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 Union (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 Union. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Union is located in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County: Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Union. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Union:
- Calhoun County (The home county of Union)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Wellington
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Wellington is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington
- Alexandria
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mack ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mack is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack
- Angel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Angel is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
- Hebron ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Clark ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clark is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Blue Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs
- Chigger Ridge ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chigger Ridge is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chigger Ridge
- Grayton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grayton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayton
- Peaceburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Peaceburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaceburg
- Booker T City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Booker T City is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booker T City
- Beasley ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beasley is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Appalachian
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Appalachian is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appalachian
- Straight Mountain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Straight Mountain is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Mountain
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Ball Flat
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ball Flat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Flat
- Ricks ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ricks is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricks
- Spring Garden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Coloma ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Coloma is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
- Turkey Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Turkey Town is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey Town
- Exie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Exie is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exie
- Moshat
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moshat is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshat
- Leesburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Centre
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Run
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rock Run is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Run
- Anderson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Noah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Noah is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noah
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Elder
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Elder is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
- Haynes Crossroad
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Haynes Crossroad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Crossroad
- Delta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cleburne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Grantley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Grantley is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantley
- Heflin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Abel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Abel is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abel
- Edwardsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Edwardsville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
- Oak Level
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oak Level is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
- Hollis Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hollis Crossroads is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Crossroads
- Borden Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Borden Springs is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Springs
- Fruithurst
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fruithurst is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruithurst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Palestine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Palestine is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Ai
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ai is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ai
- Muscadine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Muscadine is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscadine
- Micaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Micaville is located in Cleburne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Micaville
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Marcus ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Marcus is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Rodentown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rodentown is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodentown
- Mount Zion ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Etowah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Cobb City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cobb City is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb City
- Brannon Springs ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brannon Springs is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brannon Springs
- Markton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Markton is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markton
- Glencoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pilgrims Rest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pilgrims Rest is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrims Rest
- Burns Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Burns Park is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns Park
- Hokes Bluff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rainbow City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Gadsden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- East Gadsden is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gadsden
- Banner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Banner is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner
- Edwardsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Edwardsville is located in Etowah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
- Gadsden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marshall County
- Boaz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Ragland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Steele
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ashville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Riverside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Coal City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Coal City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Whitney Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Whitney Junction is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney Junction
- Seddon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Seddon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seddon
- Wattsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wattsville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Avondale Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Avondale Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale Village
- Glen City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glen City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen City
- Pell City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cropwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Coldwater
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Coldwater is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Silver Run
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Silver Run is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Run
- Grant Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Grant Town is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Kentuck
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Kentuck is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Munford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lincoln
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- McElderry
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- McElderry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElderry
- Colony
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Colony is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colony
- Windsong Island
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Windsong Island is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsong Island
- Ironaton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ironaton is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironaton
- Talladega
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Waldo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Waldo is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Polk County (GA)
- Esom Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Union, see our County-by-County Page for Union.
Cemeteries Near Union ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Union.
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 Union - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Union covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Alexandria Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bethel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Crooks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gladden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crystal Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hebron Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hampton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- New Mt. Sellers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Anniston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (301 more) ...
- Halls Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tredagar - Boozer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Moore 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>
While we didn't find Union in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Union.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Duke
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Duke is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke
- Alexandria
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sulphur Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Mack ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mack is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack
- Hebron ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Grayton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grayton is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayton
- Peek's Hill ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peek's Hill is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peek's Hill
- Peaceburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Peaceburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaceburg
- Laney
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Laney is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laney
- Morrisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Morrisville is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
- Leatherwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Leatherwood is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Bera ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bera is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bera
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Jacksonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ohatchee
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Francis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Francis is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Union. See our List of 1890's Communities around Union.
Newspapers Published in Union ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Union.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Union, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Union.
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 Union:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Calhoun County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blount County
- Cherokee County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- DeKalb County
- Etowah County
- Marshall County
- Saint Clair County
- Talladega County
- Polk 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 Union, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Union) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |