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 Willow Glen (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 Willow Glen. 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 Willow Glen ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Willow Glen: Willow Gln.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Willow Glen. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Willow Glen.
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 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.
Willow Glen is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Jefferson, Saint Clair & Talladega.
Below are the counties that are near Willow Glen. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willow Glen:
- Shelby County (The home county of Willow Glen)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Maylene
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Siluria
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Saginaw
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Brantleyville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brantleyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brantleyville
- Alabaster
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Tulse
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Falliston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Helena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Montevallo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Tacoa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Bamford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Sawmill Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sawmill Town is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawmill Town
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Eddings
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Brierfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cane Creek ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cane Creek is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Creek
- Seymour
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Seymour is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Ashby
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Oakley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Nash Town ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nash Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Belle Ellen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Belle Ellen is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Ellen
- Blocton ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Blocton is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocton
- Corinne ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Corinne is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinne
- Italian Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Italian Town is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italian Town
- Woodstock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Blount County
- Dale ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dale is located in Blount County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Jemison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Thorsby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Jumbo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Clanton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Maplesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Coosa County
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Greenwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Hoover
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shannon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shannon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- McCalla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mobile Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mobile Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mobile Junction
- New Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Kimbrell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kimbrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbrell
- Bessemer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Old Jonesboro is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Jonesboro
- Lipscomb
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lipscomb is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,110 people
- Oxmoor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Oxmoor is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxmoor
- Blue Creek Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Creek Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Creek Junction
- Perry County
- Oakmulgee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oakmulgee is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmulgee
- Saint Clair County
- Vincent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Talladega County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Childersburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bon Air
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Oak Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Zubers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Tuscaloosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Tannehill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Tannehill is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tannehill
- Lake View
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lake View is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,732 people
- Abernant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Abernant is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abernant
- Vance
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bull City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bull City is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull City
- Brookwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Kellerman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Kellerman is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerman
- Pearson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pearson is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Coaling
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Coaling is located in Tuscaloosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,633 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willow Glen, see our County-by-County Page for Willow Glen.
Cemeteries Near Willow Glen ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willow Glen.
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 Willow Glen - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willow Glen covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Still Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Goodson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Benten Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Maylene Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ryan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wildwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Moores Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harles Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Black Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Siluria Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Moores Crossroads Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (429 more) ...
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Longview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Nelson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Willow Glen in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Willow Glen.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
- Maylene
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Longview
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Longview is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Siluria
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
- Dogwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dogwood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Tulse
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tulse is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulse
- Falliston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Falliston is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falliston
- Montevallo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Helena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bamford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bamford is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bamford
- Gurnee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gurnee is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurnee
- Tacoa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tacoa is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoa
- Anita
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Anita is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anita
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Calera
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- South Calera
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Calera is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Calera
- Shelby Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby Springs is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby Springs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willow Glen. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willow Glen.
Newspapers Published in Willow Glen ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willow Glen.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willow Glen, 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 Willow Glen.
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 Willow Glen:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bibb County
- Blount County
- Chilton County
- Coosa County
- Jefferson County
- Perry County
- Saint Clair County
- Talladega County
- Tuscaloosa 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 Willow Glen, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Willow Glen) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |