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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Salem is located in Catoosa County.
To see how the shape of Georgia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Catoosa County: Walker, Whitfield & Hamilton (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Catoosa County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Mount Vernon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,371 people
- Catoosa Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Catoosa Springs is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoosa Springs
- Ringgold
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Graysville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Poplar Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Poplar Springs is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Springs
- Indian Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Indian Springs is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
- Ellie Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ellie Spring is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellie Spring
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,714 people
- Boynton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Boynton is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Dafron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dafron is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dafron
- Estimated population in 2019: 7,294 people
- Blue Spring
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Spring is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Newnan Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Newnan Springs is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newnan Springs
- Estimated population in 2019: 41,581 people
- Fort Oglethorpe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lakeview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lakeview is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Dade County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Wildwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Morganville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Morganville is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,835 people
- Trenton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cole City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cole City is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cole City
- Population from the 2010 Census: 127 people
- Rising Fawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stewart Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Stewart Town is located in Dade County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart Town
- Gilmer County
- Tails Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tails Creek is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tails Creek
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,248 people
- Gordon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Hill City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hill City is located in Gordon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill City
- Resaca Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Resaca Ferry is located in Gordon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Resaca Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 803 people
- Resaca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Soapstick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Soapstick is located in Gordon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soapstick
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,544 people
- Sugar Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Damascus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Damascus is located in Gordon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Buff ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buff is located in Gordon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buff
- Estimated population in 2019: 15,522 people
- New Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- New Town is located in Gordon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Murray County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Gregory
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gregory is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
- Population from the 2010 Census: 7,432 people
- Sumac
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sumac is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumac
- Temple Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Temple Grove is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple Grove
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,795 people
- Cisco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Crandall
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Tennga
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Chatsworth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ball Ground
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ball Ground is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Ground
- Wells ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wells is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells
- Walker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Park City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Park City is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Dewberry Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dewberry Town is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewberry Town
- Fairview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- John Ross Estates
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- John Ross Estates is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John Ross Estates
- Estimated population in 2018: 84,310 people
- Lytle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lytle is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytle
- Population from the 2010 Census: 37,115 people
- Orchard Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Orchard Hills is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 232 people
- Rossville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Warren Terrace
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Warren Terrace is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Terrace
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,720 people
- Rock Spring
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chickamauga
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Happy Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Happy Valley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Valley
- Estimated population in 2019: 192 people
- Fantasy Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fantasy Hills is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fantasy Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 316 people
- Chattanooga Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Chattanooga Valley is located in Walker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattanooga Valley
- Whitfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Parrett Crossing
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Parrett Crossing is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrett Crossing
- Estimated population in 2019: 136 people
- Cohutta
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Clay
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Clay is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Clay
- Varnell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tunnel Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Plainview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Plainview is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
- Estimated population in 2019: 318 people
- Waring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Waring is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waring
- Crow ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crow is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow
- Rocky Face
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Trickum
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Trickum is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trickum
- Ruralvale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ruralvale is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruralvale
- Dalton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Gordon Springs ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gordon Springs is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Springs
- Bradley County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Mineral Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mineral Park is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Park
- Earnest ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Earnest is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earnest
- McDonald
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Wildwood Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wildwood Lake is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Lake
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,124 people
- South Cleveland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Cleveland is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
- Cleveland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bent Tree Acres
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
- East Cleveland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Cleveland is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
- Countryside Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Countryside Village is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
- Hopewell Estates
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
- Hopewell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hopewell is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Bellefounte
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bellefounte is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefounte
- Etola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Etola is located in Bradley County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etola
- Hamilton County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Apison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Apison is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apison
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,469 people
- Howardville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Howardville is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardville
- Ryall Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ryall Springs is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryall Springs
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,166 people
- Collegedale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Auburn Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Auburn Hills is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Hills
- Estimated population in 2014: 929 people
- East Brainerd
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Brainerd is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brainerd
- Ooltewah
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Brainerd Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brainerd Hills is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainerd Hills
- East Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Harrison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro Heights
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro Heights is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro Heights
- Population from the 2010 Census: 450 people
- Ridgeside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ridgeside is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 446 people
- Milbro Heights
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Milbro Heights is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milbro Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,834 people
- Marion County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Whiteside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Whiteside is located in Marion County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteside
- Vulcan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Vulcan is located in Marion County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan
- Powells Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Powells Crossroads is located in Marion County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powells Crossroads
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,352 people
- McMinn County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Calhoun
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lamontville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lamontville is located in McMinn County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamontville
- Luskville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Luskville is located in McMinn County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luskville
- Meigs County (TN)
- East View
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East View is located in Meigs County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
- Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
- Polk County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Oldfort
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Oldfort is located in Polk County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfort
- Ball Play
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ball Play is located in Polk County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Play
- Ocoee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Parksville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Parksville is located in Polk County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parksville
- Chable ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chable is located in Polk County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chable
- Benton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chestuee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chestuee is located in Polk County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestuee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Salem Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- New Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Smiths Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stone Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Parker's Gap Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gordy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Crumley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Old Ringgold Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Goode Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (574 more) ...
- Boyd Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Plowman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Catoosa Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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 Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Keith
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Keith is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keith
- Catoosa Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Catoosa Springs is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoosa Springs
- Ringgold
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Howardville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Howardville is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howardville
- Apison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Apison is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apison
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,469 people
- Cohutta
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Clay
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Clay is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Clay
- Graysville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ooltewah
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tunnel Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Boynton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Boynton is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Post Oak
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Post Oak is located in Catoosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Oak
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Waring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Waring is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waring
- Mills ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mills is located in Whitfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills
- Tyner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tyner is located in Hamilton County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
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 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Catoosa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dade County
- Gilmer County
- Gordon County
- Murray County
- Walker County
- Whitfield County
- Bradley County
- Hamilton County
- Marion County
- McMinn County
- Meigs County
- Polk County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
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 Salem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |