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 Summerfield (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 Summerfield. 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.
Summerfield is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Summerfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Summerfield:
- Dallas County (The home county of Summerfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Valley Grande
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Valley Grande is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Grande
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,468 people
- Selma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sunset Mill Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Sunset Mill Village is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Mill Village
- Burnsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Burnsville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Plantersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Harrell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Marion Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Casey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Casey is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Tyler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Sardis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Fremont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Jones
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jones is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Vine Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Statesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Statesville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
- Independence
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Jones Bluff Dam
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Billingsley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Haynes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Autaugaville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- 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 east)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Booth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- White City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Active
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Active is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Active
- Lawley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lawley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawley
- Tucker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tucker is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker
- Randolph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Brent
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Centreville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Centreville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,559 people
- East Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- East Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Town
- Pondville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pondville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondville
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Riderville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Riderville is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riderville
- Stanton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stanton is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Adams
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Adams is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Maplesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hale County
- Newbern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Benton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Petronia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- White Hall
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Collirene
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Lowndesboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Augustin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Suttle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Vilula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Sprott
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Marion
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakmulgee
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Bethlehem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Jericho
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Morgan Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- The Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Ellawhite
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- Uniontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Alberta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Rehoboth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Summerfield, see our County-by-County Page for Summerfield.
Cemeteries Near Summerfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Summerfield.
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 Summerfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Summerfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Childers Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Valley Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pineview Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ocmulgee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Martin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Craig Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pea Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Barnes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (315 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Live Oak Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pernell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Summerfield had a population of 383 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Summerfield, with the one closest to Summerfield listed first.
- Augustin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Selma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Perryville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Perryville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Burnsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Burnsville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Vine Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vine Hill is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Harrell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Plantersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plantersville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Marion Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Statesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Statesville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
- Milton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Milton is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
- Vilula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Hamburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hamburg is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Hazen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hazen is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Summerfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Summerfield.
Newspapers Published in Summerfield ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Summerfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Summerfield, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Summerfield.
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 Summerfield:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Chilton County
- Hale County
- Lowndes County
- Perry County
- Wilcox 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 Summerfield, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Summerfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |