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 Wilson Dam (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 Wilson Dam. 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 hospitals and 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.
Wilson Dam is primarily located in Colbert County. A portion of Wilson Dam extends into Lauderdale 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 Wilson Dam. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wilson Dam:
- Colbert County (The home county of Wilson Dam)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- South Florence
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Muscle Shoals
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ford City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- Nitrate City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Sheffield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Tuscumbia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leighton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- White House Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Gatesville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gatesville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatesville
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Russellville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rockwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Belgreen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Churntown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Spruce Pine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Pleasant Site
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Site is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Site
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Florence
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mars Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Saint Florian
(4 miles [6.4 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
- Cypress Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Jacksonburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Bailey Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Killen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- McGee Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- McGee Town is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee Town
- Arnot
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Edmond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Red Bank
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Town Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Courtland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- North Courtland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Courtland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 621 people
- Concord
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mount Hope
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mountain Home
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Hillsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Cairo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Lentzville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Poplar Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Ripley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Lester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lester is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Tishomingo County (MS)
- Oldham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Oldham is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Iron City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Rascal Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Saint Joseph
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,825 people
- Loretto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Westpoint
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Busby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Appleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Leoma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Cypress Inn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Corning ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Whittens Stand ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Collinwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Collinwood is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 932 people
- Lutts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wilson Dam, see our County-by-County Page for Wilson Dam.
Cemeteries Near Wilson Dam ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilson Dam.
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 Wilson Dam - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wilson Dam covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Price Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Florence Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Murphy - Kemper - Cockburn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pearsall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Huff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kachelman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jackson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Moore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Whitamore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (692 more) ...
- Kernachan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jones Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gresham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
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 Wilson Dam in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wilson Dam.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wilson Dam, with the one closest to Wilson Dam listed first.
- Florence
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- South Florence
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Mars Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Saint Florian
(4 miles [6.4 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
- Sheffield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Tuscumbia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Bailey Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Leighton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Webster ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Oakland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Spring Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Hunter ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hunter is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Pruitton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wilson Dam. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilson Dam.
Newspapers Published in Wilson Dam ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilson Dam.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilson Dam, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wilson Dam.
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 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 Wilson Dam:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Colbert County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Tishomingo 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 Wilson Dam, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wilson Dam) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |