RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Jefferson County >> Alma >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Alma (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 Alma. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

Alma is located in Jefferson County.

To see how the shape of Florida's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jefferson County: Leon, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Brooks (GA) & Thomas (GA).

Below are the counties that are near Alma. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alma:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Alma)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
    • Monticello
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lloyd
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Aucilla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Aucilla is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucilla
    • Waukeenah
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Lamont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Thomas City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Thomas City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas City
    • Wacissa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Gadsden County
    • Havana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Leon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
    • Miccosukee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Capitola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Capitola is located in Leon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
    • Iamonia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Iamonia is located in Leon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iamonia
    • Bradfordville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Bradfordville is located in Leon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordville
    • Ocklockonee ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Ocklockonee is located in Leon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocklockonee
    • Tallahassee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
    • Greenville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Hamburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
    • Cherry Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cherry Lake is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Lake
    • Madison
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Taylor County
  • Brooks County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
    • Dixie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Empress
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Empress is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empress
    • Barwick
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Quitman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Quitman is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quitman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,625 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Quitman <1>
    • Fodie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fodie is located in Brooks County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fodie
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,037 people
  • Grady County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
    • Midway
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Midway is located in Grady County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Good Hope ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Good Hope is located in Grady County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
      • Estimated population in 2019: 300 people
    • Cairo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Cairo is located in Grady County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,302 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cairo <1>
    • Reno
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Reno is located in Grady County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
      • Estimated population in 2019: 285 people
    • Woodland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodland is located in Grady County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
      • Estimated population in 2019: 353 people
    • Calvary
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Thomas County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
    • Newark
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Newark is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
      • Estimated population in 2019: 783 people
    • Boston
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Boston is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,313 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boston <1>
    • Dewey City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Dewey City is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewey City
    • Thomasville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Fredonia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Fredonia is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
    • Ochlocknee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Pavo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Pavo is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 602 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pavo <1>
    • Coolidge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Hansell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Hansell is located in Thomas County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansell
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,534 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alma, see our County-by-County Page for Alma.

Cemeteries Near Alma ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alma.

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 Alma - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alma covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.

  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Zion Cemetery
    • The Mt. Zion Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mt. Zion AME Church Cemetery
  • Roseland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Texas Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Sneeds Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Browns Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Roddenberry Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Milton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Little Flock Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Runner Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Oakfield Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Glasgow Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (273 more) ...
    • Bellamy Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Hicks Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Laffittee Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Alma in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alma.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.

  • Monticello
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Aucilla ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Aucilla is located in Thomas County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucilla
  • Metcalf
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Metcalf is located in Thomas County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalf
  • Miccosukee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Lloyd
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Aucilla
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Aucilla is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucilla
  • Waukeenah
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Boston
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Boston is located in Thomas County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,313 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boston <1>
  • Iamonia
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Iamonia is located in Leon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iamonia
  • Thomasville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Lamont
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Chaires
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Chaires is located in Leon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaires
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Bradfordville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Bradfordville is located in Leon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordville
    • Wacissa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Greenville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alma. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alma.

Newspapers Published in Alma ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alma.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alma, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alma.

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 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 Alma:

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 Alma, 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 from Point A (ie- Alma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.