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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 Taits Gap (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 Taits Gap. 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 Taits Gap ...

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.

While the name of this community is Taits Gap, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Taits Gap may originally have been Tait's Gap.

Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Taits Gap might be written as Tait Gap.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Taits Gap is located in Blount 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 Blount County: Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Marshall, Saint Clair, Walker & Winston.

Below are the counties that are near Taits Gap. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Taits Gap:

  • Blount County     (The home county of Taits Gap)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Hoods Crossroads
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Hoods Crossroads is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoods Crossroads
    • Bird ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Bird is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Oneonta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Appalachian
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Highland Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Highland Lake is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
    • Fridays Crossing
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Straight Mountain
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Straight Mountain is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Mountain
    • Rosa
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Rosa is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 324 people
    • Clarence
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Susan Moore
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Wynnville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Huldah ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Huldah is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huldah
    • Allgood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Allgood is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allgood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Southside
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Cochran Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Ohatchee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Level
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Macon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Douthrittville ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Douthrittville is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douthrittville
    • Boozer ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Boozer is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boozer
    • Bruner ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bruner is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruner
    • Grayton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hebron ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Beasley ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Beasley is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cane Creek is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Chigger Ridge ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Chigger Ridge is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chigger Ridge
  • Cullman County
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Mount Zion ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Rains ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Rains is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rains
    • Rodentown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Marcus ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Marcus is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
  • Etowah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Nix ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Nix is located in Etowah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
    • Altoona
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Clear Springs ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Clear Springs is located in Etowah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
    • Gallant
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Walnut Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Howelton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Benson ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Benson is located in Etowah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
    • Ivalee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Aurora
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Egypt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greer ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Greer is located in Etowah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greer
    • Attalla
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Ridgeville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Ridgeville is located in Etowah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Ayres
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Masseyline
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Masseyline is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyline
    • Village Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Village Springs is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village Springs
    • Palmerdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Clay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Trafford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bradford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Breakstone Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Breakstone Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakstone Village
    • Crosston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Crosston is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosston
    • East Trussville ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • East Trussville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trussville
    • Majestic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Majestic is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
    • Pinson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cahaba Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cahaba Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Village
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Reedbrake ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Reedbrake is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedbrake
    • Douglas
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Douglas is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
    • Horton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Bartlett ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bartlett is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartlett
    • Whitesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Big Spring ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Big Spring is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
    • Bowen ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Bowen is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
    • Hyatt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Askea Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Street ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Street is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Street
    • Boaz
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rabbit Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Rabbit Town is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
    • Albertville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Hulaco
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hulaco is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
    • Ryan Crossroads
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Saint Clair County
  • Talladega County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.
    • Colony
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Colony is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
    • Lincoln
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Taits Gap, see our County-by-County Page for Taits Gap.

Cemeteries Near Taits Gap ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Taits Gap.

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 Taits Gap - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Taits Gap covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.

  • Valley View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Antioch Methodist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Liberty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Bynum Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Oakhill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Painter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mauldin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Harris Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Clements Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Moodys Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (351 more) ...
    • Moody Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Altoona Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mt. Moriah 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.<5>

While we didn't find Taits Gap in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Taits Gap.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Taits Gap, with the one closest to Taits Gap listed first.

  • Champion
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Champion is located in Blount County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champion
  • Oneonta
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Bird ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Bird is located in Blount County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
  • Nix ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Nix is located in Etowah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix
  • Clarence
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Chepultepec
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Chepultepec is located in Blount County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepultepec
  • Clear Springs ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Clear Springs is located in Etowah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Springs
  • Wynnville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Gallant
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Huldah ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Huldah is located in Blount County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huldah
  • Walnut Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Whitney
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Whitney is located in Saint Clair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Royal
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cleveland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Redbud
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Redbud is located in Etowah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbud

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Taits Gap. See our List of 1890's Communities around Taits Gap.

Newspapers Published in Taits Gap ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Taits Gap.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Taits Gap, 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 Taits Gap.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Taits Gap:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Taits Gap) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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.
<5>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 Taits Gap, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.