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 Cary (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 Cary. 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 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 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.
Cary is located in Bell 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 Bell County: Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Whitley, Claiborne (TN) & Lee (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Cary. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cary:
- Bell County (The home county of Cary)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Arjay
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Arjay is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arjay
- Straight Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Straight Creek is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straight Creek
- Dorton Branch
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dorton Branch is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorton Branch
- Jenson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jenson is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
- Pineville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kettle Island
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kettle Island is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
- Rella
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rella is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rella
- Sims Fork
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sims Fork is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sims Fork
- Wasioto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Wasioto is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasioto
- Miracle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Miracle is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
- Fourmile
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fourmile is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fourmile
- Callaway
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Callaway is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Ashers Fork
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ashers Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashers Fork
- Brightshade
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Brightshade is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightshade
- Goose Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Goose Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
- Garrard
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Garrard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
- Hima
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hima is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hima
- Big Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Big Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Manchester
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Eriline
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Eriline is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
- Urban
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Urban is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urban
- Sidell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sidell is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidell
- Barcreek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Barcreek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
- Fall Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fall Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Rock
- Harlan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Coldiron
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pathfork
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pathfork is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pathfork
- Tacky Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Tacky Town is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacky Town
- South Wallins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- South Wallins is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
- Twila
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Twila is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twila
- Wallins Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
- Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
- Loyall
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Loyall is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Baxter
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mary Alice
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mary Alice is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Alice
- Bledsoe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Harlan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Rosspoint
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rosspoint is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosspoint
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Flat Lick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flat Lick is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Lick
- Walker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walker is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Dewitt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dewitt is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewitt
- Scalf
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Scalf is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalf
- Trosper
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Trosper is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trosper
- Bimble
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wheeler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wheeler is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Artemus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Artemus is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
- Warren
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Warren is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Hinkle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hinkle is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkle
- Cannon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cannon is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
- Barbourville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Laurel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Bush
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bush is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lake is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Marydell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marydell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydell
- Dorthae
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dorthae is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorthae
- Hopewell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Lily
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lily is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily
- Leslie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Warbranch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Warbranch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warbranch
- Roark
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Roark is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roark
- Helton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Helton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Mozelle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mozelle is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
- Essie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Essie is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
- Asher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Asher is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asher
- Chappell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chappell is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chappell
- Hoskinston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Stinnett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stinnett is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
- Bear Branch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
- Wendover
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thousandsticks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
- Whitley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Siler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Siler is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siler
- Louden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Louden is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louden
- Nevisdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Nevisdale is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevisdale
- Packard
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Packard is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packard
- Verne
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Verne is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verne
- Woodbine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Woodbine is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine
- Corbin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rockholds
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rockholds is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockholds
- Pleasant View
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Lot
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lot is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lot
- Emlyn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Emlyn is located in Whitley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emlyn
- Campbell County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Morley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Morley is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
- White Oak
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- White Oak is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Jellico
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Flat Hollow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Flat Hollow is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Hollow
- Habersham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Habersham is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Habersham
- Stockville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stockville is located in Campbell County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockville
- Claiborne County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Cumberland Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Shawanee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Shawanee is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawanee
- Harrogate
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Minton Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Minton Mill is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minton Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 527 people
- Pruden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pruden is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruden
- Hamlin Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hamlin Town is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin Town
- Tazewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Clairfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clairfield is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clairfield
- New Tazewell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Goin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Goin is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goin
- Head of Barren
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Head of Barren is located in Claiborne County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head of Barren
- Speedwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hancock County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Alanthus Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
- Xenophon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Xenophon is located in Hancock County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
- Sneedville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Braden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Braden is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Estimated population in 2014: 277 people
- Phebe ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Phebe is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phebe
- Haynes ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Haynes is located in Union County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Lee County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Wheeler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Ewing
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rose Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hubbard Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hubbard Springs is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard Springs
- Fleenortown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fleenortown is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleenortown
- Van
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Van is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cary, see our County-by-County Page for Cary.
Cemeteries Near Cary ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cary.
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 Cary - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cary covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Liberty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Red Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wallsend Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kettle Island Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Henderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wilder Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bingham Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Taylors Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Taylors Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Callaway.
- Sims Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Goodin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (741 more) ...
- Hendrickson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Peavier Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Smith 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 Cary in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cary.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cary, with the one closest to Cary listed first.
- Pineville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wasioto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Wasioto is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasioto
- Callaway
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Callaway is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
- Walker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walker is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Flat Lick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flat Lick is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Lick
- Ingram
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ingram is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
- Cubage
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cubage is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cubage
- Artemus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Artemus is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artemus
- Middlesboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cumberland Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wheeler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Barbourville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Wallins Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
- Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
- Girdler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Girdler is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdler
- Bryants Store
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bryants Store is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryants Store
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cary. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cary.
Newspapers Published in Cary ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cary.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cary, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cary.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Cary:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Bell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Harlan County
- Knox County
- Laurel County
- Leslie County
- Whitley County
- Campbell County
- Claiborne County
- Hancock County
- Union County
- Lee 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 Cary, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cary) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |