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 Shotwell (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 Shotwell. 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 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.
Shotwell is located in Lee 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 Lee County: Chambers, Macon, Russell, Tallapoosa, Harris (GA) & Muscogee (GA).
Below are the counties that are near Shotwell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shotwell:
- Lee County (The home county of Shotwell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Bleecker
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bleecker is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bleecker
- Salem
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Prince Crossroads
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Prince Crossroads is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prince Crossroads
- Smith's Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Smith's Station is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith's Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,804 people
- Chewacla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Blanton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Blanton is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Beauregard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Beauregard is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Opelika
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gwen Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gwen Mill is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwen Mill
- Marvyn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marvyn is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvyn
- Auburn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- The Bottle
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- The Bottle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Bottle
- Chambers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Osanippa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Osanippa is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osanippa
- River View
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- River View is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River View
- Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cusseta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eady City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Eady City is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eady City
- Huguley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Huguley is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguley
- Plant City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Plant City is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant City
- Lanett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Boyds
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Boyds is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds
- LaFayette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Blackman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blackman is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackman
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Society Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Society Hill is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Society Hill
- Notasulga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Crawford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Crawford is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Ladonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ladonia is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladonia
- Hugley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hugley is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugley
- Phenix City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fontaine Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fontaine Village is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontaine Village
- Seale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fort Mitchell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hatchechubbee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hatchechubbee is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchechubbee
- Oswichee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oswichee is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswichee
- Pittsview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Holy Trinity
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Trinity is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Trinity
- Hurtsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hurtsboro is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 597 people
- Chattahoochee County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Fort Benning
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ochillee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ochillee is located in Chattahoochee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ochillee
- Estimated population in 2019: 680 people
- Central Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Central Springs is located in Chattahoochee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Springs
- Heineburg Village ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Heineburg Village is located in Chattahoochee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heineburg Village
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,893 people
- Halloca ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Halloca is located in Chattahoochee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halloca
- Cusseta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Harris County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Mountain Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Hill is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 11,554 people
- Pine Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Lake is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake
- Cataula
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hamilton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ellerslie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pine Mountain Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Waverly Hall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mountainbrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mountainbrook is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountainbrook
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,108 people
- Pine Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Muscogee County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Maridale Estates
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Maridale Estates is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maridale Estates
- Estimated population in 2019: 60,867 people
- Twin Chapel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Twin Chapel is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Chapel
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,701 people
- Bibb City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bibb City is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bibb City
- City Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- City Village is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City Village
- Columbus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fortson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Glenns
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Glenns is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenns
- Estimated population in 2019: 5,020 people
- Lincoln Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Hills is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 833 people
- Hilton Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hilton Heights is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Heights
- Estimated population in 2018: 324 people
- Wynnton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wynnton is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynnton
- East Edgewood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Edgewood is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Edgewood
- Estimated population in 2019: 569 people
- Saint Marys Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Marys Hills is located in Muscogee County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 18,567 people
- Talbot County (GA)
- Box Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Troup County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- West Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North West Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- North West Point is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North West Point
- Pioneer Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pioneer Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
- West Lake Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- West Lake Village is located in Troup County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lake Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shotwell, see our County-by-County Page for Shotwell.
Cemeteries Near Shotwell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shotwell.
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 Shotwell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shotwell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Concord Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Stroud Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope CME Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel Mission Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Flint Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Meadows Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Charnel Garden of Rest Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charnel Garden of Rest Cemetery
- The Charnel Garden of Rest Cemetery has also been known as:
- Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery
- County Line Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (295 more) ...
- Rocky Mount Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pitts Chapel 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 Shotwell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shotwell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shotwell, with the one closest to Shotwell listed first.
- Salem
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Smith's Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Smith's Station is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith's Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,804 people
- Mechanicsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Crawford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Crawford is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Beulah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Beulah is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Chewacla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Chewacla is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewacla
- Ladonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ladonia is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladonia
- Acton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Acton is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Osanippa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Osanippa is located in Chambers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osanippa
- Opelika
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Girard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Girard is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Columbus
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Mountain Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Hill is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 11,554 people
- Fortson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mulberry Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mulberry Grove is located in Harris County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shotwell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shotwell.
Newspapers Published in Shotwell ...
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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shotwell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shotwell, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shotwell.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Shotwell:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chambers County
- Macon County
- Russell County
- Chattahoochee County
- Harris County
- Muscogee County
- Talbot County
- Troup 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> | 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 Shotwell, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Shotwell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |