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Home >> State of Kentucky >> Clinton County >> Desda >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Desda (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 Desda. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Desda is located in Clinton 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 Clinton County: Cumberland, Russell, Wayne, Clay (TN) & Pickett (TN).

Below are the counties that are near Desda. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Desda:

  • Clinton County     (The home county of Desda)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Ida
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Ida is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
    • Cumberland City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Cumberland City is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland City
    • Browns Crossroads
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Browns Crossroads is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Crossroads
    • Albany
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Alpha
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Alpha is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
    • Savage
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Savage is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage
    • Static
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Static is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Static
  • Adair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Cundiff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Cundiff is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cundiff
    • Inroad
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Inroad is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inroad
    • Crocus
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Crocus is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocus
    • Chance
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Chance is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chance
    • Glens Fork
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Glens Fork is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glens Fork
    • Montpelier
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Montpelier is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
    • Fairplay
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairplay is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplay
    • Joppa
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Joppa is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
    • Breeding
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Breeding is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeding
    • Gadberry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Gadberry is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gadberry
    • Ozark
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Ozark is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozark
    • Sparksville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sparksville is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparksville
    • Craycraft
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Craycraft is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craycraft
  • Casey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Honey Acre
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Honey Acre is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Acre
    • Windsor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Dunnville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Dunnville is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
    • Teddy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Teddy is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teddy
    • Evans Ford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Evans Ford is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans Ford
    • Evona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Evona is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evona
    • Phil
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Phil is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phil
    • Rheber
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Rheber is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rheber
    • Rubert Ford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rubert Ford is located in Casey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rubert Ford
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Bakerton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Bakerton is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerton
    • Burkesville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Dougan Town
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Dougan Town is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dougan Town
    • Grider
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Grider is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grider
    • Leslie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Leslie is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
    • Waterview
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Waterview is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterview
    • Cloyds Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Cloyds Landing is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloyds Landing
    • Marrowbone
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Marrowbone is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
    • Dubre
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Dubre is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubre
  • Green County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Exie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Exie is located in Green County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exie
    • Liletown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Liletown is located in Green County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liletown
    • Roachville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Roachville is located in Green County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roachville
  • Metcalfe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Cedar Flat
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cedar Flat is located in Metcalfe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Flat
    • Edmonton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Beaumont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Beaumont is located in Metcalfe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
    • Summer Shade
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Randolph
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Randolph is located in Metcalfe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Martinsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Martinsburg is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
    • Meshack
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Meshack is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshack
    • Hestand
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hestand is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hestand
    • Tompkinsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Boles
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Boles is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
    • Forkton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Forkton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkton
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Vinnie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Vinnie is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinnie
    • Faubush
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Faubush is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faubush
    • Nancy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Russell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Long Bottom
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Long Bottom is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Bottom
    • Freedom
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Freedom is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freedom
    • Lula ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Lula is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lula
    • Stokes ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Stokes is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Esto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Esto is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esto
    • Jamestown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Middletown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Middletown is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
    • Russell Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Salem
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Salem is located in Russell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Murl
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Murl is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murl
    • Parnell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Parnell is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Shearer Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Shearer Valley is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shearer Valley
    • Slickford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Slickford is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slickford
    • Monticello
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Rankin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Rankin is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankin
    • Sumpter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Sumpter is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
    • Mill Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Mill Springs is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Springs
    • Mount Pisgah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Pisgah is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pisgah
    • Parmleysville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Parmleysville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parmleysville
    • Frazer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Frazer is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazer
  • Clay County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Thompsons Store
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Thompsons Store is located in Clay County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsons Store
      • Estimated population in 2014: 3,180 people
    • Cave Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Cave Springs is located in Clay County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Springs
    • Free Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Free Hill is located in Clay County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Hill
    • Celina
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Celina is located in Clay County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Celina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,407 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Celina <1>
    • Moss
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Moss is located in Clay County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
    • Boles
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Boles is located in Clay County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
  • Fentress County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Pall Mall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Little Crab
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Little Crab is located in Fentress County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Crab
    • Cooper
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cooper is located in Fentress County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,385 people
  • Overton County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Taylors Crossroads
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Taylors Crossroads is located in Overton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Crossroads
    • Oakley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Oakley is located in Overton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
    • Free Communion
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Free Communion is located in Overton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Communion
    • Grey ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Grey is located in Overton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grey
    • Garretts Mill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Garretts Mill is located in Overton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garretts Mill
    • Oak Dale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Oak Dale is located in Overton County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Dale
      • Estimated population in 2014: 222 people
  • Pickett County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.
    • Static
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Static is located in Pickett County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Static
    • Chanute
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Chanute is located in Pickett County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chanute
    • Byrdstown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Pickett County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Desda, see our County-by-County Page for Desda.

Cemeteries Near Desda ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Desda.

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 Desda - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Desda covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.

  • Thurman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Lewis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Hickory Ridge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • McWhorter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Brents Family Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hilltop Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Abbott Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Boyles Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Piercy Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ray Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hopkins Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (648 more) ...
    • Brumley Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Dixon Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Vincent 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 Desda in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Desda.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Desda, with the one closest to Desda listed first.

  • Creelsboro
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Creelsboro is located in Russell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creelsboro
  • Ida
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Ida is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
  • Seventy Six
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Seventy Six is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seventy Six
  • Rowena
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rowena is located in Russell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowena
  • Green Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Grove is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Grove
  • Cumberland City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Cumberland City is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland City
  • Amandaville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Amandaville is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amandaville
  • Browns Crossroads
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Browns Crossroads is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Crossroads
  • Cartwright
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cartwright is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
  • Burkesville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Hegira
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hegira is located in Cumberland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegira
  • Lula ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lula is located in Russell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lula
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Albany
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cabell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Cabell is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabell
    • Crocus
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Crocus is located in Adair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocus

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Desda. See our List of 1890's Communities around Desda.

Newspapers Published in Desda ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Desda.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Desda, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Desda.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Desda:

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 Desda, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Desda) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.