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 Vance (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 Vance. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Vance is primarily located in Tuscaloosa County. A portion of Vance extends into Bibb 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 Tuscaloosa County: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson & Pickens.
Below are the counties that are near Vance. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vance:
- Tuscaloosa County (The home county of Vance)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Coaling
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Brookwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Abernant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Lake View
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Tannehill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Hagler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Pearson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Peterson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Peterson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterson
- Kellerman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Cottondale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Duncanville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Duncanville is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Holt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Holt is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
- Alberta City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Alberta City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta City
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Blocton Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blocton Junction is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton Junction
- Blocton Junction has also been known as:
- Blockton Junc
- North Bibb
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Woodstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Green Pond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fikestown ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fikestown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fikestown
- West Blocton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Italian Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Scottsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Belle Ellen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Phipps ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Phipps is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phipps
- Moundville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Powers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Powers is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Kimbrell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- North Johns
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Johns is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Adger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- McCalla
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bullard Shoals ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bullard Shoals is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullard Shoals
- Ezra
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ezra is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezra
- Oak Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Greenwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Mobile Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- Hueytown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Jonesboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Bessemer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Creek Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Bethlehem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Jericho
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jericho is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Oakmulgee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Brush Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Morgan Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Aden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Aden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aden
- Sawmill Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Bamford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Tulse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Brantleyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Maylene
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Montevallo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wilton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wilton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 684 people
- Former names for Wilton:
- Birmingham Junction
- Bismarck
- Catoosa
- Woods
- Woodsborough
- Helena
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Alabaster
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Falliston
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Siluria
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Tacoa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vance, see our County-by-County Page for Vance.
Cemeteries Near Vance ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vance.
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 Vance - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vance covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Mt. Gillard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Shuttlesworth Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Banks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Johnstown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Clements Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bibbville Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Belchers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Little Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Caffee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (394 more) ...
- John T. Thrasher Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Vance had a population of 96 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Vance had a population of 1,807 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vance, with the one closest to Vance listed first.
- Bibbville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bibbville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bibbville
- Dudley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Dudley is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Blocton Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Giles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Giles is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giles
- Coaling
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Green Pond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chamblee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chamblee is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblee
- Brookwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Scottsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Scottsville is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottsville
- Hagler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hagler is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagler
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Tannehill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Yolande
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Yolande is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yolande
- Cottondale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vance. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vance.
Newspapers Published in Vance ...
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 6 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vance.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vance, 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 Vance.
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 helpful 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 Vance:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Tuscaloosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Hale County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Shelby 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> | 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- Vance) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Vance, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |