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 Wren (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 Wren. 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 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.
Wren is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Limestone, Morgan & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Wren. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wren:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Wren)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Moulton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Muck City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Muck City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muck City
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Chalybeate Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chalybeate Springs is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
- Mountain Home
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Mount Hope
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Concord
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hatton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Hillsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Avoca is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Courtland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Colbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Campbell Settlement ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell Settlement is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Settlement
- Leighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Littleville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Littleville is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
- Nitrate City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nitrate City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitrate City
- Ford City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ford City is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford City
- White House Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- White House Springs is located in Colbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White House Springs
- Davidsons Cross Roads ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Muscle Shoals
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tuscumbia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cullman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Jones' Chapel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jones' Chapel is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones' Chapel
- Central
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Central is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
- Chances Crossroad
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chances Crossroad is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chances Crossroad
- West Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- West Point is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 604 people
- Crane Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Logan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vinemont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Vinemont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- South Vinemont is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vinemont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 636 people
- Trimble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Trimble is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Churntown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Churntown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churntown
- Phil Campbell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Spruce Pine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Spruce Pine is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce Pine
- Russellville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rockwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rockwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Lauderdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Dells Vista Shores
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dells Vista Shores is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dells Vista Shores
- Belleview ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Belleview is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Rogersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rogersville is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,293 people
- Former name for Rogersville:
- Rodgersville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rogersville <1>
- Beach Grove ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Beach Grove is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Grove
- Confluence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Confluence is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Elgin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Elgin is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Estep ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Estep is located in Lauderdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estep
- Limestone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Harris Station
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Harris Station is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Station
- Orrville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Orrville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orrville
- Ripley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ripley is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Poplar Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Poplar Creek is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Creek
- Mooresville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tanner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Mina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Mina is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Mina
- Westlake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Westlake is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Lentzville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lentzville is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentzville
- Swancott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Swancott is located in Limestone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swancott
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Bear Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Thornhill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thornhill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Danville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Trinity
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Plains
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cedar Plains is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Plains
- Austinville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Austinville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Flint City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Flint City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint City
- Moulton Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Moulton Heights is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moulton Heights
- Russell Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Russell Village is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Village
- Simpson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Hartselle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Decatur
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54,381 people
- Former names for Decatur:
- Albany
- New Decatur
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Decatur <1>
- Burningtree Mountain
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Burningtree Mountain is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burningtree Mountain
- Falkville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Grayson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Grayson is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Ellaville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Upshaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Addison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Ashridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ashridge is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashridge
- Pebble
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebble
- Prebble ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Prebble is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prebble
- Double Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Houston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Littleville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Littleville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- Haleyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Arley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wren, see our County-by-County Page for Wren.
Cemeteries Near Wren ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wren.
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 Wren - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wren covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Roberts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Montgomery Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Gibson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bogar Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cheatham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Almon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Aldridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Woodard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Simms Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Warren Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Heflin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Aldridge Grove Church of Christ Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (787 more) ...
- Milam Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McDonald Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Byars Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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 Wren in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wren.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wren, with the one closest to Wren listed first.
- Moulton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Landersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Landersville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landersville
- Jesseton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jesseton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesseton
- Oakville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oakville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Mountain Home
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mountain Home is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Home
- Camp Spring ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Camp Spring is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Spring
- Mount Hope
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Hope is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Hatton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hatton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Concord
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Concord is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Ellaville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ellaville is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellaville
- Upshaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Upshaw is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upshaw
- Neel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Neel is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Kinlock ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kinlock is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinlock
- Clifty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clifty is located in Cullman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Hillsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wren. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wren.
Newspapers Published in Wren ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wren.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wren, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wren.
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 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 Wren:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Colbert County
- Cullman County
- Franklin County
- Lauderdale County
- Limestone County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Winston 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 Wren, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wren) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |