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 Gays Creek (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 Gays Creek. 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 Gays Creek ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Gays Creek: Gays Crk. (or less commonly used: Gays Ck. or Gays Cr.)
- While the name of this community is Gays Creek, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Gays Creek may originally have been Gay's Creek.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Gays Creek might be written as Gay Creek.
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 hospitals and 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.
Gays Creek 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 Gays Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gays Creek:
- Perry County (The home county of Gays Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Buckhorn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chavies
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Chavies is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chavies
- Krypton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Krypton is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Krypton
- Saul
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Saul is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saul
- Yerkes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Yerkes is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yerkes
- Busy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Busy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busy
- Butterfly
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Butterfly is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfly
- Bonnyman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bonnyman is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnyman
- Dice
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Dice is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Avawam
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avawam is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avawam
- Combs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Combs is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Combs
- Hazard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bell County
- Beverly
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Beverly is located in Bell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Breathitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Whick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Whick is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whick
- Clayhole
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clayhole is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayhole
- Lost Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lost Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Flintville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Flintville is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flintville
- Kragon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Kragon is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kragon
- Hardshell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hardshell is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardshell
- Jetts Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jetts Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jetts Creek
- Quicksand
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Quicksand is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quicksand
- Copebranch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Copebranch is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copebranch
- Chenowee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Chenowee is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chenowee
- Jackson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oakdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Oakdale is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Oneida
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Oneida is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida
- Barcreek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Barcreek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barcreek
- Big Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Big Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Eriline
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Eriline is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eriline
- Teges
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Teges is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teges
- Laurel Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Laurel Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Creek
- Sextons Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sextons Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sextons Creek
- Manchester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fall Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Fall Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Rock
- Garrard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Garrard is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrard
- Goose Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Goose Rock is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Rock
- Burning Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Burning Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Harlan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Big Laurel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Big Laurel is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Laurel
- Bledsoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bledsoe is located in Harlan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Tyner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Tyner is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Gray Hawk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gray Hawk is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Hawk
- Annville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Fisty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fisty is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisty
- Emmalena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Emmalena is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalena
- Carrie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Carrie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Sassafras
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Tina
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Tina is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tina
- Vest
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hindman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Leburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Littcarr
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Littcarr is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
- Garner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Redfox
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Redfox is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfox
- Mousie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Mousie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousie
- Knox County
- Woollum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Woollum is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woollum
- Laurel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Bush
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bush is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lake is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Marydell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marydell is located in Laurel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydell
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Lone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lone is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone
- Athol
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Athol is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Tallega
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Tallega is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallega
- Williba
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Williba is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williba
- Primrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Primrose is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Primrose
- Saint Helens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Idamay
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Idamay is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idamay
- Vada
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vada is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vada
- Beattyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Heidelberg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Heidelberg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
- Fincastle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fincastle is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fincastle
- Zoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Zoe is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoe
- Leslie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Confluence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Confluence is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Sizerock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sizerock is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sizerock
- Thousandsticks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Thousandsticks is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thousandsticks
- Hyden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wooton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wooton is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooton
- Bear Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Branch is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Branch
- Wendover
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Smilax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Smilax is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smilax
- Stinnett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Stinnett is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinnett
- Hoskinston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hoskinston is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskinston
- Essie
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Essie is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essie
- Cutshin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cutshin is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutshin
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Blackey
(27 miles [43.5 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Letcher
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Letcher is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letcher
- Jeremiah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Isom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Isom is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isom
- Roxana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Roxana is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Magoffin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Netty
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Netty is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Netty
- Ova
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ova is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ova
- Owsley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Mistletoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mistletoe is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mistletoe
- Ricetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ricetown is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricetown
- Sebastian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sebastian is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastian
- Lerose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lerose is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lerose
- Southfork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Southfork is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southfork
- Booneville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Island City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Island City is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island City
- Pebworth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pebworth is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pebworth
- Travellers Rest
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Travellers Rest is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travellers Rest
- Vincent
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vincent is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Wolfe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Bethany
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bethany is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Mary
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mary is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary
- Lexie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lexie is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexie
- Belknap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Belknap is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Campton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lee City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lee City is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee City
- Helechawa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Helechawa is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helechawa
- Rogers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gays Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Gays Creek.
Cemeteries Near Gays Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gays Creek.
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 Gays Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gays Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Deaton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Aims Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Howard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Figured Beech Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Justice Riley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Riley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Herald Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Stamper Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Turner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Fork Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (466 more) ...
- Cortland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Loose Angel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Butterpoint Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Gays Creek had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gays Creek, with the one closest to Gays Creek listed first.
- Confluence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Confluence is located in Leslie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confluence
- Chavies
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Chavies is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chavies
- Crockettsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Crockettsville is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockettsville
- Ned
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ned is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ned
- Shoulderblade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Shoulderblade is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoulderblade
- Hyden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lost Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lost Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Sebastian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sebastian is located in Owsley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastian
- Teges
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Teges is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teges
- Big Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Big Creek is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Hazard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jetts Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jetts Creek is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jetts Creek
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Stacy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Stacy is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacy
- Copebranch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Copebranch is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copebranch
- Quicksand
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Quicksand is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quicksand
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gays Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gays Creek.
Newspapers Published in Gays Creek ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gays Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gays Creek, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gays Creek.
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 either 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 Gays Creek:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Perry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bell County
- Breathitt County
- Clay County
- Harlan County
- Jackson County
- Knott County
- Knox County
- Laurel County
- Lee County
- Leslie County
- Letcher County
- Magoffin County
- Owsley County
- Wolfe County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kentucky
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Gays Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Gays Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |