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 Waco (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 Waco. 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.
Waco 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 Waco. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Waco:
- Franklin County (The home county of Waco)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Russellville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Churntown
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Spruce Pine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Rockwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Phil Campbell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Belgreen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Hodges
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Burntout
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Pleasant Site
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Site is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Site
- Vina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Vina is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Red Bay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Littleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- White House Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Spring Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Leighton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscumbia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Muscle Shoals
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Nitrate City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Sheffield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Red Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Rock is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Denton ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Denton is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denton
- Gatesville ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gatesville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatesville
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Cypress Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Green Tree ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Green Tree is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Tree
- Mars Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- McGee Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- McGee Town is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee Town
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Killen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Saint Florian
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Bailey Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Dells Vista Shores
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Mount Hope
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Concord
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Edmond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Hatton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Muck City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Town Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Moulton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wren
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wren is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Mountain Home
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Courtland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Bear Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hackleburg
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Thornhill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Thornhill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
- Hamilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Weston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Weston is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Pebble
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Haleyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Boar Tush
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Ashridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Delmar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Delmar is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delmar
- Grayson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Glen Mary
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Glen Mary is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Mary
- Ellaville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Natural Bridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Double Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lynn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lynn is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 632 people
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- Golden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Waco, see our County-by-County Page for Waco.
Cemeteries Near Waco ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waco.
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 Waco - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Waco covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Drake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Number 6 Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sargent Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Harris Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cherry Hill Baptist Church Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the southeast of Russellville.
- The Cherry Hill Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cherry Hill Cemetery
- Mt. Nebo Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tharptown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bobo Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Friendship MB Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kirk Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rea Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gravel Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (719 more) ...
- Kirkland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Pleasant UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Counts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Waco had a population of 86 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Waco, with the one closest to Waco listed first.
- Newburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Newburg is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Russellville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Isbell
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Isbell is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isbell
- Rockwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Spruce Pine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Littleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Mount Hope
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Concord
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Spring Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Frankfort
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Belgreen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Bear Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Waco. See our List of 1890's Communities around Waco.
Newspapers Published in Waco ...
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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Waco.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Waco, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Waco.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Waco:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Marion County
- Winston County
- Tishomingo 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Waco) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Waco, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |