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 Spring Valley (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 Spring Valley. 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 Spring Valley ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Spring Valley: Spring Vly. (or less commonly used: Spring Vally. or Spring Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Spring Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Spring Valley.
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 southwest 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 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.
Spring Valley is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Autauga, Bullock, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Spring Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Spring Valley:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Spring Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- English Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- English Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Capitol Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
- Gibbs Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
- Highland Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Montgomery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Young Forte Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
- New Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- New Town is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sunshine Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Hope Hull
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pike Road
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Boylston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Boylston is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Madison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Stone's
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Stone's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Millbrook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Prattville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Melmar
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- Booth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Pine Level
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Autaugaville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Independence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Marbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- White City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Jones Bluff Dam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Mitchell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Fitzpatrick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Chilton County
- Mountain Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Crenshaw County
- Highland Home
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Prattville Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
- Blue Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Coosada
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Robinson Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
- Elmore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Wetumpka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Ware
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Adkin Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Deatsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Claud
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Holtville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Eclectic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Burkville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
- Letohatchee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Davenport
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Davenport is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
- Hayneville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lowndesboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sandy Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Mosses
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- White Hall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Gordonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Fort Deposit
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Petronia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Tysonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Shorter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Calebee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- La Place
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Hardaway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Hornady
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Franklin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Kent
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Orion
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Orion is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Ansley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ansley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Meeksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Meeksville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeksville
- Tallapoosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- East Tallassee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
- Tallapoosa City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tallapoosa City is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallapoosa City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Spring Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Spring Valley.
Cemeteries Near Spring Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spring Valley.
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 Spring Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Spring Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Joseph Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Troy Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Big Roxanna MB Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Holt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Remount Park Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Flora Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Green Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Larkin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Freeman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Taylor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Westcott Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Spring Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Spring Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Spring Valley, with the one closest to Spring Valley listed first.
- Barachias
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Barachias is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barachias
- Snowdoun
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Snowdoun is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowdoun
- Montgomery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hope Hull
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Perry's Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Perry's Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry's Mill
- McGehee's
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- McGehee's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGehee's
- Tharin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tharin is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tharin
- Pike Road
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Stone's
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Stone's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
- Le Grand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Le Grand is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Grand
- Jackson's Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson's Lake is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson's Lake
- Mount Meigs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Meigs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Meigs
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Catoma
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Catoma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
- Fleta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fleta is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleta
- Ada
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ada is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Spring Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spring Valley.
Newspapers Published in Spring Valley ...
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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spring Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spring Valley, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spring Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Spring Valley:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bullock County
- Chilton County
- Crenshaw County
- Elmore County
- Lowndes County
- Macon County
- Pike County
- Tallapoosa 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 Spring Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Spring Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |