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 Clay (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 Clay. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Clay is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Caldwell, Crittenden, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Clay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clay:
- Webster County (The home county of Clay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- West Wheatcroft
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- West Wheatcroft is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Wheatcroft
- Wheatcroft
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wheatcroft is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatcroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
- Lisman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lisman is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Free Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Free Union is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Union
- Providence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blackford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Blackford is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackford
- Dixon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Dixon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 877 people
- Vanderburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Vanderburg is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderburg
- Poole
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Slaughters
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Slaughters is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slaughters
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sebree
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Onton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Onton is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onton
- Caldwell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Creswell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Creswell is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Fredonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crider
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Crider is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crider
- Lewistown
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lewistown is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewistown
- Claxton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Claxton is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claxton
- Princeton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Dulaney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dulaney is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dulaney
- McGowan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- McGowan is located in Caldwell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGowan
- Crittenden County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Piney Fork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Piney Fork is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Fork
- Marion
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crayne
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crayne is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crayne
- Sheridan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sheridan is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Tolu
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tolu is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolu
- Dycusburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dycusburg is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dycusburg
- Population from the 2010 Census: 26 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Dixie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dixie is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Corydon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Robards
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Smith Mills is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Mills
- Niagara
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Niagara is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niagara
- Henderson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkins County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Nebo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nebo is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Dalton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dalton is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
- Manitou
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Manitou is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manitou
- Fiddle Bow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fiddle Bow is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiddle Bow
- Richland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Richland is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Hanson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Charleston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Charleston is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Madisonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Vandetta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Vandetta is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandetta
- Earlington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dawson Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Saint Charles
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Charles is located in Hopkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Salem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lola is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lola
- Pinckneyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pinckneyville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinckneyville
- Carrsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Carrsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Lyon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Eddyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Lyon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Lemon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lemon is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemon
- Beech Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Elba
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elba is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Sacramento
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Muhlenberg County
- Earles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Earles is located in Muhlenberg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earles
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Sullivan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sullivan is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Sturgis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grangertown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grangertown is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangertown
- Breckinridge Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Breckinridge Center is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breckinridge Center
- Flournoy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Flournoy is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flournoy
- Morganfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dekoven
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dekoven is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekoven
- Waverly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Chapman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Chapman is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Hitesville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hitesville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitesville
- Uniontown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Uniontown is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Raleigh
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Raleigh is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
- Gallatin County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Old Shawneetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Old Shawneetown is located in Gallatin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Shawneetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Bowlesville ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bowlesville is located in Gallatin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlesville
- Shawneetown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hardin County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Lamb
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lamb is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb
- Cave-In-Rock
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cave-In-Rock is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave-In-Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Cave-In-Rock has also been known as:
- Cave-In-Rock village
- Saline Landing
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Saline Landing is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline Landing
- Rock Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rock Creek is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Elizabethtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Karbers Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mineral City ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mineral City is located in Hardin County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
- Rosiclare
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Posey County (IN)
- Hovey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hovey is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hovey
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clay, see our County-by-County Page for Clay.
Cemeteries Near Clay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clay.
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 Clay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Blackwell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Odd Fellows Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Frazer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Harmony Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cullen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lisman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Johnson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wynn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Donis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Big Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (368 more) ...
- Babb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lynn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Clay had a population of 320 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Clay had a population of 1,091 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clay, with the one closest to Clay listed first.
- Hearin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hearin is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hearin
- Lisman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lisman is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisman
- Free Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Free Union is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Union
- Blackford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Blackford is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackford
- Providence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sullivan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sullivan is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Piney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Piney is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney
- Dixon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Dixon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 877 people
- Nunn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Nunn is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunn
- Cullen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cullen is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
- Vanderburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Vanderburg is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderburg
- Shady Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Shady Grove is located in Crittenden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Boxville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Boxville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boxville
- Tilden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tilden is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
- Sturgis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clay.
Newspapers Published in Clay ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clay, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clay.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Clay:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caldwell County
- Crittenden County
- Henderson County
- Hopkins County
- Livingston County
- Lyon County
- McLean County
- Muhlenberg County
- Union County
- Gallatin County
- Hardin County
- Posey 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> | 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 Clay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Clay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |