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 Sunlight (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 Sunlight. 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 northwest 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 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.
Sunlight is located in Walker 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 Walker County: Blount, Cullman, Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Tuscaloosa & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Sunlight. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sunlight:
- Walker County (The home county of Sunlight)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Burrows Crossroads
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Burrows Crossroads is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows Crossroads
- Marylee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- South Lowell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- South Lowell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lowell
- Red Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red Rock is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Camak Mills ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Camak Mills is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camak Mills
- Powellville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Gamble
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gamble is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamble
- Jasper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Edgil
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Edgil is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgil
- Sipsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sipsey is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipsey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Cordova
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Saragossa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Saragossa is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saragossa
- Black Warrior Town ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Black Warrior Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Warrior Town
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Red Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Reid's
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Blount Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Warrior
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bangor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bangor is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Hayden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- County Line
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Ardell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Arkadelphia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Bremen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Crane Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Colony
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Logan
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Trimble
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Black Bottom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Damascus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Chances Crossroad
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chances Crossroad is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chances Crossroad
- Dodge City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dodge City is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Alta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alta is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Bazemore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bazemore is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bazemore
- Berry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Allen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Glen Allen is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 480 people
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Robbins Crossroads
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Robbins Crossroads is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins Crossroads
- Media
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Media is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Sayre
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sayre is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayre
- West Jefferson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Graysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Alden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Cardiff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cardiff is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 55 people
- Kimberly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Black Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Black Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Adamsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Morris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Morris is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,182 people
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Rock City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rock City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Thornhill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Thornhill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Falls City ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Falls City is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Arley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Slick Ford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Slick Ford is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slick Ford
- Houston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Double Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Addison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lynn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
- Farriss
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Farriss is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farriss
- Ellaville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Upshaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Grayson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ashridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Natural Bridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sunlight, see our County-by-County Page for Sunlight.
Cemeteries Near Sunlight ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sunlight.
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 Sunlight - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sunlight covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- South Lowell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Blooming Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aaron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tidwell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tingle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kennedy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Boldo Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- John Portzer Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John Portzer Family Cemetery
- The John Portzer Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- John Porter Family Cemetery
- Porter Cemetery
- Portzer Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #25611 <2>
- New Prospect Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walker Memory Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (512 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Bethel Cemetery
- The Old Bethel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bethel Cemetery
- Omega Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 Sunlight in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sunlight.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sunlight, with the one closest to Sunlight listed first.
- South Lowell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- South Lowell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lowell
- Marylee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Marylee is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marylee
- Powellville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Powellville is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Gamble
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gamble is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gamble
- Jasper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ardell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ardell is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardell
- Edgil
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Edgil is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgil
- Saragossa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Saragossa is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saragossa
- Cordova
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Parrish
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Parrish is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Population from the 2020 Census: 929 people
- Prospect
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Prospect is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- Townley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Townley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townley
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Arkadelphia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Bremen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Crane Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sunlight. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sunlight.
Newspapers Published in Sunlight ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sunlight.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sunlight, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sunlight.
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 Sunlight:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Walker County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cullman County
- Fayette County
- Jefferson County
- Marion County
- Winston 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 Sunlight, 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 from Point A (ie- Sunlight) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |