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 Westgate (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 Westgate. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Westgate is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Autauga, Bullock, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Westgate. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westgate:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Westgate)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Young Forte Village
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Young Forte Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Forte Village
- Highland Village
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Highland Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
- Gibbs Village
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gibbs Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Village
- English Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- English Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Montgomery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Capitol Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Capitol Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitol Heights
- New Town
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Stone's
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Stone's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
- Hope Hull
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Boylston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Boylston is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boylston
- Catoma
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Catoma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Madison is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Sunshine Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sunshine Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine Village
- Autauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Prattville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Melmar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Melmar is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melmar
- Booth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Booth is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Pine Level
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Level is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Autaugaville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Autaugaville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Autaugaville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 882 people
- Gibbons ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gibbons is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbons
- Independence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Independence is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Marbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- White City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- White City is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Jones Bluff Dam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Jones Bluff Dam is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Bluff Dam
- Haynes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Haynes is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Statesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Statesville is located in Autauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statesville
- Bullock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Mitchell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mitchell is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Fitzpatrick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Fitzpatrick is located in Bullock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzpatrick
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Mountain Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Verbena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Crenshaw County
- Highland Home
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Elmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Prattville Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Prattville Junction is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattville Junction
- Coosada
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Robinson Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
- Elmore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Blue Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Ridge is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge
- Fusihatchi ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fusihatchi is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fusihatchi
- Wetumpka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Deatsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Adkin Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Adkin Hill is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adkin Hill
- Adkin Hill has also been known as:
- Atkins Hill
- Ware
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Ware is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Holtville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Holtville is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holtville
- Holtville has also been known as:
- Slapout
- Claud
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Claud is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claud
- Lightwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Burkville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
- Lowndesboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Letohatchee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Letohatchee is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letohatchee
- Hayneville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Davenport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Davenport is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
- White Hall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- White Hall is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 737 people
- Mosses
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mosses is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosses
- Population from the 2020 Census: 893 people
- Sandy Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Gordonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gordonville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Petronia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Petronia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petronia
- Fort Deposit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Benton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Benton is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Collirene
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Tysonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Tysonville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tysonville
- Shorter
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Calebee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Calebee is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calebee
- La Place
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- La Place is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Place
- Hardaway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hardaway is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardaway
- Hornady
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hornady is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornady
- Pike County
- Kent
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Tallapoosa County
- East Tallassee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Tallassee is located in Tallapoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tallassee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westgate, see our County-by-County Page for Westgate.
Cemeteries Near Westgate ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westgate.
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 Westgate - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westgate covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Montgomery Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Memorial Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Montgomery Memorial Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Montgomery.
- The Montgomery Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
- Memorial Heights Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #685952 <2>
- Westcott Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Kendal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Big Roxanna MB Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Remount Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Troy Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Joseph Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stones Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Holt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (297 more) ...
- Larkin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cantelous Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Strokes Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Westgate in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westgate.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westgate, with the one closest to Westgate listed first.
- Montgomery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stone's
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Stone's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone's
- McGehee's
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McGehee's is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGehee's
- Hope Hull
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Catoma
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Catoma is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoma
- Snowdoun
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Snowdoun is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowdoun
- Jackson's Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jackson's Lake is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson's Lake
- Barachias
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Barachias is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barachias
- Tharin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Tharin is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tharin
- Perry's Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Perry's Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry's Mill
- Prattville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Manack
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Manack is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manack
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Robinson Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Robinson Springs is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Springs
- Pike Road
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burkville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burkville is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westgate. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westgate.
Newspapers Published in Westgate ...
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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westgate.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westgate, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westgate.
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 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 Westgate:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bullock County
- Chilton County
- Crenshaw County
- Elmore County
- Lowndes County
- Macon County
- Pike County
- Tallapoosa 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 Westgate, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Westgate) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |