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 northwest 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 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.
Union is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Colbert, Lawrence, Marion, Winston, Itawamba (MS) & Tishomingo (MS).
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:
- Franklin County (The home county of Union)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Churntown
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Phil Campbell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Spruce Pine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Rockwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Russellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belgreen
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Hodges
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Burntout
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Burntout is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burntout
- Burntout has also been known as:
- Burn Out
- Burnout
- Burnt Out
- Vina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Vina is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Pleasant Site
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Site is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Site
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Littleville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Spring Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- White House Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Leighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Muscle Shoals
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tuscumbia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Nitrate City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Denton ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Denton is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denton
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Red Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Red Rock is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Mount Hope
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Concord
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Muck City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Hatton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Wren
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wren is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Moulton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Edmond
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Mountain Home
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Chalybeate Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Town Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Bear Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thornhill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Thornhill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
- Hackleburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hackleburg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
- Brilliant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rock City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rock City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Hamilton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Twin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Twin is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 386 people
- Weston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Weston is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Yampertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yampertown is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yampertown
- Morgan County
- Danville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Nauvoo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Slicklizzard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Slicklizzard is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slicklizzard
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Pebble
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Haleyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Ashridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Boar Tush
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Boar Tush is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boar Tush
- Boar Tush has also been known as:
- Boar Tusk
- Boartush
- Boartusk
- Delmar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Delmar is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delmar
- Grayson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ellaville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Glen Mary
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Glen Mary is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Mary
- Double Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Natural Bridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lynn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lynn is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
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.
- Orange Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Orange Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Duboise Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbrough Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Union Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Poplar Spring Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Beulah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Watson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Chestnut Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Posey Mill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (733 more) ...
- Macedonia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gray Rock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Rock Cemetery
- The Gray Rock Cemetery has also been known as:
- Gray Rock Methodist Church Cemetery
- Dime Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 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.
- Kinlock ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kinlock is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinlock
- Pebble
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Newburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Newburg is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Mount Hope
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Waco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Waco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco
- Spruce Pine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Bear Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Haleyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Goddard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Goddard is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
- Landersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Landersville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landersville
- Isbell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Isbell is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isbell
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Concord
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Russellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
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 45 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 23 miles [37 km]<3>. 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 Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Walker County
- Winston 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 Union, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things 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'. |