RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Alabama >> Jefferson County >> Short Creek >> 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 Short Creek (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 Short Creek. 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 Short Creek ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Short Creek: Short Crk. (or less commonly used: Short Ck. or Short Cr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Short Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Short Creek.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Short Creek 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 Short Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Short Creek:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Short Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Short Creek, with the one closest to Short Creek listed first.
    • Black Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Sylvan Springs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Toadvine
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Maytown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Maytown is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maytown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 364 people
    • Rock Creek
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Rock Creek is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
    • West Jefferson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
    • Mulga
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Mulga is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 798 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mulga <1>
    • Ezra
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Ezra is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
    • Concord
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Edgewater
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Edgewater is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater
    • Media
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Short Creek, with the one closest to Short Creek listed first.
    • Green Pond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Blocton Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • North Bibb
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • North Bibb is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
    • Woodstock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Belle Ellen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Burmah ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Burmah is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
    • Eddings
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Eddings is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
    • Italian Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Italian Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
    • Nash Town ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Nash Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
    • West Blocton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Blocton ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Blocton is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
  • Blount County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Short Creek, with the one closest to Short Creek listed first.
    • Red Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Hill is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Warrior
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Dale ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Dale is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Reid's
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • County Line
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Smoke Rise
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
    • Hayden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cullman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Short Creek, with the one closest to Short Creek listed first.
    • Arkadelphia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Baltimore ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Baltimore is located in Cullman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
    • The Colony
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • The Colony is located in Cullman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
    • Colony
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ardell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Black Bottom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fayette County
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Short Creek, with the one closest to Short Creek listed first.
    • Bamford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Falliston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
    • Helena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tacoa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Tacoa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
    • Indian Springs Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
    • Inverness
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Inverness is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
    • Tulse
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Tulse is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
    • Lake Purdy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
    • Alabaster
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Meadowbrook
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Pelham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Brantleyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Tuscaloosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Short Creek, with the one closest to Short Creek listed first.
    • Bull City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
    • Abernant
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Lake View
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Kellerman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Tannehill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
    • Brookwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Vance
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Peterson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Coaling
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
    • Samantha
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Walker County

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

Cemeteries Near Short Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Short Creek.

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 Short Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Short Creek had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Toadvine
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Porter
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Porter is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
  • Ezra
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ezra is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
  • Adamsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Collins
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Collins is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
  • Dolomite
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Wylam
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Blossburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Blossburg is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blossburg
  • Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
  • Sandusky
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Cardiff
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
  • Linn Crossing
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Linn Crossing is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linn Crossing
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Adger
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Chinn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Chinn is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinn
    • McAdory
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • McAdory is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAdory

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

Newspapers Published in Short Creek ...

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 5 newspapers that have been published in the area around Short Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Short Creek, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Short Creek.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Short Creek:

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