction
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
    • New Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • New Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
    • Shannon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Shannon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
    • Bessemer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lipscomb
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
    • Hoover
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hoover is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 85,959 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hoover <1>
    • Blue Creek Junction
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
    • Old Jonesboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
    • McCalla
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Brighton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Eddings
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Eddings is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Green Pond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Seymour
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Seymour is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
    • Woodstock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Belle Ellen
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
    • Blocton Junction
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
      • Blocton Junction has also been known as:
      • Blockton Junc
    • Nash Town ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Nash Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
    • North Bibb
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • North Bibb is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
    • Blocton ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Blocton is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
    • Bucktown ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Bucktown is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
    • Burmah ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Burmah is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
  • Blount County
    • Dale ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
  • Chilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Jemison
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Thorsby
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Jumbo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jumbo is located in Chilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
  • Coosa County
    • Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Woodland Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Vincent
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Vincent is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,223 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vincent <1>
    • Moody
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Moody is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
    • Brompton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Tacoa
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Tacoa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
    • Falliston
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
    • Helena
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bamford
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Tulse
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Tulse is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
    • Alabaster
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brantleyville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
    • Siluria
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Siluria is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
    • Pelham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Maylene
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Indian Springs Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
    • Saginaw
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Saginaw is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
  • Talladega County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Talladega Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
    • Fayetteville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
  • Tuscaloosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Tannehill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
    • Lake View
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
    • Abernant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
    • Vance
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Vance is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
    • Bull City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
    • Kellerman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
    • Brookwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Coaling
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
    • Peterson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
  • Walker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.
    • Quinton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Twilley Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Twilley Town is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
    • Reeds Ferry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
    • Yerkwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Yerkwood is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
    • Wyatt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Wyatt is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
    • Burnwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Burnwell is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
    • Oakahalla
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Oakahalla is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
    • Dora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Dora is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,979 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dora <1>
    • Red Star
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Star is located in Walker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shadywood, see our County-by-County Page for Shadywood.

Cemeteries Near Shadywood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shadywood.

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 Shadywood - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shadywood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.

  • Ray Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Cumberland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Acton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Grace Community Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace Community Church Cemetery
    • The Grace Community Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2138568 <2>
  • Massey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Smithson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Shiloh MB Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • David Lindsay Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Jefferson Garden of Memories
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Sadlers Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Fairington Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • George Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (389 more) ...
    • Cedar Grove Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pelham Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Hill Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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 Shadywood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shadywood.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Shadywood, with the one closest to Shadywood listed first.

  • Morgan
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Morgan is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
  • Helena
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Falliston
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Falliston is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
  • Tacoa
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Tacoa is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
  • Bamford
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bamford is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
  • Tulse
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Tulse is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
  • Brickyard Junction
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
  • Sloss
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sloss is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloss
  • Bessemer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Woodward Junction
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Woodward Junction is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward Junction
  • Siluria
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Siluria is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
  • Blue Creek Junction
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Old Jonesboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
    • McCalla
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Maylene
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shadywood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shadywood.

Newspapers Published in Shadywood ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shadywood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shadywood, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shadywood.

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 Shadywood:

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 Shadywood, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shadywood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.