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 South Calera (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 South Calera. 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 South Calera ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Calera: S. Calera
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 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.
South Calera 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 South Calera. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Calera:
- Shelby County (The home county of South Calera)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Calera
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Montevallo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wilton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- 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
- Shelby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Saginaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Columbiana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maylene
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Siluria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Alabaster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brantleyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Merrell Beach
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Pine Grove Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Billingsley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- White City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Marbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Brierfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Oakley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Ashby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Eddings
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Randolph
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Tucker
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tucker is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Seymour
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Lawley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Belle Ellen
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Active
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Jemison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Thorsby
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jumbo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Clanton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Maplesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Adams
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Stanton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Verbena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Riderville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Mountain Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Dollar
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Weogufka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Stewartville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Dallas County
- Plantersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Greenwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Hoover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Shannon
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Shannon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- Kimbrell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- McCalla
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mobile Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- New Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Oxmoor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oxmoor is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxmoor
- Vestavia Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bessemer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Blue Creek Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- 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 South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Oakmulgee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Bethlehem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Saint Clair County
- Vincent
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Gantts Quarry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Childersburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Comerdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Oak Grove
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Bon Air
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Zubers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Mignon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Sylacauga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Tannehill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Vance
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Abernant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Calera, see our County-by-County Page for South Calera.
Cemeteries Near South Calera ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Calera.
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 South Calera - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Calera covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Shiloh - Busby Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Old Rock Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Rock Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Salem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Old Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Providence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leach Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Richardson - Randall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Session Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (453 more) ...
- Dargin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jones Bailey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cobb Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, South Calera had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Calera, with the one closest to South Calera listed first.
- Calera
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shelby Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby Springs is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby Springs
- Montevallo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jemison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Longview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Longview is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Dogwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dogwood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Brierfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Shelby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Ashby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Columbiana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Siluria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Jumbo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Maylene
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lomax
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Lomax is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Tulse
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Calera. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Calera.
Newspapers Published in South Calera ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Calera.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Calera, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Calera.
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 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 South Calera:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Chilton County
- Coosa County
- Dallas County
- Jefferson County
- Perry 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> | 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 South Calera, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- South Calera) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |