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 Tara (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 Tara. 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.
Tara is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Jackson, Limestone, Marshall, Morgan, Franklin (TN) & Lincoln (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Tara. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Tara:
- Madison County (The home county of Tara)
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- English Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- English Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Big Cove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Cove is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Cove
- Greenwycke Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Greenwycke Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwycke Village
- Whitesburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Whitesburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Berkley
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Berkley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Owens' Cross Roads
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chelsea
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Chelsea is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chelsea
- Huntsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lincoln is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Ryland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Brownsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chase
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Chase is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase
- Country Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Country Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Fowler ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Fowler is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
- Summit
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Summit is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Colbert County
- Garner ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Garner is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Joppa
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Baileyton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Fairview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
- Simcoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Simcoe is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simcoe
- DeKalb County
- Grove Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grove Oak is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Oak
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Paint Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Paint Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Woodville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Trenton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lim Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lim Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lim Rock
- Pleasant Groves
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Groves is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Groves
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Hollytree
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hollytree is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollytree
- Aspel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Aspel is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspel
- Princeton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Princeton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
- Dry Cove ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dry Cove is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Cove
- Dodsonville ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dodsonville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodsonville
- Larkinsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Larkinsville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkinsville
- Beachboro ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Beachboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachboro
- Baileytown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Baileytown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileytown
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Swancott
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Westlake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Capshaw
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Capshaw is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capshaw
- Belle Mina
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Mooresville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Center Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Center Hill is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Fairmount
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmount is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Wooley Springs ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wooley Springs is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooley Springs
- Country Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Country Village is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Harris Station
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Tanner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Caro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Caro is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caro
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Ferns Quarter ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ferns Quarter is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferns Quarter
- Union Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Fort Deposit ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Deposit is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Deposit
- Grant
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Friendship is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Ruth
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ruth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Scant City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Scant City is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scant City
- Grassy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Grassy is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy
- Hog Jaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hog Jaw is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hog Jaw
- Pine Lake Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Pine Lake Village is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lake Village
- Columbus City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus City is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Arab
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Columbus City Ferry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus City Ferry is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City Ferry
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Lacey's Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Briscoe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Briscoe is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
- Valhermoso Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Winton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Winton is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winton
- Bluff City ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Apple Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Apple Grove is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Florette
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Florette is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florette
- Somerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Somerville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Ryan Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ryan Crossroads is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan Crossroads
- Priceville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hulaco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hulaco is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulaco
- Burningtree Mountain
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Lincoln County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Goshen ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Goshen is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Howell Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Howell Hill is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell Hill
- Flintville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Flintville is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 627 people
- Cash Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cash Point is located in Lincoln County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash Point
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Tara, see our County-by-County Page for Tara.
Cemeteries Near Tara ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tara.
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 Tara - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Tara covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Hobbs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lyon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Burns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Grayson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Morris Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Richards Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Farley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vann Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hayes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bailey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Russell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Drake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (903 more) ...
- Neal Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Buford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Big Cove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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 Tara in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Tara.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Tara, with the one closest to Tara listed first.
- Whitesburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Whitesburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Haden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Haden is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Owens' Cross Roads
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Berkley
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Berkley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
- Lowe ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lowe is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowe
- Huntsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Talucah
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Talucah is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talucah
- Mercury
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mercury is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercury
- New Hope
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gurley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Paint Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Paint Rock is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Maysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maysville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Triana
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Triana is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,327 people
- Valhermoso Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Tara. See our List of 1890's Communities around Tara.
Newspapers Published in Tara ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tara.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Tara, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Tara.
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 Tara:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Colbert County
- Cullman County
- DeKalb County
- Jackson County
- Limestone County
- Marshall County
- Morgan County
- Lincoln 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 Tara, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 from Point A (ie- Tara) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |