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 Smiths Ford (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 Smiths Ford. 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 Smiths Ford ...
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 Smiths Ford, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Smiths Ford may originally have been Smith's Ford.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Smiths Ford might be written as Smith Ford.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Smiths Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Smiths Ford.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Smiths Ford is located in Bibb 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 Bibb County: Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Smiths Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smiths Ford:
- Bibb County (The home county of Smiths Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Scottsville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- West Blocton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Egypt is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Italian Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Brent
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Centreville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Jemison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Maplesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Thorsby
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Adams
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Riderville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Moundville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Powers
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Kimbrell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- North Johns
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- North Johns is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Adger
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- McCalla
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Mobile Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- Old Jonesboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Ezra
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Hueytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bessemer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Creek Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Bethlehem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Jericho
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Oakmulgee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Brush Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Morgan Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Sprott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Marion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Aden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Wilton
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wilton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Former names for Wilton:
- Birmingham Junction
- Bismarck
- Catoosa
- Woods
- Woodsborough
- Montevallo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Tulse
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Bamford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Brantleyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Maylene
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Alabaster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Falliston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Siluria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Pearson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Vance
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hagler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Coaling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Duncanville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Brookwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Abernant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Tannehill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Cottondale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Holt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smiths Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Smiths Ford.
Cemeteries Near Smiths Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smiths Ford.
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 Smiths Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smiths Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Scottsville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Vernon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Friday Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Moffat Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Scottsville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Haysop Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Williams Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- George Stewart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Johnstown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Schultz Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (403 more) ...
- McCulley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belchers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hubbard 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.<4>
While we didn't find Smiths Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smiths Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smiths Ford, with the one closest to Smiths Ford listed first.
- Scottsville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Centreville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Vance
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hagler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Dudley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dudley is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Bibbville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bibbville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bibbville
- Pondville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Harrisburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Harrisburg is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Woodstock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Blocton Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Coaling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Abercrombie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Abercrombie is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abercrombie
- Trio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Trio is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trio
- Green Pond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smiths Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smiths Ford.
Newspapers Published in Smiths Ford ...
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 13 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smiths Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smiths Ford, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smiths Ford.
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 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 Smiths Ford:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chilton County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa 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> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Smiths Ford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Smiths Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |