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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 Hemphill (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 Hemphill. 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 Hemphill ...

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.

Hemphill has also been known as: Jackhorn.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Hemphill. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Hemphill.

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 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.

Hemphill is located in Letcher 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 Letcher County: Harlan, Knott, Perry, Pike & Wise (VA).

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

  • Letcher County     (The home county of Hemphill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • McRoberts
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Cromona
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Cromona is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
    • Fleming - Neon
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
    • Neon
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Tolliver Town
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Whitaker
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Seco
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Seco is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
    • Deane
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Deane is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
    • Jenkins
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Farraday
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Millstone
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Millstone is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
    • Thornton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Thornton is located in Letcher County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
    • Sergent
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Floyd County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • Weeksbury
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Weeksbury is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
    • Wheelwright
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Wheelwright is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Melvin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Melvin is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
    • Wheelwright Junction
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Bypro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Hi Hat
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Beaver
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Dema
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Dema is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dema
    • Teaberry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Teaberry is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
    • Galveston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • McDowell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Wayland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Wayland is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
    • Drift
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Drift is located in Floyd County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drift
  • Harlan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • Lynch
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Benham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cumberland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Chad
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Holmes Mill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Holmes Mill is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Mill
    • Closplint
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Closplint is located in Harlan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
    • Louellen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Totz
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Knott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • Kite
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kite is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
    • Pine Top
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pippa Passes
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pippa Passes is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
    • Littcarr
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Littcarr is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
    • Redfox
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Raven
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Raven is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
    • Garner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Garner is located in Knott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
    • Leburn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hindman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mousie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Carrie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Sassafras
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Tina
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Leslie County
    • Yeaddiss
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Yeaddiss is located in Leslie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeaddiss
  • Magoffin County
    • Gunlock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • Vicco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Vicco is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vicco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
    • Scuddy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Acup
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Cornettsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Cornettsville is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
    • Happy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Happy is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy
    • Hardburly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Jeff
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Delphia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Delphia is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphia
    • Slemp
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Slemp is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
    • Dwarf
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Tribbey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Viper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Viper is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
    • Ary
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • Myra
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Myra is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
    • Dorton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jonancy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jonancy is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonancy
    • Virgie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Virgie is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
    • Hellier
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lookout
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Lookout is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
    • Ashcamp
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Ashcamp is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
    • Robinson Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockhouse
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rockhouse is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
    • Yeager
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Fords Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Fords Branch is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Branch
    • Shelbiana
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Draffin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Buchanan County (VA)
  • Dickenson County (VA)
  • Lee County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hemphill, with the one closest to Hemphill listed first.
    • Darnell Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Darnell Town is located in Lee County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell Town
    • Keokee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rawhide
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Norton City (VA)
    • Norton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Norton is located in Norton City (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,985 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norton <1>
  • Russell County (VA)
  • Scott County (VA)
  • Wise County (VA)

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

Cemeteries Near Hemphill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hemphill.

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

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

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

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 Hemphill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hemphill.

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

  • Craftsville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Craftsville is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craftsville
  • Millstone
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Millstone is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
  • Beefhide
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Beefhide is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beefhide
  • Deane
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Deane is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
  • Sergent
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hall is located in Knott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hall
  • Pound
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Dorton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Smoot Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Smoot Creek is located in Letcher County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smoot Creek
  • Whitesburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Flat Gap
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Flat Gap is located in Wise County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
  • Pine Top
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Hemphill ...

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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hemphill.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hemphill, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hemphill.

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 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 Hemphill:

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 Hemphill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hemphill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.