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 Fairfield (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 Fairfield. 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 West Fairfield ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Fairfield: W. Fairfield
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Fairfield. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Fairfield.
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 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.
West Fairfield 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 Fairfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Fairfield:
- Jefferson County (The home county of West Fairfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Dolomite
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Midfield
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Roosevelt - Cairo Village
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Brighton
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Westfield ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Westfield is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Fairfield Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fairfield Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Village
- Fairfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lipscomb
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
- Winetka
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Winetka is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winetka
- Industrial City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Industrial City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industrial City
- Bessemer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Blue Creek Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Green Pond
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Blocton Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Bibb is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
- Woodstock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Eddings
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Belle Ellen
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Seymour
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Italian Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Burmah ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Burmah is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Bucktown ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bucktown is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Blount County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Dale ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Warrior
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Red Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Red Hill is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- County Line
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- County Line is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Reid's
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Reid's is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid's
- Selfville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Selfville is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Woodland Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Moody
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Brompton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Acmar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Acmar is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acmar
- Parsons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Parsons is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsons
- Argo
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Tacoa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Bamford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Helena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Falliston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Indian Springs Village
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Inverness
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Inverness is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Meadowbrook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Tulse
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Pelham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Purdy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lake Purdy is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Purdy
- Alabaster
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bridgeton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Bridgeton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Brantleyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Tannehill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Abernant
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Bull City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Kellerman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Vance
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brookwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Coaling
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Quinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Twilley Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley Town
- Reeds Ferry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Reeds Ferry is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Ferry
- Yerkwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Yerkwood is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkwood
- Wyatt
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Wyatt is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Burnwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Burnwell is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwell
- Oakahalla
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oakahalla is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakahalla
- Dora
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Red Star is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Star
- Sumiton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sumiton is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumiton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,330 people
- Former names for Sumiton:
- Commercial
- Democrat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumiton <1>
- Barney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barney is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barney
- Goodsprings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Goodsprings is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Dovertown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dovertown is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovertown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Fairfield, see our County-by-County Page for West Fairfield.
Cemeteries Near West Fairfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Fairfield.
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 Fairfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Fairfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Joley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Oakdale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Brighton Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton Memorial Gardens
- The Brighton Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
- Brighton Cemetery
- Valhalla Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mason Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Forest Grove Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Highland Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beth-El Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (357 more) ...
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oakland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shadowlawn Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Fairfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Fairfield.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Fairfield, with the one closest to West Fairfield listed first.
- Dolomite
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Collins
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Collins is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- Woodward Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Woodward Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward Junction
- Hillman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hillman is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
- Blue Creek Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Bessemer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Brickyard Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction
- Ware
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ware is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Duncan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Duncan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Wylam
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wylam is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylam
- Old Jonesboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Sloss
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sloss is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloss
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Ishkooda
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ishkooda is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ishkooda
- Powderly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Powderly is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powderly
- Ensley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ensley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ensley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Fairfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Fairfield.
Newspapers Published in West Fairfield ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Fairfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Fairfield, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Fairfield.
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 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 West Fairfield:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Walker 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> | 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 Fairfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- West Fairfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |