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 Valley Grove (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 Valley Grove. 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 Valley Grove ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Valley Grove: Valley Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Grove.
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 southwest 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 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.
Valley Grove is located in Colbert 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 Colbert County: Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence & Tishomingo (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Valley Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Grove:
- Colbert County (The home county of Valley Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Muscle Shoals
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Leighton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nitrate City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Tuscumbia
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- White House Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Ford City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Russellville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Churntown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Belgreen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Spruce Pine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Phil Campbell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Site
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Site is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Site
- Burntout
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burntout is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burntout
- Burntout has also been known as:
- Burn Out
- Burnout
- Burnt Out
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Mars Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Cypress Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Saint Florian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Killen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Tree ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Green Tree is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
- McGee Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- McGee Town is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee Town
- Bailey Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Edmond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Town Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Red Bank
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Wheeler Dam Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Concord
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hatton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Courtland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- North Courtland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Mount Hope
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Lentzville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Poplar Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Cairo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Marion County
- Bear Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Morgan County
- Trinity
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Pebble
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- Oldham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Oldham is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Iron City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Liberty Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Busby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Westpoint
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Appleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Cypress Inn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Corning ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Grove.
Cemeteries Near Valley Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Grove.
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 Valley Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Aycock Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Adams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Gunn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bickley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mayers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Glendale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Blocker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Ricks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cole Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Morning Star Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ligon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rand Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (698 more) ...
- Gargis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Colbert County Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Old Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Valley Grove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Grove.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Grove, with the one closest to Valley Grove listed first.
- Spring Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Leighton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Tuscumbia
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Littleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Bingham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bingham is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Florence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edmond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Mars Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Town Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Florian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Grove.
Newspapers Published in Valley Grove ...
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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Grove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Grove, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Grove.
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 websites either 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 Valley Grove:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Winston County
- Tishomingo County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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 Valley Grove, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Valley Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |