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 Heights (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 Heights. 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 Wilson Heights ...
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 Wilson Heights: Wilson Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Wilson Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Wilson Heights.
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.
Wilson Heights is located in 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 Lauderdale County: Colbert, Lawrence, Limestone, Tishomingo (MS), Giles (TN), Hardin (TN), Lawrence (TN) & Wayne (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Wilson Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wilson Heights:
- Lauderdale County (The home county of Wilson Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Bainbridge ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bainbridge is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Saint Florian
(2 miles [3.2 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
- Mars Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Bailey Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Jacksonburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Canaan ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Canaan is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Killen
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Arnot
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Arnot is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnot
- Cypress Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cypress Creek is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Creek
- Atlas ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Atlas is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- McGee Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- McGee Town is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGee Town
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Wilson Dam
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wilson Dam is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Dam
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- South Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Ford City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- 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
- Muscle Shoals
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Furnace Hill ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Furnace Hill is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Hill
- Tuscumbia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Leighton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Russellville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rockwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Slickrock Ford ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Slickrock Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickrock Ford
- Belgreen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Belgreen is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgreen
- Churntown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Spruce Pine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Wheeler Dam Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Wheeler Dam Village is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler Dam Village
- Red Bank
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Edmond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Edmond is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmond
- Town Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Mehama ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mehama is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehama
- Courtland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- 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
- Hatton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Mount Hope
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Mountain Home
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Cairo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cairo is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
- Lentzville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Poplar Creek
(27 miles [43.5 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
(28 miles [45.1 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Oldham is located in Tishomingo County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham
- Giles County (TN)
- Minor Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Minor Hill is located in Giles County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 533 people
- Lawrence County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Iron City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Rascal Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rascal Town is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rascal Town
- Saint Joseph
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty Grove
(19 miles [30.6 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Westpoint
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Westpoint is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westpoint
- Busby
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Busby is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busby
- Appleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Leoma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River is located in Lawrence County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Wayne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Cypress Inn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cypress Inn is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Inn
- Corning ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Whittens Stand is located in Wayne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittens Stand
- Collinwood
(24 miles [38.6 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wilson Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Wilson Heights.
Cemeteries Near Wilson Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilson Heights.
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 Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wilson Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Huff Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hawkins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jones Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Price Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Price Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kachelman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Moore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gresham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Florence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (698 more) ...
- Whitamore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kernachan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Huff Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
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 Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wilson Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wilson Heights, with the one closest to Wilson Heights listed first.
- Mars Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mars Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars Hill
- Saint Florian
(2 miles [3.2 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
- Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Florence is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Florence
- Jacksonburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jacksonburg is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonburg
- Bailey Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bailey Springs is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Springs
- Sheffield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Webster ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Tuscumbia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Leighton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pruitton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pruitton is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruitton
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Oakland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Green Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Cloverdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wilson Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilson Heights.
Newspapers Published in Wilson Heights ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilson Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilson Heights, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wilson Heights.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Wilson Heights:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lauderdale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Franklin County
- Lawrence County
- Limestone County
- Tishomingo County
- Giles 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 Heights, 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' (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- Wilson Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |