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 Thornhill (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 Thornhill. 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 Thornhill ...
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.
Another variation: Thorn Hill.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Thornhill. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Thornhill.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Thornhill is located in Greene 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 Greene County: Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter & Tuscaloosa.
Below are the counties that are near Thornhill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thornhill:
- Greene County (The home county of Thornhill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Forkland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Boligee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Miller
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Lizzieville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lizzieville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizzieville
- Eutaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- West Greene
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- West Greene is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Knoxville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Knoxville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Lewiston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lewiston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Mantua
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mantua is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Cedahoma ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cedahoma is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedahoma
- Pelham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pelham is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Sawyerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Arcola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Cedarville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Akron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Village is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Village
- Gallion
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Prairieville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Greensboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Rosemary
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Newbern
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Powers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Moundville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Aigleville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Aigleville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aigleville
- Demopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pin Hook
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pin Hook is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Hook
- Griffins ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Griffins is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Providence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Faunsdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Beckleys ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Beckleys is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckleys
- Blue Lock ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Blue Lock is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Lock
- Linden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Myrtlewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Myrtlewood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtlewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 115 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Brush Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Uniontown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Ellawhite
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Pickens County
- Benevola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Benevola is located in Pickens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benevola
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- McDowell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Epes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Epes is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 326 people
- Moore Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Moore Town is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Town
- Gainesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Brewersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brewersville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewersville
- Coatopa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
- Livingston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arrington is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arrington
- Sumterville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sumterville is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumterville
- Bellamy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bellamy is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Sledge ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Sledge is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sledge
- Boyd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Boyd is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Tuscaloosa County
- Ralph
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kemper County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Giles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Giles is located in Kemper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giles
- Binnsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Binnsville is located in Kemper County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binnsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thornhill, see our County-by-County Page for Thornhill.
Cemeteries Near Thornhill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thornhill.
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 Thornhill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thornhill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Cooks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- St. Matthew Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Owens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hard Bargain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. John Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Blocker Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wills Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Little Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (380 more) ...
- DeVelle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bowers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Springhill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<2>
While we didn't find Thornhill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thornhill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thornhill, with the one closest to Thornhill listed first.
- Forkland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Forkland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 583 people
- Tishabee
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Tishabee is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tishabee
- Boligee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belmont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Belmont is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Miller
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Miller is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
- Eutaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- McDowell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- McDowell is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Sawyerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Demopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Evansville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Evansville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Clinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mount Hebron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Hebron is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hebron
- Livingston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coatopa is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coatopa
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thornhill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thornhill.
Newspapers Published in Thornhill ...
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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thornhill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thornhill, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thornhill.
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 Thornhill:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Greene County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Choctaw County
- Hale County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Pickens County
- Sumter County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Kemper 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 Thornhill, 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' (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- Thornhill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |