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 Shorter (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 Shorter. 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 Shorter ...
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.
Another variation: Shorter's.
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 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.
Shorter is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Montgomery, Russell & Tallapoosa.
Below are the counties that are near Shorter. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shorter:
- Macon County (The home county of Shorter)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Calebee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- Tysonville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- La Place
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Hornady
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Franklin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hardaway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Tuskegee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Liberty City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty City
- Fort Davis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Notasulga
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Armstrong
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Armstrong is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Society Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Society Hill is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Society Hill
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Millbrook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Prattville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Mitchell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Fitzpatrick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Union Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Postoak
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Postoak is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Postoak
- Inverness
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Three Notch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Three Notch is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Notch
- Coosa County
- Equality
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Equality is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Equality
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Ware
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Tallassee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Claud
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Kent
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Blue Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Eclectic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Wetumpka
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Central
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Central is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Irma ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Irma is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irma
- Elmore
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Coosada
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hale County
- Erie ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Erie is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erie
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Loachapoka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Roxana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roxana is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Ridgewood Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Auburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Waugh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Waugh is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- Cecil
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cecil is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cecil
- Mount Meigs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Pike Road
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sunshine Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Madison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Madison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Boylston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Boylston is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
- Capitol Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
- New Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Montgomery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Gibbs Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
- Highland Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Young Forte Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
- Pike County
- Orion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- East Tallassee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Tallapoosa City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
- Reeltown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Reeltown is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeltown
- Church Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Church Hill is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Susannah ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Susannah is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susannah
- Benson ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Benson is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Agricola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Agricola is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agricola
- Our Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Our Town is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Our Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shorter, see our County-by-County Page for Shorter.
Cemeteries Near Shorter ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shorter.
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 Shorter - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shorter covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- Tysonville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- White Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Birch Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ambers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cole Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sweet Gum Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Strahan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lucas Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Judkins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oswalt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (309 more) ...
- Bradford Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Walker Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Shorter had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Shorter had a population of 383 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shorter, with the one closest to Shorter listed first.
- La Place
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Cross Keys
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cross Keys is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Ware
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Franklin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Meigs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Tallassee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Good Hope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Good Hope is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Chehaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chehaw is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chehaw
- Perry's Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Perry's Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry's Mill
- Tuskegee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pike Road
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kent
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Barachias
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Barachias is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barachias
- Thompson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Thompson is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Cotton Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cotton Valley is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Valley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shorter. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shorter.
Newspapers Published in Shorter ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shorter.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shorter, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shorter.
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 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 Shorter:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bullock County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Hale County
- Lee County
- Montgomery County
- Pike County
- Tallapoosa 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 Shorter, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shorter) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |