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 Defiance (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 Defiance. 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.
Defiance is located in Perry 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 Perry County: Breathitt, Clay, Harlan, Knott, Leslie, Letcher & Owsley.
Below are the counties that are near Defiance. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Defiance:
- Perry County (The home county of Defiance)
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Scuddy
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Happy
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Happy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy
- Vicco
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Vicco is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vicco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
- Acup
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Acup is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acup
- Jeff
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Viper
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Viper is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
- Cornettsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cornettsville is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
- Hardburly
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hardburly is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardburly
- Hazard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bulan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bulan is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulan
- Combs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Combs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combs
- Tribbey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tribbey is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tribbey
- Bell County
- Beverly
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beverly is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Breathitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Hardshell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hardshell is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardshell
- Clayhole
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clayhole is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhole
- Whick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whick is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whick
- Flintville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Flintville is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Lost Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lost Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Kragon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kragon is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kragon
- Quicksand
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Quicksand is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quicksand
- Rousseau
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Rousseau is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rousseau
- Jackson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Big Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Big Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Eriline
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Eriline is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
- Ashers Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ashers Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashers Fork
- Barcreek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Barcreek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
- Oneida
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Oneida is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Dema
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dema is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dema
- Bypro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wheelwright
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wheelwright is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Weeksbury
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Weeksbury is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
- Garrett
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Hi Hat
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lackey
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lackey is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey
- Wayland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Wayland is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Wheelwright Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hueysville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Melvin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Melvin is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Drift
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Drift is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drift
- Harlan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Chad
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Chad is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chad
- Cumberland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Big Laurel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Big Laurel is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Laurel
- Totz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Benham
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lynch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Closplint
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Closplint is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
- Louellen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Louellen is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louellen
- Putney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Short Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Short Town is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Town
- Bailey Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bailey Creek is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Creek
- Darkmont
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Darkmont is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darkmont
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Sassafras
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Littcarr
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Littcarr is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
- Redfox
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Redfox is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfox
- Carrie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Carrie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Emmalena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Emmalena is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalena
- Fisty
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fisty is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisty
- Hindman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tina
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Tina is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tina
- Leburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Top
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Vest
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Garner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Leslie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Cutshin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cutshin is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshin
- Smilax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Smilax is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smilax
- Yeaddiss
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Yeaddiss is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeaddiss
- Wooton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wooton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooton
- Hyden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wendover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Confluence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Confluence is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Hoskinston
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Stinnett
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Stinnett is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
- Thousandsticks
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
- Chappell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chappell is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chappell
- Asher
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Asher is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asher
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Blackey
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blackey is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Hallie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Letcher
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Letcher is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letcher
- Jeremiah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Isom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Isom is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isom
- Hot Spot
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hot Spot is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Spot
- Hot Spot has also been known as:
- Hotspot
- Roxana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Roxana is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Uz
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Uz is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uz
- Colson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Colson is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colson
- Flint
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Flint is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Kings Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Creek is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Linefork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linefork is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linefork
- Magoffin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Gunlock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
- Gapville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gapville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gapville
- Owsley County
- Mistletoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Myra
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Myra is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
- Dorton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jonancy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jonancy is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonancy
- Virgie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Virgie is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Lee County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Darnell Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Darnell Town is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell Town
- Keokee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Keokee is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keokee
- Rawhide
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rawhide is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawhide
- Saint Charles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Charles is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Dryden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dryden is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryden
- Ely
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ely is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Pennington Gap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pennington Gap is located in Lee County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington Gap
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,708 people
- Wise County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Osaka
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Osaka is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osaka
- Almira
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Almira is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Appalachia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Haddonfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Pound
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kent Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kent Junction is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Junction
- Big Stone Gap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blackwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blackwood is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwood
- East Stone Gap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Stone Gap is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Stone Gap
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Defiance, see our County-by-County Page for Defiance.
Cemeteries Near Defiance ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Defiance.
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 Defiance - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Defiance covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Hall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Roark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cornett Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Turner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lotts Creek United Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Englewood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ulous Hurt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulous Hurt Cemetery
- The Ulous Hurt Cemetery has also been known as:
- Eulis Hurt Cemetery
- Hurt Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2523285 <2>
- Solomon Whitaker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Upper Kelly Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Young Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dixon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (448 more) ...
- James D Caudill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Franklin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Caudill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Defiance in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Defiance.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Defiance, with the one closest to Defiance listed first.
- Sassafras
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Viper
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Viper is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
- Hazard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Bottom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Bottom is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Bottom
- Dwarf
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dwarf is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwarf
- Jeremiah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Roxana
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Roxana is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Hindman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cutshin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cutshin is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshin
- Pine Top
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Smoot Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Smoot Creek is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoot Creek
- Linefork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Linefork is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linefork
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Kings Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Creek is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Creek
- Vest
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hyden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Defiance. See our List of 1890's Communities around Defiance.
Newspapers Published in Defiance ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Defiance.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Defiance, 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 Defiance.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Defiance:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Perry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bell County
- Breathitt County
- Clay County
- Floyd County
- Harlan County
- Knott County
- Leslie County
- Letcher County
- Magoffin County
- Owsley County
- Pike 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 Defiance, 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 from Point A (ie- Defiance) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |