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 Shirleys Crossroads (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 Shirleys Crossroads. 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 Shirleys Crossroads ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Shirleys Crossroads: Shirleys Xrds.
- While the name of this community is Shirleys Crossroads, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Shirleys Crossroads may originally have been Shirley's Crossroads.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Shirleys Crossroads might be written as Shirley Crossroads.
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 northwest 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 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.
Shirleys Crossroads is located in Crenshaw 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 Crenshaw County: Butler, Coffee, Covington, Lowndes, Montgomery & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Shirleys Crossroads. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shirleys Crossroads:
- Crenshaw County (The home county of Shirleys Crossroads)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Social Town
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Social Town is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Social Town
- Vidette
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vidette is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Glenwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Luverne
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Vernledge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vernledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernledge
- Peacock ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Peacock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacock
- Rutledge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rutledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Petrey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Petrey is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Brantley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cherokee Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cherokee Village is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
- Bullock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bullock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock
- Honoraville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Honoraville is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honoraville
- Barbour County
- Elamville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Elamville is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamville
- Bullock County
- Postoak
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Postoak is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Oaky Streak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Industry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Greenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Wilkinstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wilkinstown is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkinstown
- Zoar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Zoar is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
- Jack
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jack is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jack
- Pine Level
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Level is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Frisco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Frisco is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Danleys Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Danleys Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danleys Crossroads
- Roeton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Roeton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roeton
- Curtis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Curtis is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Elba
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Java
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Java is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Mixson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mixson is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixson
- Clintonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Rose Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Antioch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Gantt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gantt is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Babbie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Babbie is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babbie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 599 people
- County Line
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- County Line is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Opp
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Opp is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,313 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Opp <2>
- Heath
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Heath is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heath
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Dale County
- Ariton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ariton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ariton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 736 people
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Sandy Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Davenport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Davenport is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
- Fort Deposit
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Lapine
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lapine is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
- Center Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Center Point is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Grady
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ramer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pine Level
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Ada
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Red Level
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Red Level is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Goshen
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hallsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hallsville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Henderson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Wingard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wingard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingard
- Youngblood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Youngblood is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
- Mossy Grove Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Mossy Grove Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy Grove Village
- Ansley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Centre Ridge ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Centre Ridge is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Ridge
- Troy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- McClure Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- McClure Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure Town
- Kent
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Meeksville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Meeksville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shirleys Crossroads, see our County-by-County Page for Shirleys Crossroads.
Cemeteries Near Shirleys Crossroads ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shirleys Crossroads.
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 Shirleys Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shirleys Crossroads covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Goshen First Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Star of Hope MB Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Providence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Smilie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Davidson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elam - Davidson Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Mt. Zion MB Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spears Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bethel AME Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ward - Thompson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (308 more) ...
- Emmaus Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Henderson Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Shirleys Crossroads in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shirleys Crossroads.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shirleys Crossroads, with the one closest to Shirleys Crossroads listed first.
- Vidette
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vidette is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vidette
- Hallsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hallsville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Luverne
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Henderson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Little Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Little Oak is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Oak
- Patsburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Patsburg is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patsburg
- Peacock ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Peacock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacock
- Wingard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wingard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingard
- Live Oak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Live Oak is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Live Oak
- Rutledge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rutledge is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutledge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Petrey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Petrey is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Brantley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bullock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bullock is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullock
- Ansley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Bradleyton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bradleyton is located in Crenshaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradleyton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shirleys Crossroads. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shirleys Crossroads.
Newspapers Published in Shirleys Crossroads ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shirleys Crossroads.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shirleys Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shirleys Crossroads.
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 Shirleys Crossroads:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Crenshaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Bullock County
- Butler County
- Coffee County
- Covington County
- Dale County
- Lowndes County
- Montgomery County
- Pike County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Shirleys Crossroads, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Shirleys Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |