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 Westbrook (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 Westbrook. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Westbrook is located in Dallas 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 Dallas County: Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry & Wilcox.
Below are the counties that are near Westbrook. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westbrook:
- Dallas County (The home county of Westbrook)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Safford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Orrville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Central Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Crumptonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Browns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Marion Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Harrell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Cahawba ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cahawba is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahawba
- Sunset Mill Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sunset Mill Village is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Mill Village
- Selma
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Belknap
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Sardis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Autauga County
- Fremont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fremont is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Hale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Newbern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newbern is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
- Prairieville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Prairieville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Gallion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gallion is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallion
- Rosemary
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rosemary is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemary
- Cedarville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Arcola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola is located in Hale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Greensboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lowndes County
- Benton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Marengo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Consul
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Consul is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Consul
- Flatwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Flatwood is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwood
- Crenshaw ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Crenshaw is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Faunsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Siddonsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Siddonsville is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siddonsville
- Thomaston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Thomaston is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Dayton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Tombigbee ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Tombigbee is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tombigbee
- Hugo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hugo is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugo
- Magnolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Magnolia is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Providence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Providence is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Vineland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vineland is located in Marengo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Linden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Freetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Freetown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freetown
- Ellawhite
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ellawhite is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellawhite
- The Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- The Village is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Uniontown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Vilula
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Vilula is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilula
- Suttle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Suttle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- Augustin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Augustin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustin
- Marion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sprott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sprott is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprott
- Morgan Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morgan Springs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Springs
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Alberta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alberta is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Rehoboth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Gastonburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Catherine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
- Prairie Bluff ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Prairie Bluff is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Bluff
- Prairie Bluff has also been known as:
- Dale
- Daletown
- Millers Ferry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Millers Ferry is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
- Bethel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Boykin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Boykin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boykin
- Lamison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lamison is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamison
- Camden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rockwest
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rockwest is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwest
- Anne Manie
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Anne Manie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anne Manie
- Arlington
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westbrook, see our County-by-County Page for Westbrook.
Cemeteries Near Westbrook ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westbrook.
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 Westbrook - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westbrook covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Martins Station Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- New Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. John Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Chapter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Orrville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Christian Light Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hardy Young Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Barnes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Barnes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- New Vernon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Vernon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Westbrook in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westbrook.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westbrook, with the one closest to Westbrook listed first.
- Eleanor
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Eleanor is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Safford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bogue Chitto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bogue Chitto is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogue Chitto
- Orrville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Central Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Central Mills is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Mills
- Crumptonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Hazen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hazen is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Browns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Browns is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns
- Massillon ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Massillon is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massillon
- Rehoboth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rehoboth is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Marion Junction
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marion Junction is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion Junction
- Gastonburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonburg is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonburg
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Tasso
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tasso is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
- Harrell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harrell is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrell
- Catherine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Catherine is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westbrook. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westbrook.
Newspapers Published in Westbrook ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westbrook.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westbrook, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westbrook.
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 Westbrook:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Dallas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Hale County
- Lowndes County
- Marengo County
- Perry County
- Wilcox 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 Westbrook, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Westbrook) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |