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 Simmsville (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 Simmsville. 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 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 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.
Simmsville is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Jefferson, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Simmsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Simmsville:
- Shelby County (The home county of Simmsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Pelham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Indian Springs Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Chelsea
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Inverness
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Meadowbrook
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Lake Purdy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Bridgeton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Shoal Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Saginaw
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Tacoa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Alabaster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Falliston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Eddings
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Brierfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Seymour
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Ashby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Belle Ellen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Oakley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Green Pond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Woodstock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Italian Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Blocton Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Jemison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jumbo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Thorsby
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Coosa County
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Hoover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Vestavia Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- Mountain Brook Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mountain Brook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Homewood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oxmoor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oxmoor is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxmoor
- Cahaba Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
- English Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- English Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Ishkooda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ishkooda is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ishkooda
- Mason City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mason City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Vincent
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Brompton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Moody
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Acmar
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Acmar is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acmar
- Parsons
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Parsons is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsons
- Cook's Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Margaret
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Turnbough Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
- Argo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Childersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Talladega Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- East Bend
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Fayetteville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Bon Air
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Logan Martin Dam
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Logan Martin Dam is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Martin Dam
- Zubers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Comerdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Oak Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Gantts Quarry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Alpine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mignon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Tannehill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Abernant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Simmsville, see our County-by-County Page for Simmsville.
Cemeteries Near Simmsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simmsville.
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 Simmsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Simmsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Deerhurst Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- K Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Old Acton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Allen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Indian Springs First Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oldham Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery is located in the vicinity of Chelsea
- The Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Liberty Cemetery
- Quinn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinn Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Quinn Cemetery is located in the vicinity of Chelsea
- Bryan Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (379 more) ...
- Bailey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Southern Heritage Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southern Heritage Cemetery
- The Southern Heritage Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rideout Southern Heritage Cemetery
- Ridout Southern Heritage Cemetery
- Miller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 Simmsville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Simmsville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Simmsville, with the one closest to Simmsville listed first.
- Pelham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Tacoa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Bridgeton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Falliston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Siluria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Longview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Longview is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Columbiana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oxmoor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oxmoor is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxmoor
- Tulse
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Maylene
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spaulding
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Spaulding is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ishkooda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ishkooda is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ishkooda
- Ware
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ware is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Morgan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Morgan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Simmsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Simmsville.
Newspapers Published in Simmsville ...
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 1 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simmsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simmsville, there are papers which were published within 2 miles [3.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Simmsville.
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 Simmsville:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Chilton County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson County
- Saint Clair County
- Talladega County
- Tuscaloosa 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 Simmsville, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Simmsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |