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 Thomas (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 Thomas. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Thomas is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.
Below are the counties that are near Thomas. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thomas:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Thomas)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Pratt City
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pratt City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt City
- Hooper City
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hooper City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper City
- Sandusky
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- West End
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West End is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
- Ensley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ensley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ensley
- Pratt Mines ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pratt Mines is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Mines
- Birmingham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Vulcan City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vulcan City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan City
- Forestdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forestdale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestdale
- Avondale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Avondale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- East Birmingham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- East Birmingham is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Birmingham
- Docena
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Docena is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Docena
- Fairfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Green Pond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- Woodstock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Eddings
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- North Bibb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Belle Ellen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Seymour
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Dale ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Warrior
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- County Line
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Red Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Compton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Compton is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Selfville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Reid's
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Smoke Rise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
- Dallas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Remlap
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hayden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Blount Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Blount Springs is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blount Springs
- Adville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Adville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adville
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Arkadelphia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Arkadelphia is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkadelphia
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Baltimore is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Black Bottom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Black Bottom is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Bottom
- Colony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Estimated population in 2015: 273 people
- The Colony
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- The Colony is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Colony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Damascus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Damascus is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Woodland Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Acmar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Acmar is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acmar
- Moody
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Parsons
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Parsons is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsons
- Brompton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Argo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Argo is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
- Margaret
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Turnbough Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
- Cook's Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
- Vincent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Springville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Odenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Branchville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Branchville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Inverness
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Lake Purdy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Meadowbrook
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Bridgeton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Indian Springs Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
- Tacoa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Shoal Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shoal Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoal Creek
- Falliston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Pelham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Helena
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dunavant
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Dunavant is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunavant
- Bamford
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Chelsea
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Talladega County
- East Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- East Bend is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Tannehill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Bull City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Abernant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Kellerman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Quinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Yerkwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Burnwell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Oakahalla
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Reeds Ferry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Wyatt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Sumiton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Dora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Creel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Creel is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creel
- Barney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Empire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Empire is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thomas, see our County-by-County Page for Thomas.
Cemeteries Near Thomas ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thomas.
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 Thomas - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thomas covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Emanuel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Knesses Israel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Enon Ridge Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Roberts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fraternal Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Oakland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Elmwood Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Birmingham.
- The Elmwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Elm Leaf Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #22674 <2>
- George Washington Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shadowlawn Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Grace Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Grace Hill Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the New Grace Hill Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Birmingham.
- The New Grace Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Grace Hill Cemetery
- New Grace Hill Gardens
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #23071 <2>
- Crumley Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (342 more) ...
- Union Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Inglenook Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Walkers Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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 in 1895, Thomas had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Ensley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ensley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ensley
- North Birmingham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- North Birmingham is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Birmingham
- Sandusky
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sandusky is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Pratt Mines ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pratt Mines is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Mines
- Birmingham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Coalburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Coalburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalburg
- Former name for Coalburg:
- Coalburgh
- Wylam
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wylam is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylam
- Powderly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Powderly is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderly
- Spaulding
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Spaulding is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Avondale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Avondale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- East Birmingham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- East Birmingham is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Birmingham
- Vanderbilt
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Vanderbilt is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderbilt
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Lewisburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lewisburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
- Duncan
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Duncan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Ishkooda
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ishkooda is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ishkooda
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thomas. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thomas.
Newspapers Published in Thomas ...
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 190 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thomas.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thomas, 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 Thomas.
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 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 Thomas:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Cullman County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Talladega County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Walker 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 Thomas, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Thomas) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |