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 Smoke Rise (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 Smoke Rise. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Smoke Rise is located in Blount 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 Blount County: Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Marshall, Saint Clair, Walker & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Smoke Rise. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smoke Rise:
- Blount County (The home county of Smoke Rise)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Reid's
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Hayden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Blount Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Warrior
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bangor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Red Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- County Line
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Dallas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Selfville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Adville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Locust Fork
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Compton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Black Bottom
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Colony
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Damascus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Arkadelphia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Garden City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Dodge City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Bremen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hanceville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- White City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- White City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Good Hope
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Good Hope is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,393 people
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Altoona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Nix ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Nix is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Trafford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kimberly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Morris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Morris is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,182 people
- Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Majestic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Majestic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
- Masseyline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Masseyline is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyline
- Bradford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Crosston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Crosston is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosston
- Village Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Village Springs is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village Springs
- Palmerdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Palmerdale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmerdale
- Robbins Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Gardendale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Morgan County
- Eva
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Springville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Argo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Saint Clair Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Saint Clair Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair Springs
- Margaret
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Parsons
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Parsons is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsons
- Turnbough Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
- Acmar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Acmar is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acmar
- Branchville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Branchville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Moody
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Odenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Brompton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Shelby County
- Dunnavant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dunnavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnavant
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Creel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Empire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Sipsey
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Sumiton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Powellville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Burnwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Dora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oakahalla
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Wyatt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Burrows Crossroads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Red Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Red Rock is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Arley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Slick Ford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Addison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Houston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smoke Rise, see our County-by-County Page for Smoke Rise.
Cemeteries Near Smoke Rise ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smoke Rise.
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 Smoke Rise - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smoke Rise covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Harrell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Enon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Elvester Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Graves Gap Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cain Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Warrior Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Union Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Brewer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (384 more) ...
- Damascus Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tedder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Harmony Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Smoke Rise in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smoke Rise.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smoke Rise, with the one closest to Smoke Rise listed first.
- Reid's
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Blount Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Linton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Linton is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linton
- Coaldale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Coaldale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaldale
- Warrior
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bangor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Sloan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sloan is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
- Arkadelphia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Morris
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Morris is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,182 people
- Selfville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Garden City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Adville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bradford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bradford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Bremen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Compton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smoke Rise. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smoke Rise.
Newspapers Published in Smoke Rise ...
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 4 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smoke Rise.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smoke Rise, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smoke Rise.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Smoke Rise:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Blount County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cullman County
- Etowah County
- Jefferson County
- Morgan County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Walker County
- Winston 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 Smoke Rise, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Smoke Rise) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |