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 Somerset (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 Somerset. 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 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.
Somerset is located in Geneva 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 Geneva County: Coffee, Covington, Dale, Houston, Holmes (FL) & Walton (FL).
Below are the counties that are near Somerset. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Somerset:
- Geneva County (The home county of Somerset)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Geneva
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Eunola ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eunola is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
- Costilla ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Costilla is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
- Black
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Black is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
- Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
- Coffee Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Chancellor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Chancellor is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
- Samson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Scranton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Scranton is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Bellwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bellwood is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Hartford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dundee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Slocomb
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Coffee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Central City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Central City is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Battens Crossroads
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
- Goodman
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Goodman is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodman
- Enterprise
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kinston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alberton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alberton is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberton
- New Brockton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Clintonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Clintonville is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Elba
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Curtis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Curtis is located in Coffee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Beulah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Beulah is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- County Line
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- County Line is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Florala
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Onycha
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Onycha is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onycha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 180 people
- Lockhart
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lockhart is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockhart
- Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
- Opp
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Opp is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,313 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Opp <1>
- Horn Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Horn Hill is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horn Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- Dale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Clayhatchee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Level Plains
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Level Plains is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Plains
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,952 people
- Daleville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Holiday Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Holiday Village is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Village
- Fort Rucker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Newton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newton is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Pinckard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Merritts Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Merritts Crossroads is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritts Crossroads
- Taylor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Taylor is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,440 people
- Parker Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Parker Village is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Village
- Rehobeth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rehobeth is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehobeth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,699 people
- Madrid
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Madrid is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid
- Population from the 2020 Census: 293 people
- Holmes County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Izagora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Izagora is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
- Cerrogordo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cerrogordo is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerrogordo
- Esto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Esto is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Noma
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Westville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Ponce de Leon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bonifay
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jackson County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Graceville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Campbellton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jacob City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jacob City is located in Jackson County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacob City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Okaloosa County (FL)
- Svea
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Svea is located in Okaloosa County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svea
- Walton County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Pleasant Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Walton County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Union
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Walton County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Argyle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- De Funiak Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Paxton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Knox Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Knox Hill is located in Walton County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Hill
- Washington County (FL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Caryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Five Points
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Washington County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Coosada Old Town ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Coosada Old Town is located in Washington County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosada Old Town
- Chipley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brock Crossroad
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brock Crossroad is located in Washington County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock Crossroad
- Vernon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Millers Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Millers Ferry is located in Washington County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Somerset, see our County-by-County Page for Somerset.
Cemeteries Near Somerset ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Somerset.
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 Somerset - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Somerset covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Vaughanville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Geneva City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- McDuffie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Eunola Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Carter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- McDuffie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Royals Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Whitewater Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- East Pittman Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pittman Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the East Pittman Baptist Church Cemetery is located 13 miles [20.9 km]<3> to the northwest of Bonifay (FL).
- The East Pittman Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- East Pittman Cemetery
- Pittman Cemetery
- Pittman Creek Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2290024 <2>
- Pleasant Home Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (171 more) ...
- Providence Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Friendship Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Liberty Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Somerset in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Somerset.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Vaughanville
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Vaughanville is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughanville
- Geneva
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Highfalls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Highfalls is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfalls
- Marl
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Marl is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marl
- Izagora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Izagora is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
- Coffee Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Cerrogordo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cerrogordo is located in Holmes County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerrogordo
- High Bluff
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- High Bluff is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Bluff
- Dundee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dundee is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Warwick ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Warwick is located in Geneva County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Union
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Walton County (FL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Westville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Caryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Clayhatchee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clayhatchee is located in Dale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
- Ponce de Leon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Somerset. See our List of 1890's Communities around Somerset.
Newspapers Published in Somerset ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Somerset.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Somerset, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Somerset.
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 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 Somerset:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Geneva County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coffee County
- Covington County
- Dale County
- Houston County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Okaloosa County
- Walton County
- Washington 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> | 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- Somerset) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Somerset, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |