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 Shoals Acres (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 Shoals Acres. 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 Shoals Acres ...
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.
While the name of this community is Shoals Acres, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Shoals Acres may originally have been Shoal's Acres.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Shoals Acres might be written as Shoal Acres.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Shoals Acres is located in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County: Colbert, Lawrence, Limestone, Tishomingo (MS), Giles (TN), Hardin (TN), Lawrence (TN) & Wayne (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Shoals Acres. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shoals Acres:
- Lauderdale County (The home county of Shoals Acres)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Killen
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bailey Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Arnot
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Saint Florian
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Jacksonburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Mars Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Green Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Pruitton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Zip City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Zip City is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zip City
- Florence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ford City
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Wilson Dam
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Nitrate City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Muscle Shoals
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Leighton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tuscumbia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Spring Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- White House Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Franklin County
- Russellville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Red Bank
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Town Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Courtland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Hatton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mountain Home
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Hillsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chalybeate Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Cairo
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Lentzville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Lester
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lester is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Poplar Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Clifton ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Giles County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Minor Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Stella
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stella is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Iron City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Liberty Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Westpoint
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Busby
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Appleton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Leoma
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Lawrenceburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Prospect
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Prospect is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Prospect
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,880 people
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Corning ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Cypress Inn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Collinwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Lutts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shoals Acres, see our County-by-County Page for Shoals Acres.
Cemeteries Near Shoals Acres ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shoals Acres.
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 Shoals Acres - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shoals Acres covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Huff Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Harrison Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Cox Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- McGee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tate - Russell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jones Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Price Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peck Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bailey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (724 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Huff Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kernachan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Shoals Acres in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shoals Acres.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shoals Acres, with the one closest to Shoals Acres listed first.
- Bailey Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Saint Florian
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Mars Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Jacksonburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Green Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Webster ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Webster is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Florence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pruitton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- South Florence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Comer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Comer is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Belew ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Belew is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belew
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Iron City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Sheffield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leighton
(11 miles [17.7 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 Shoals Acres. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shoals Acres.
Newspapers Published in Shoals Acres ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shoals Acres.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shoals Acres, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shoals Acres.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Shoals Acres:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lauderdale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Franklin County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Giles County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Shoals Acres, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shoals Acres) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |