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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 Prosperity (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 Prosperity. 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.

Prosperity is located in Holmes 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 Holmes County: Geneva (AL), Jackson, Walton & Washington.

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

  • Holmes County     (The home county of Prosperity)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Cerrogordo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Cerrogordo is located in Holmes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerrogordo
    • Izagora
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Izagora is located in Holmes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
    • Westville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ponce de Leon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Bonifay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Esto
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Esto is located in Holmes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
    • Noma
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Jackson County
    • Graceville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Okaloosa County
    • Svea
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Svea is located in Okaloosa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svea
  • Walton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Union
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Union is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Pleasant Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Grove is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
    • Argyle
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • De Funiak Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Knox Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Knox Hill is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Hill
    • Mossy Head
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Paxton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Freeport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Portland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Portland is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Caryville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Coosada Old Town ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Coosada Old Town is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosada Old Town
    • Five Points
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Five Points is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
    • Millers Ferry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Millers Ferry is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Ferry
    • Brock Crossroad
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Brock Crossroad is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brock Crossroad
    • Vernon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Chipley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Wausau
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ebro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ebro is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ebro <1>
  • Coffee County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Central City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Central City is located in Coffee County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
    • Battens Crossroads
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Battens Crossroads is located in Coffee County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Battens Crossroads
    • Kinston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Goodman is located in Coffee County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodman
  • Covington County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Florala
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Florala is located in Covington County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florala
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,891 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Florala <1>
    • Lockhart
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lockhart is located in Covington County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockhart
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
  • Dale County (AL)
    • Clayhatchee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clayhatchee is located in Dale County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhatchee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 580 people
  • Geneva County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Geneva
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Geneva is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,262 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Geneva <1>
    • Eunola ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Eunola is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunola
    • Black
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Black is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
    • Costilla ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Costilla is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costilla
    • Samson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Samson is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,853 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Samson <1>
    • Coffee Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Coffee Springs is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffee Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Hartford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bellwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Bellwood is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
    • Chancellor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Chancellor is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chancellor
    • Scranton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Scranton is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
    • Dundee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dundee is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
    • Slocomb
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Slocomb is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocomb
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,929 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Slocomb <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Prosperity ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prosperity.

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

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

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

  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Merrill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Harris Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Leonia Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Broxton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Curry Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Padgett Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Ponce de Leon Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Westville Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Dyson Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Ray Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (131 more) ...
    • Blackman Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • McDuffie Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Royals Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<4>

While we didn't find Prosperity in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Prosperity.

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

  • Cerrogordo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Cerrogordo is located in Holmes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerrogordo
  • Union
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Union is located in Walton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
  • Westville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Izagora
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Izagora is located in Holmes County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Izagora
  • Ponce de Leon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Caryville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Argyle
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Vaughanville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Vaughanville is located in Geneva County (AL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughanville
  • Geneva
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Geneva is located in Geneva County (AL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,262 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Geneva <1>
  • Knox Hill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Knox Hill is located in Walton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Hill
  • Eucheeanna
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Eucheeanna is located in Walton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eucheeanna
  • Bonifay
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Marl
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Marl is located in Geneva County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marl
    • Redbay
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Redbay is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbay
    • Ealum
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Ealum is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ealum

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

Newspapers Published in Prosperity ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Prosperity.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Prosperity, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Prosperity.

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 Prosperity:

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>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- Prosperity) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Prosperity, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.