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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Westfield. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Westfield to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Westfield, please Contact Us.

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 Westfield (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 Westfield. 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 northeast 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 north.

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 north 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Westfield is historic, it would have been located within present day 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 Westfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westfield:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Westfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Fairfield Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Fairfield Village is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Village
    • Fairfield
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Wylam
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Dolomite
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Grove
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • McDonald Chapel
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • McDonald Chapel is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDonald Chapel
    • Midfield
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Roosevelt - Cairo Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgewater
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Edgewater is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater
    • Ensley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brighton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Duncan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Duncan is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
    • Industrial City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Industrial City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industrial City
  • Bibb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Green Pond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Blocton Junction
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • North Bibb
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • North Bibb is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bibb
    • Woodstock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Eddings
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Eddings is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
    • Cane Creek ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
    • Belle Ellen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Italian Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Italian Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
    • Nash Town ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Nash Town is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
    • Seymour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Seymour is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
    • Burmah ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Burmah is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burmah
    • Blocton ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Blocton is located in Bibb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
    • Bucktown ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 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 Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Dale ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Warrior
      (23 miles [37 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
    • County Line
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Reid's
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Smoke Rise
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Smoke Rise is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoke Rise
    • Selfville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Selfville is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selfville
    • Compton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dallas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dallas is located in Blount County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
    • Hayden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Remlap
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cullman County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Arkadelphia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Baltimore ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 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 Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Woodland Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Moody
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Acmar
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Brompton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Parsons
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Argo
      (28 miles [45.1 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
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Turnbough Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Turnbough Town is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbough Town
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Tacoa
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Tacoa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
    • 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
    • Bamford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Bamford is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
    • Falliston
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Falliston is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
    • Helena
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • 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
    • Meadowbrook
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Pelham
      (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
    • Tulse
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Tulse is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
    • Alabaster
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Brantleyville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Tuscaloosa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westfield, with the one closest to Westfield listed first.
    • Tannehill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
    • Lake View
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Bull City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
    • Abernant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kellerman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Vance
      (27 miles [43.5 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 <2>
    • Brookwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Walker County

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

Cemeteries Near Westfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westfield.

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 Westfield - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

While we didn't find Westfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westfield.

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

  • Dolomite
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Wylam
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Collins
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Collins is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
  • Hillman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillman is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
  • Duncan
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Duncan is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
  • Ensley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodward Junction
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Woodward Junction is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward Junction
  • Ware
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Ware is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
  • 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
  • Pratt Mines ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Sandusky
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Blue Creek Junction
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
    • Bessemer
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Brickyard Junction
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Brickyard Junction is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Junction

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

Newspapers Published in Westfield ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westfield, 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 Westfield.

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 Westfield:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Westfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Westfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.