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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 West End (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 West End. 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 doctors 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.

West End is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Bibb, Blount, Saint Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa & Walker.

Below are the counties that are near West End. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West End:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of West End)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Mason City
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Mason City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason City
    • Ensley
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ishkooda
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Ishkooda is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ishkooda
    • Duncan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Duncan is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
    • Fairfield Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Fairfield Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Village
    • Fairfield
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Pratt City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Pratt City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt City
    • Pratt Mines ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Homewood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wylam
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • English Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • English Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
    • Birmingham
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Green Pond
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodstock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Eddings
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Eddings is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
    • Blocton Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • North Bibb
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • North Bibb is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
    • Seymour
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Seymour is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
    • Belle Ellen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Nash Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Nash Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
    • Blocton ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Blocton is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
    • Bucktown ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bucktown is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
    • Burmah ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Burmah is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
  • Blount County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Dale ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Warrior
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • County Line
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Red Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Red Hill is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
    • Compton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Selfville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Selfville is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
    • Reid's
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Smoke Rise
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
    • Dallas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Dallas is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
    • Remlap
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hayden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Adville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Cullman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Arkadelphia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Baltimore ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Baltimore is located in Cullman County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Woodland Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Moody
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Brompton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Acmar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Parsons
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Argo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Argo is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,278 people
    • Margaret
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Turnbough Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
    • Cook's Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Cook's Springs is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook's Springs
    • Vincent
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Vincent is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,223 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vincent <1>
    • Springville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Branchville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Branchville is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Inverness
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Inverness is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
    • Lake Purdy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
    • Indian Springs Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Indian Springs Village is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,628 people
    • Meadowbrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Bridgeton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Falliston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
    • Tacoa
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Tacoa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
    • Pelham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Shoal Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Helena
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Bamford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Alabaster
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Talladega County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • East Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • East Bend is located in Talladega County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bend
    • Logan Martin Dam
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Tuscaloosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Tannehill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
    • Lake View
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Abernant
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bull City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
    • Kellerman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Vance
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Vance is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,807 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vance <1>
  • Walker County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West End, see our County-by-County Page for West End.

Cemeteries Near West End ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West End.

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 West End - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for West End covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.

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 West End in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West End.

These communities are listed based on their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.

  • Powderly
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Powderly is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderly
  • Duncan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Duncan is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
  • Ishkooda
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Ishkooda is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ishkooda
  • Spaulding
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Spaulding is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
  • Thomas
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Thomas is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
  • Ensley
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hillman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hillman is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
  • Ware
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Ware is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
  • Pratt Mines ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wylam
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Oxmoor
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sandusky
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West End. See our List of 1890's Communities around West End.

Newspapers Published in West End ...

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 188 newspapers that have been published in the area around West End.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West End, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West End.

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 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 West End:

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 West End, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- West End) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.