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 Smithland (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 Smithland. 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 and hospitals 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.
Smithland is located in Shelby County.
To see how the shape of Indiana's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Shelby County: Bartholomew, Decatur, Hancock, Johnson, Marion & Rush.
Below are the counties that are near Smithland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smithland:
- Shelby County (The home county of Smithland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Wilson Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wilson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Corner
- Riley Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Riley Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley Village
- Mount Auburn
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Auburn is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
- Beech Brook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beech Brook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Brook
- Hildebrand Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hildebrand Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hildebrand Village
- Shelbyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flat Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prescott
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Prescott is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Candleglo Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Candleglo Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candleglo Village
- Boggstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Norristown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Norristown is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norristown
- Fairland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Geneva
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Geneva is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Bartholomew County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Hope
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hope is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,248 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hope <1>
- Pleasant View Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant View Village is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View Village
- Clifford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Clifford is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Rugby
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rugby is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Taylorsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Corn Brook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Corn Brook is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corn Brook
- Hartsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsville is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
- Newbern
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Newbern is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbern
- Petersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Petersville is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Columbus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Jewell Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Jewell Village is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell Village
- Garden City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Garden City is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Bethel Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bethel Village is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Village
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Spearsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spearsville is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spearsville
- Gnaw Bone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Liberty
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Liberty is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Liberty
- Beanblossom
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beanblossom is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beanblossom
- Beanblossom has also been known as:
- Bean Blossom
- Helmsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Helmsburg is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helmsburg
- Nashville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pikes Peak
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pikes Peak is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pikes Peak
- Becks Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Becks Grove is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becks Grove
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Saint Paul
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Germantown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Germantown is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
- Saint Omer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Saint Omer is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Burney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Burney is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burney
- Milford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adams
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Greensburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Harris City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Harris City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris City
- Letts Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Letts Corner is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letts Corner
- Letts
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Letts is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letts
- Springhill ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Springhill is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springhill
- Alert
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Alert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alert
- Knarr Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Knarr Corner is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knarr Corner
- Fayette County
- Orange
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Orange is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Andersonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Andersonville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andersonville
- Enochsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Enochsburg is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enochsburg
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- New Palestine
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Spring Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Spring Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 231 people
- Gem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gem is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem
- Greenfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Philadelphia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Philadelphia is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Charlottesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Charlottesville is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlottesville
- Mohawk
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mohawk is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk
- Maxwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Maxwell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Denny Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Denny Corner is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denny Corner
- Willow Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Willow Branch is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Branch
- Eden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Eden is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- McCordsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Knightstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ogden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ogden is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden
- Jennings County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Scipio
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Scipio is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scipio
- Queensville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Queensville is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queensville
- Zenas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Zenas is located in Jennings County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenas
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Needham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Urmeyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Urmeyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urmeyville
- Amity
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Amity is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Edinburgh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Rocklane
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rocklane is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocklane
- Whiteland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nineveh
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- New Whiteland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Whiteland is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Whiteland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,350 people
- Princes Lakes
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Princes Lakes is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princes Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,342 people
- Trafalgar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Greenwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bargersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Acton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Acton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Charlesmac Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Charlesmac Village is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesmac Village
- Southport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Homecroft
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Homecroft is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homecroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
- Beech Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cumberland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Warren Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Warren Park is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,574 people
- Indianapolis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- West Newton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- West Newton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Newton
- Camby
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Morgantown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Waverly
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Waverly is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Red House ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Red House is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Bethany
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bethany is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Brooklyn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brookmoor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brookmoor is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookmoor
- Mahalasville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mahalasville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mahalasville
- Young
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Young is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young
- Martinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mooresville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Taggart Crossing ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Taggart Crossing is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taggart Crossing
- Rush County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Manilla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Manilla is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manilla
- Gowdy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Gowdy is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowdy
- Moscow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Homer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Homer is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Arlington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Milroy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Williamstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Williamstown is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamstown
- Henderson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Rushville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Carthage
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gings
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gings is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gings
- Mays
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mays is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mays
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smithland, see our County-by-County Page for Smithland.
Cemeteries Near Smithland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithland.
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 Smithland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smithland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Miller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Eberhart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Parrish Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Patterson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Tindall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brockman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Conover Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Winchester Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester Cemetery
- The Winchester Cemetery has also been known as:
- Winchester Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #698387 <2>
- Sandhill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (369 more) ...
- Campbell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Webb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Needham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Smithland had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smithland, with the one closest to Smithland listed first.
- Marietta
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Marietta is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Fenns
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fenns is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenns
- Lewis Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lewis Creek is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis Creek
- Bengal
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bengal is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bengal
- Mount Auburn
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Auburn is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Auburn
- Flat Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Shelbyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Boggstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Prescott
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Prescott is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Amity
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Amity is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Needham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Urmeyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Urmeyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urmeyville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Fairland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Edinburgh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Louis Crossing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Louis Crossing is located in Bartholomew County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Louis Crossing
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smithland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smithland.
Newspapers Published in Smithland ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithland, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smithland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Smithland:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bartholomew County
- Brown County
- Decatur County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Hancock County
- Henry County
- Jennings County
- Johnson County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Rush County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 Smithland, 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- Smithland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |