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 Spencer (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 Spencer. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Spencer 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 Spencer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Spencer:
- Bibb County (The home county of Spencer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Brent
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pondville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Egypt ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Centreville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Scottsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- Pratt Ferry ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt Ferry is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Ferry
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- West Blocton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Autauga County
- Vine Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Maplesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Riderville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Adams
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Jemison
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Thorsby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dallas County
- Plantersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Moundville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Powers
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Greensboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rosemary
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Newbern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Akron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Oak Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Kimbrell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- North Johns
(30 miles [48.3 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
- McCalla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Jericho
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Bethlehem
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Oakmulgee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Brush Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Morgan Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Sprott
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Marion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Vilula
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Suttle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Aden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Wilton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Brantleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Maylene
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tulse
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Bamford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Calera
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Pearson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Hagler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Duncanville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Vance
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Coaling
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Brookwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cottondale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Tannehill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Alberta City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Sahama Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sahama Village is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sahama Village
- University
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- University is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University
- Abernant
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Spencer, see our County-by-County Page for Spencer.
Cemeteries Near Spencer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spencer.
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 Spencer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Spencer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Elam Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Weldon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Avery Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mathis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Duff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- James Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pondville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brent Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Little Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (413 more) ...
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Perkins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Centreville Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Spencer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Spencer.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Spencer, with the one closest to Spencer listed first.
- Pondville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Harrisburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Harrisburg is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Centreville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- Scottsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Abercrombie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Abercrombie is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abercrombie
- Hagler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Ironville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ironville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironville
- Jericho
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Levert
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Levert is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
- Bethlehem
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Adler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Adler is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adler
- Trio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Trio is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trio
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Dudley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dudley is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Spencer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spencer.
Newspapers Published in Spencer ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spencer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spencer, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spencer.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Spencer:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Bibb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Chilton County
- Dallas County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby 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 Spencer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Spencer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |