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 Big Rock (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 Big Rock. 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.
Name Variations for Big Rock ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Bigrock.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Rock. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Rock.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 doctors 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.
Big Rock is located in Leslie County.
To see how the shape of Kentucky's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Leslie County: Bell, Clay, Harlan & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Big Rock. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Rock:
- Leslie County (The home county of Big Rock)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Yeaddiss
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Yeaddiss is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeaddiss
- Cutshin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cutshin is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshin
- Smilax
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Smilax is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smilax
- Chappell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Chappell is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chappell
- Wendover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wooton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wooton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooton
- Asher
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Asher is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asher
- Hoskinston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Mozelle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mozelle is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
- Stinnett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Stinnett is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
- Helton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Helton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Hyden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Essie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Essie is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
- Bell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Beverly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Beverly is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Stoney Fork
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Stoney Fork is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Fork
- Callaway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Callaway is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
- Rella
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rella is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rella
- Sims Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sims Fork is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sims Fork
- Kettle Island
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kettle Island is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
- Miracle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Miracle is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
- Arjay
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arjay is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arjay
- Jenson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jenson is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
- Varilla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Varilla is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varilla
- Breathitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Whick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Whick is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whick
- Hardshell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hardshell is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardshell
- Clayhole
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Clayhole is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhole
- Flintville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Flintville is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Lost Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lost Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Ashers Fork
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ashers Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashers Fork
- Big Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Big Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Eriline
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Eriline is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
- Brightshade
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Brightshade is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightshade
- Barcreek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Barcreek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
- Goose Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Goose Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
- Oneida
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oneida is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida
- Teges
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Teges is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teges
- Garrard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Garrard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
- Harlan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Big Laurel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Big Laurel is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Laurel
- Totz
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Putney
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Louellen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Louellen is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louellen
- Bailey Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bailey Creek is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Creek
- Darkmont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Darkmont is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darkmont
- Rosspoint
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Rosspoint is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosspoint
- Short Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Short Town is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Town
- Chad
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chad is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chad
- Cumberland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Draper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Draper is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draper
- Closplint
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Closplint is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
- Bledsoe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Sassafras
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Redfox
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Redfox is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfox
- Littcarr
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Littcarr is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
- Fisty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fisty is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisty
- Emmalena
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Emmalena is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalena
- Carrie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Carrie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Hindman
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Top
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Tina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Tina is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tina
- Leburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Garner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Vest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pippa Passes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pippa Passes is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Scalf
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Scalf is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
- Walker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Walker is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Gordon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Gordon is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Hallie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Linefork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Linefork is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linefork
- Flint
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Flint is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Roxana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Roxana is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Blackey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blackey is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Letcher
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Letcher is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letcher
- Hot Spot
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hot Spot is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Spot
- Hot Spot has also been known as:
- Hotspot
- Kings Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Kings Creek is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Partridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Partridge is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Partridge
- Jeremiah
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Uz
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Uz is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uz
- Isom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Isom is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isom
- Owsley County
- Mistletoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Slemp
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Slemp is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
- Delphia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Delphia is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphia
- Cornettsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cornettsville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
- Viper
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Viper is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
- Jeff
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Avawam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Avawam is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avawam
- Happy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Happy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy
- Acup
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Acup is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acup
- Scuddy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hazard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Vicco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vicco is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vicco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
- Combs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Combs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combs
- Busy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Busy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
- Lee County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Saint Charles
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Charles is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Darnell Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Darnell Town is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell Town
- Keokee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Keokee is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keokee
- Rawhide
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rawhide is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawhide
- Hubbard Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hubbard Springs is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard Springs
- Ely
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ely is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Pennington Gap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pennington Gap is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington Gap
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,708 people
- Fleenortown
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Fleenortown is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleenortown
- Dryden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dryden is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryden
- Jonesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rose Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Stickleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stickleyville is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickleyville
- Blackwater
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Blackwater is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwater
- Wise County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Osaka
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Osaka is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osaka
- Exeter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Appalachia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Big Stone Gap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kent Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kent Junction is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Junction
- East Stone Gap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- East Stone Gap is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Stone Gap
- Blackwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Blackwood is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Rock, see our County-by-County Page for Big Rock.
Cemeteries Near Big Rock ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Rock.
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 Big Rock - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Rock covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Lewis / Joseph Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Clover Fork Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Huff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nolan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Days Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Caudill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riddle Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Raccoon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (463 more) ...
- Cornett Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dixon Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Turner Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
While we didn't find Big Rock in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Rock.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Cutshin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cutshin is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshin
- Viper
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Viper is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
- Hoskinston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Helton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Helton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Evarts
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hyden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Linefork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Linefork is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linefork
- Baxter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Roxana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Roxana is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Indian Bottom
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Bottom is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Bottom
- Sassafras
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hazard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Harlan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kings Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Kings Creek is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Partridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Partridge is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Partridge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Rock. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Rock.
Newspapers Published in Big Rock ...
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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Rock.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Rock, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Rock.
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 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 Big Rock:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Leslie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bell County
- Breathitt County
- Clay County
- Harlan County
- Knott County
- Knox County
- Letcher County
- Owsley County
- Perry County
- Lee County
- Wise County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kentucky
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 Big Rock, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Big Rock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |