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 Whiteoak (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 Whiteoak. 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 Whiteoak ...
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.
Another variation: White Oak.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Whiteoak. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Whiteoak.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Whiteoak is located in Colbert 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 Colbert County: Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence & Tishomingo (MS).
Below are the counties that are near Whiteoak. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whiteoak:
- Colbert County (The home county of Whiteoak)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Leighton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Nitrate City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Muscle Shoals
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ford City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Littleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- White House Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- South Florence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Tuscumbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Russellville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Churntown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Rockwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Spruce Pine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Belgreen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Phil Campbell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Killen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dells Vista Shores
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Elgin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Cypress Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Mars Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Bailey Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Saint Florian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Florian is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Florian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Edmond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Town Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hatton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- North Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Red Bank
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Wheeler Dam Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Mount Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mountain Home
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Muck City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Ripley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Poplar Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Lentzville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Cairo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Marion County
- Bear Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Trinity
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Moulton Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Danville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Austinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Simpson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Pebble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Littleville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Grayson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ashridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Haleyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ellaville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Rascal Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Iron City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Saint Joseph
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Appleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Cypress Inn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Corning ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Corning is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,210 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Whiteoak, see our County-by-County Page for Whiteoak.
Cemeteries Near Whiteoak ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whiteoak.
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 Whiteoak - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Whiteoak covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Blythe Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Preuit Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- LaGrange Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- King Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rand Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jenkins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Roden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion FWB Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- King Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gargis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Leigh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ricks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (742 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Gargis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- King Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Whiteoak in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Whiteoak.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Whiteoak, with the one closest to Whiteoak listed first.
- Bingham
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bingham is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Leighton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Edmond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Spring Valley
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Town Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hatton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Littleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Concord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- South Florence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Tuscumbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Newburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Newburg is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Courtland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sheffield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Whiteoak. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whiteoak.
Newspapers Published in Whiteoak ...
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 Whiteoak.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Whiteoak, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Whiteoak.
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 Whiteoak:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Winston County
- Lawrence County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Whiteoak, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Whiteoak) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |